THE SANGHA
256. Q. _How do Buddhist Bhikkhus differ from the priests of other
religions?_
A. In other religions the priests claim to be intercessors between men
and God, to help to obtain pardon of sins; the Buddhist Bhikkhus do not
acknowledge or expect anything from a divine power.
257. Q. _But why then was it worth while to create this Order, or
Brotherhood, or Society, apart from the whole body of the people, if
they were not to do what other religious orders do?_
A. The object in view was to cause the most virtuous, intelligent,
unselfish and spiritually-minded persons to withdraw from the social
surroundings where their sensual and other selfish desires were
naturally strengthened, devote their lives to the acquisition of the
highest wisdom, and fit themselves to teach and guide others out of the
pleasant path leading towards misery, into the harder path that leads
to true happiness and final liberation.
258. Q. _Besides the Eight, what two additional observances are
obligatory upon the Bhikkhus?_
A. I observe the precept to abstain from dancing, singing and
unbecoming shows.
I observe the precept to abstain from receiving gold or silver.
The whole _Dasa_, or _Bhikkhu Sila_ or Ten Precepts, are binding on
_all_ Bhikkhus and _Samaneras_, or novices, but optional with lay
devotees.
The _Atthanga Sila_ are for those who aspire to higher stages beyond
the heavenly regions,[1] aspirants after Nirvana.
259. Q. _Are there separate Rules and Precepts for the guidance and
discipline of the Order?_
A. Yes: there are 250, but all come under the following four heads:
Principal Disciplinary Rules {_Patimokkha Samvara Sila_).
Observances for the repression of the senses (_Indriya Samvara
Sila_).
Regulations for justly procuring and using food, diet, robes, etc.,
(_Paccaya Sannissita Sila_).
Directions for leading an unblemished life (_Ajivapari Suddha Sila_).
260. Q. _Enumerate some crimes and offences that Bhikkhus are
particularly prohibited from committing?_
A. Real Bhikkhus abstain from:
Destroying the life of beings;
Stealing;
False exhibition of "occult" powers to deceive anybody;
Sexual intercourse;
Falsehood;
The use of intoxicating liquors, and eating at unseasonable times;
Dancing, singing, and unbecoming shows;
Using garlands, scents, perfumes, etc.;
Using high and broad beds, couches, or seats; receiving presents of
gold, silver, raw grain and meat, women, and maidens, slaves, cattle,
elephants, etc.;
Defaming;
Using harsh and reproachful language;
Idle talk;
Reading and hearing fabulous stories and tales;
Carrying messages to and from laymen;
Buying and selling;
Cheating, bribing, deception, and fraud;
Imprisoning, plundering, and threatening others;
The practice of certain specified magical arts and sciences, such as
fortune-telling, astrological predictions, palmistry, and other
sciences, that go under the name of magic. Any of these would retard
the progress of one who aimed at the attainment of Nirvana.
261. Q. _What are the duties of Bhikkhus to the laity?_
A. Generally, to set them an example of the highest morality; to teach
and instruct them; to preach and expound the Law; to recite the
_Paritta_ (comforting texts) to the sick, and publicly in times of
public calamity, when requested to do so; and unceasingly to exhort the
people to virtuous actions. They should dissuade them from vice; be
compassionate and tender-hearted, and seek to promote the welfare of
all beings.
262. Q. _What are the rules for admission into the Order?_
A. The candidate is not often taken before his tenth year; he must
have the consent of his parents; be free from leprosy, boils,
consumption and fits; be a free man; have no debts; and must not be a
criminal or deformed or in the royal service.
263. Q. _As a novice what is he called?_
A. _Samanera_, a pupil.[2]
264. Q. _At what age can a Samanera be ordained as _Sramana_--monk?_
A. Not before his twentieth year.
265. Q. When ready for ordination what happens?
A. At a meeting of Bhikkhus he is presented by a Bhikkhu as his
proposer, who reports that he is qualified, and the candidate says: "I
ask the Sangha, Reverend Sirs, for the _Upasampada_ (ordination)
ceremony, etc."
