English
Samana is one who, for the sake of moral development, abstains from every sensual enjoyment — in point of fact, an ascetic. The simplest rendering of Bhikshu would perhaps have been “begging monk, or mendicant”; but this, too, might easily have led to some misunderstanding: for the Bhikshus differ from Christian mendicants inas- A BUDDHIST CATECHISM 95 much as they do not take the vow of blind obedience to their superiors, and in this that their vows are not irrevocable. Some Europeans have rendered the word Bhikshu by “priest,” but this is far from correct, for the Bhikshus possess no sacerdotal privileges. The word “Elect” was finally adopted as the nearest approach to the original meaning of the word. The sacred books frequently speak of the Bhikshus and the Samanas as the “Ariya’’ — that is, the nobles, the “Elect,” a term indicative of their calling and their position with reference to the great mass of the laity. Norts 46.— Of course the women members of the Order (Bhikshunis) live in separate Viharas. They are not allowed to live alone in hermitages, and are always under the superintendence of the Bhikshus. Notre 47.— The bestowing of alms on the Brother- hood is no obligatory duty of the layman. He gives of his own free will, and because he thereby gains merit and promotes his own welfare. Buddhism teaches that it is not the Bhikshu who should be grateful for gifts received from the Upasaka, but the latter to the first, because the recipient affords the donor an oppor- tunity to gain merit by a charitable act. _ Pa eae 4 —# Ray bs T if q f ie I ae) a ? v $ { ie; " - nA 7 t “ 4 F : he! tt a x Sener