The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c14.s2.9

c14.s2.9

It is, however, possible to think of an approximate analogue. One example would be the Buddhist *sangha*, the community of monks individually following the strict ritualistic rule of monastic discipline. It only knows the impersonal authority of the Buddhist dharma. But for that reason, it can only endure in juxtaposition to the temporal power of the king, who must resolve the internal conflicts that the sangha itself has no power to decide, even though outside intervention compromises its integrity.⁵⁰