> According to the sutta, MahaPajapati Gotami, still a lay
> follower, wished to offer robe cloth to the Buddha, who then
> asked her to give it to the Sangha instead. Then, the Buddha
> supposedly mentioned the BhikkhuniSangha as if it already
> existed. Since it is exceedingly plain in the Mahavagga of
> the Vinaya Pitaka that MahaPajapati Gotami was the first
> bhikkhuni, how can we reconcile this?
Dear Bhante,
First, I don't yet understand from where you (and Bhikkhu Bodhi) draw the
conclusion that Mahapajapati is still a lay person (please explain more).
Second, I don't see the problem if she still is. I am willing to accept a
real discrepancy, but the Lord Buddha is said to have talked about the
Bhikkhuni Sangha shortly after His Enlightenment as well. What does that
mean? In MN 142, the Lord Buddha also makes a mention of a gift to the
Sangha after his passing away (Ven. Kumara: "as if it already had
happened"). Does that mean that this discourse was given after His
Parinibbaana? God Buddha lives...
If anything, we might take this to be an instigation for Mahapajapati to
request to become the first bhikkhuni.
Respectfully,
Yuttadhammo