Then, once they had ten years of seniority, ignorant and incompetent monks gave formal support. As a result there were ignorant teachers with knowledgeable pupils, incompetent teachers with competent pupils, uneducated teachers with learned pupils, and foolish teachers with wise pupils. The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can ignorant and incompetent monks give formal support, just because they have ten years of seniority? There are ignorant teachers with knowledgeable pupils, incompetent teachers with competent pupils, uneducated teachers with learned pupils, and foolish teachers with wise pupils.”

They told the Buddha. … “Is it true, monks, that this is happening?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … He then gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “An ignorant and incompetent monk shouldn’t give formal support. If he does, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. I allow a competent and capable monk who has ten or more years of seniority to give formal support.” The section on the ignorant and incompetent is finished.

22. Discussion of the ending of formal support At that time there were preceptors and teachers who went away, disrobed, died, or joined another religion or sect, but their pupils did not know about the ending of support. They told the Buddha. “There are these five reasons why the formal support from a preceptor comes to an end: the preceptor goes away; the preceptor disrobes; the preceptor dies; the preceptor joins another religion or sect; or the preceptor orders it. There are these six reasons why the formal support from a teacher comes to an end: the teacher goes away; the teacher disrobes; the teacher dies; the teacher joins another religion or sect; the teacher orders it; or one is reunited with one’s preceptor.” The discussion of the ending of formal support is finished.

23. The five requirements for giving the full ordination