The Religions of India c19.96.6

c19.96.6

22).¹ Another such park Buddha accepts from the courtezan, Ambapālī, whose conversation with Buddha and dinner-party to him forms a favorite story with the monks (*Mahāv*. v. 30; *Cull*. ii). The protection offered by Bimbisāra made the order a fine retreat for rogues. In *Mahāv*. i. 41 ff. one reads that King Seniya Bimbisāra made a decree: "No one is to do any harm to those ordained among the Çākya-son's monks.² Well taught is their doctrine. Let them lead a holy life for the sake of complete extinction of suffering." But robbers and runaway slaves immediately took advantage of this decree, and by joining the order put the police at defiance. Even debtors escaped, became monks, and mocked their creditors. Buddha, therefore, made it a rule that no robber, runaway slave, or other person liable to arrest should be admitted into the order. He ordained further that no son might join the order without his parents' consent (ib. 54). Still another motive of false disciples had to be combated. The parents of Upāli thought to themselves: "What shall we teach Upāli that he may earn his living? If we teach him writing his fingers will be sore; if we teach him arithmetic his mind will be sore; if we teach him money-changing his eyes will be sore. There are those Buddhist monks; they live an easy life; they have enough to eat and shelter from the rain;