Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.121

c7.121

thus indicated, are observed for twenty-four hours on the four pohoya or sabbath days of each month, quarter days of the moon. At such times, married persons sleep apart, and white clothes are worn; the ascetic life is, in fact, adopted for a short period. All religions have recognized the great advantage of such fasts or practice of restraint at regular intervals. Members of the priesthood have also at all times to abstain from receiving gold or silver, and are very particularly prohibited from practising any magical art or science, making ten precepts in all (dasa-sil). False pretension to supernatural attainment by monks is an unpardonable sin. All such things as incantations, charms and ceremonial worship of gods are opposed to the spirit of Buddhism.