Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c22.s7.1

v1.c22.s7.1

Monks as a rule take the vow of poverty, hence individually they cannot own any property. The *vihāras* cannot be given to a monk; they can be given only to a *sangha* of monks and that again should preferably be to the *āgatānāgata-cātuddisa-sangha*, *i.e.* a *sangha*, the members of which are not only the *bhikkhus* of the four quarters but also those who will be *bhikkhus* in future. In some of the donative inscriptions of a later period (3rd century B.C. to 5th century A.D.) there are specific directions, dedicating the monasteries to a particular sect. This tendency developed when the Buddhist *sangha* had split up into many rival sects, and the devotees of one sect wanted to give their support to their own sect only.² When for the first time Buddha permitted his followers to accept *āvāsas*, *ārāmas*, *vihāras* or *pariveṇas*, he enjoined that they should be given to *āgatānāgata-cātuddisa-saṅgha*.¹ Even while accepting the Jetavana vihāra from Anāthapiṇḍika, he directed the donor to give it to *āgatānāgata-cātuddisa-saṅgha*.²