At that time the full ordination had been given to women who lacked genitals, who had incomplete genitals, who did not menstruate, who menstruated continuously, who always wore menstruation pads, who were incontinent, who had genital prolapse, who lacked sexual organs, who were manlike, who had fistula, who were gynandromorphs. They told the Buddha. “The nun who is giving the full ordination should ask about twenty-four obstacles. And it should be done like this: ‘Do you lack genitals? Are your genitals incomplete? Do you not menstruate? Do you menstruate continuously? Do you always wear a menstruation pad? Are you incontinent? Do you have genital prolapse? Do you lack sexual organs? Are you manlike? Do you have fistula? Are you a gynandromorph? Do you have any of these diseases: leprosy, abscesses, mild leprosy, tuberculosis, or epilepsy? Are you human? Are you a woman? Are you free from slavery? Are you free from debt? Are you employed by the king? Do you have permission from your parents and husband? Are you twenty years old? Do you have a full set of bowl and robes? What’s your name? What’s the name of your mentor?’”

Soon afterwards the monks asked the nuns about the obstacles. Those seeking the full ordination were embarrassed, humiliated, and unable to respond. They told the Buddha. “Only when a woman who’s free from obstacles has been fully ordained on one side in the Sangha of nuns, should you give her the full ordination in the Sangha of monks.” The nuns asked those seeking the full ordination about the obstacles without first instructing them. They were embarrassed, humiliated, and unable to respond. They told the Buddha. “The nuns should instruct first and then ask about the obstacles.”