His introducer then recommends that he be admitted. He is then
accepted.
266. Q. _What then?_
A. He puts on the robes and repeats the Three Refuges {_Tisarana_) and
Ten Precepts (_Dasa Sila_.)
267. Q. _What are the two essentials to be observed?_
A. Poverty and Chastity. A Bhikkhu before ordination must possess
eight things, _viz._, his robes, a girdle for his loins, a
begging-bowl, water-strainer, razor, needle, fan, sandals. Within
limitations strictly specified in the Vinaya, he may hold certain
other properties.
268. Q. _What about the public confession of faults?_
A. Once every fortnight, a _Patimokka_ (Disburdenment) ceremony is
performed, when every Bhikkhu confesses to the assembly such faults as
he has committed and takes such penances as may be prescribed.
269. Q. _What daily routine must he follow?_
A. He rises before daylight, washes, sweeps the vihara, sweeps
around the Bo-tree that grows near every vihara, brings the
drinking-water for the day and filters it; retires for meditation,
offers flowers before the dagoba, or relic-mound, or before the
Bo-tree; then takes his begging-bowl and goes from house to house
collecting food--which he must not ask for, but receive in his bowl as
given voluntarily by the householders. He returns, bathes his feet and
eats, after which he resumes meditation.
270. Q. _Must we believe that there is no merit in the offering of
flowers (mala puja) as an act of worship?_
A. That act itself is without merit as a mere formality; but if one
offers a flower as the sweetest, purest expression of heartfelt
reverence for a holy being, then, indeed, is the offering an act of
ennobling worship.
271. Q. _What next does the Bhikkhu do?_
A. He pursues his studies. At sunset he again sweeps the sacred
places, lights a lamp, listens to the instructions of his superior, and
confesses to him any fault he may have committed.
272. Q. _Upon what are his four earnest meditations
(Sati-patthana) made?_
A. 1. On the body, Kayanapassana.
2. On the feeling, Vedananupassana.
3. On the mind, Chittannpassana.
4. On the doctrine, Dhammanupassana.
273. Q. _What is the aim of the four Great Efforts
(Sammappadhana)?_
A. To suppress one's animal desires and grow in goodness.
274. Q. _For the perception by the Bhikkhu of the highest truth, is
reason said to be the best, or intuition?_
A. Intuition--a mental state in which any desired truth is
instantaneously grasped.
275. Q. _And when can that development be reached?_
A. When one, by the practice of Jñana, comes to its fourth stage of
unfolding.
276. Q. _Are we to believe that in the final stage of Jñana, and
in the condition called Samadhi, the mind is a blank and thought is
arrested?_
A. Quite the contrary. It is then that one's consciousness is most
intensely active, and one's power to gain knowledge correspondingly
vast.
277. Q. _Try to give me a simile?_
A. In the ordinary waking state one's view of knowledge is as limited
as the sight of a man who walks on a road between high hills; in the
higher consciousness of Jñana and _Samadhi_ it is like the sight
of the eagle poised in the upper sky and overlooking a whole country.
278. Q. _What do our books say about the Buddha's use of this
faculty?_
A. They tell us that it was his custom, every morning, to glance over
the world and, by his divine (clairvoyant) sight, see where there were
persons ready to receive the truth. He would then contrive, if
possible, that it should reach them. When persons visited him he would
look into their minds, read their secret motives, and then preach to
them according to their needs.
[1] The Upasaka and Upasika observe these on the Buddhist
_Uposatha_ (Sabbath) days (in Skr. _Upavasata_). They are the 8th,
14th and 15th days of each half lunar month.
[2] The relationship to his Guru, or teacher, is almost like that of
godson to godfather among Christians, only more real, for the teacher
becomes father, mother, family and all to him.