Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c16.22

v1.c16.22

Buddhaghosa, after thus dealing with the *sīlas* in a general way, passes on to the *dhutaṅgas*, the thirteen rigorous practices permitted to some monks. It will be apparent from what has been said above that according to the Buddhists, purity is more mental than physical, and hence, in Buddhist ethics emphasis has been laid more on mental than on physical discipline.¹ The monks, as a rule, were not required to undergo unnecessary physical discomforts except what was necessary for concentration of mind, i.e., a little food and cloth with a bare bed, seat, medicaments and a resting place. The restrictions which were observed by them in these matters are detailed in the *Pātimokkha* and other parts of the *Vinaya*. In the earliest stage of Buddhism, when the monks used to live as hermits in caves and forests, i.e. before the practice of living in monasteries came into vogue, four *nissayas* (conditions) were prescribed for them. These were,—