Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c19.s4.6

v1.c19.s4.6

A Samaṇa's first duty was to provide himself with an alms-bowl and robes,⁴ observe the ten precepts, and render all possible services to his teacher. As a general rule he must be respectful to all monks,⁵ and should never speak ill of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha nor adhere to any false belief.⁶ He was taught not only the moral laws, conduct and demeanour, but was also initiated into the mysteries of Buddhist philosophy. There are elaborate rules⁷ regulating the mutual duties and obligations of a teacher (upajjhāya) and his disciple (saddhivihārika) as also the cessation of their relation. The relation of a teacher and a disciple should be that of a father and son and it is by mutual reverence, confidence and communion that one can prosper in the dhamma and vinaya.⁸ It is not clear what was the function of the *Ācariya*.¹ It may be that he gave the *nissayas*, prescribed the *kammaṭṭhānas* for meditation to his disciple (*antevāsika*), in short, trained him up in the esoteric practices, while the *upajjhāya* taught the three *piṭakas* and imparted the general instructions, in other words, the exoteric aspects of Buddhism. In the absence of the *upajjhāya*, the *ācariya* had also to perform the functions of an *upajjhāya*, and *vice versa*. In the *Mahāvagga* and *Cullavagga*, (viii. 13-14) the functions of an *ācariya* and *upajjhāya* are given in identical terms, and it is enjoined that in the absence of one, the other had to perform the functions of both.²