Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c6.1

v1.c6.1

In the pre-Buddhistic days, people found more leisure to busy themselves with the questions relating to the ultimate problems. The literature produced was all religious, e.g., the Brāhmaṇas, Āraṇyakas, Śrautasūtras, other kinds of Sūtras, Āgamas and so forth. In view also of the existence of kotuhala-sālās and paribbajākārāmas in towns and villages, it may well be inferred that religious discussions formed an important feature of the cultural life of the period, and the life of a recluse was generally encouraged, no exception being made in the case of sons of even well-to-do families.