Part III. The Sangha

The Buddhist Catechism, by Henry S. Olcott [1908], at sacred-texts.com

p. 74 p. 75

PART III.

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 spiritual-minded persons in a country 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.

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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 Sîla, or Ten Precepts, are binding on all Bhikkhus and Samaneras, or novices, but optional with lay devotees.

The Althanga Sîla are for those who aspire to higher stages beyond the heavenly regions, ^* aspirants after Nirvâṇa.

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 (Pâtimokkha samvara sîla).

Observances for the repression of the senses (Indriya samvara sîla).

Regulations for justly procuring and using food, diet, robes, &c. (Paccaya sannissita sîla).

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Directions for leading an unblemished life (Ajivapâri suddha sîla).

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;

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Buying and selling;

Cheating, bribing, deception and fraud;

Imprisoning, plundering, and threatening others; and

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. Either of these would retard the progress of one who aimed at the attainment of Nirvâṇa.

261. Q. What are the ditties 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 tenderhearted, 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

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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 not be a criminal or deformed or in the royal service.

263. Q. As a novice what is he called?

A. Samanera, a pupil. ^*

264. Q. At what age can a Samanera be ordained as Sranrana—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 (Tisaraṇa) and Ten Precepts (Dasa Sîla).

267. Q. What are the two essentials to be observed?

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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 Vinâya, 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 vihâra, sweeps around the Bo-tree that grows near every vihâra, 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 

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the offering of flowers (mala pûja) 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-patthânâ) made?

A. 1. On the body, Kayânapassânâ.

2. On the feeling, Vedanânupassanâ.

3. On the mind, Chittânupassanâ.

4. On the doctrine, Dhammânupassanâ.

278. Q. What is the aim of the four Great Efforts (Samanappadhânâ)?

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?

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A. When one, by the practice of Jñâna, comes to its fourth stage of unfolding.

276. Q. Are we to believe that in the final stage of Jñâna, and in the condition called Samâdhi, 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 Jñâna and Samâdhi 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.

Footnotes

76:* The Upûsakâ and Upâsika observe these on the Buddhist Uposatha (Sabbath) days (In Sk. Upavasatha). They are the 8th, 14th and 15th days of each half lunar month.

79:* 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.