Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.128

c7.128

The object of the institution of the priesthood 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 towards true happiness and liberation." No vow of obedience bound the monk; "mental culture, not mental death was the aim set before the Buddhist ascetic by the founder of his order. Each one is to conquer self by himself" (Rhys Davids, 'Buddhism'). A monk was always free to cast off his robes and return to the world if he wished.