Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c22.s1: The Saṅghārāmas
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c22.s1
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The Saṅghārāmas
v1.c22.s1.1
The members of the Buddhist order at the very beginning of its formation lived mostly in caves and forests, staying for only a short time at a particular place. It was probably the gift of Veluvana to Buddha that constrained him to permit his followers to dwell in hermitages; but he gave his formal consent¹ when he was requested by a merchant of Rājagṛha to accept the sixty *vihāras* (monasteries) that had been built by him for acquiring merit to go to one of the higher worlds. Once the sanction was given, the monks as well as the devotees showed so much zeal in the building of monasteries that it necessitated Buddha to frame a number of rules¹ restraining the monks from drifting into luxury. These monasteries were originally used for residential purposes only, but grew up later on into academic centres even during the lifetime of Buddha.
v1.c22.s1.2
¹ See above, pp. 278, 284.
v1.c22.s1.3
¹ Pātimokkha, section ii.
Cites (1)
- Pātimokkha — Pāli