Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c29.s4.1

v2.c29.s4.1

It cannot be exactly determined when firm faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha came to be recognised as a means to the attainment of Nirvāṇa. In the Vatthūpamasutta, so much emphasis is laid on it, that a monk having firm faith in the Triratna is exempted from observing even the rules of food. This sutta further shows that a monk taking to faith need not practise the sīlas as recommended for the generality of monks.¹