The Religions of India c19.50

c19.50

It has been denied that the early church contained lay members as well as monks, but Oldenberg appears to have set the matter right (p. 165) in showing that the laity, from the beginning, were a recognized part of the general church. The monk (*bhikshu, bhikku*) was formally enrolled as a disciple, wore the gown and tonsure, etc. The lay brother, ‘reverer’ (*upāsaka*), was one that assented to the doctrine and treated the monks kindly. There were, at first, only men in the congregation, for Buddhism took a view as unfavorable to woman as did Jainism. But at his foster-mother’s request Buddha finally admitted nuns as well as monks into his fold. When Ānanda asks how a monk should act in presence of a woman Buddha says ‘avoid to look at her’; but if it be necessary to look, ‘do not speak to her’; but if it be necessary to speak, ‘then keep wide awake, Ānanda.’²