The Buddha teaches on ordination, presenting a tenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 10.34 Ordination

“Katihi nu kho, bhante, dhammehi samannāgatena bhikkhunā upasampādetabban”ti?

“Dasahi kho, upāli, dhammehi samannāgatena bhikkhunā upasampādetabbaṁ. Katamehi dasahi? Idhupāli, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu; bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā; pātimokkhaṁ kho panassa vitthārena svāgataṁ hoti suvibhattaṁ suppavattaṁ suvinicchitaṁ suttaso anubyañjanaso; paṭibalo hoti gilānaṁ upaṭṭhātuṁ upaṭṭhāpetuṁ vā; paṭibalo hoti anabhiratiṁ vūpakāsetuṁ vūpakāsāpetuṁ vā; paṭibalo hoti uppannaṁ kukkuccaṁ dhammato vinodetuṁ; paṭibalo hoti uppannaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ dhammato vivecetuṁ; paṭibalo hoti adhisīle samādapetuṁ; paṭibalo hoti adhicitte samādapetuṁ; paṭibalo hoti adhipaññāya samādapetuṁ. Imehi kho, upāli, dasahi dhammehi samannāgatena bhikkhunā upasampādetabban”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Katihi nu kho, bhante, dhammehi samannāgatena bhikkhunā upasampādetabban”ti?

“Sir, how many qualities should a mendicant have to give ordination?”

“Dasahi kho, upāli, dhammehi samannāgatena bhikkhunā upasampādetabbaṁ.

“Upāli, a mendicant should have ten qualities to give ordination.

Katamehi dasahi?

What ten?

Idhupāli, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu;

It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.

pātimokkhaṁ kho panassa vitthārena svāgataṁ hoti suvibhattaṁ suppavattaṁ suvinicchitaṁ suttaso anubyañjanaso;

Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material.

paṭibalo hoti gilānaṁ upaṭṭhātuṁ upaṭṭhāpetuṁ vā;

They’re able to care for the sick or get someone else to do so.

paṭibalo hoti anabhiratiṁ vūpakāsetuṁ vūpakāsāpetuṁ vā;

They’re able to settle dissatisfaction or get someone else to do so.

paṭibalo hoti uppannaṁ kukkuccaṁ dhammato vinodetuṁ;

They’re able to dispel remorse when it has come up.

paṭibalo hoti uppannaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ dhammato vivecetuṁ;

They’re able to rationally dissuade someone from misconceptions that come up.

paṭibalo hoti adhisīle samādapetuṁ;

They’re able to encourage someone in the higher ethics,

paṭibalo hoti adhicitte samādapetuṁ;

the higher mind,

paṭibalo hoti adhipaññāya samādapetuṁ.

and the higher wisdom.

Imehi kho, upāli, dasahi dhammehi samannāgatena bhikkhunā upasampādetabban”ti.

A mendicant should possess these ten qualities to give ordination.”

Catutthaṁ.

Qualities:

Discontentment

Discontentment

A state of dissatisfaction with one's requisites or conditions. It fuels the search for more, disturbing peace and preventing the mind from settling into collectedness.

Also known as: dissatisfaction, unsatisfactoriness, boredom
Pāli: asantuṭṭhitā, aratī, atitta
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026