The Religions of India c19.96.5

c19.96.5

At one time one is informed of the color of their heretical slippers, at another of the make of their wicked gowns. All this is monastic, even in the discipline which ‘sets back’ a badly behaved monk, gives him probation, forces him to be subordinate. In *Cullavagga*, i. 9, there is an account of stupid Seyyasaka, who was dull and indiscreet, and was always getting ‘set back’ by the brethren. Finally they grow weary of probating him and carry out the *nissaya* against him, obliging him to remain under the superintendence of others. For, according to Buddha's rule, a wise novice was kept under surveillance, or rather under the authority of others, for five years; a stupid uninformed monk, forever. Buddha's relations with society are plainly set forth. One reads how his devoted friend, King Seniya Bimbisāra, four years younger than Buddha, and his protector (for he was King of Māgadha), gives him a park, perhaps the first donation of this sort, the origin of all the monastic foundations: "The King of Māgadha, Bimbisāra, thought 'here is this bamboo forest Veluvana, my pleasure-garden, which is neither too near to the town nor too far from it. . . What if I were to give it to the fraternity?' . . . And he took a golden vessel (of water) and dedicated the garden to Buddha, saying, 'I give up the park to the fraternity with Buddha at its head.' And the Blessed One accepted the park" (*Mahāvagga*, i.