Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c10.3

c10.3

WE now turn from the examination of the faith which held together the band of Buddha's followers, to the consideration of the outward observances, which religious custom and religious discipline have prescribed for the life of this monastic fraternity. It appears from the very beginning to have been a society governed by law. The completion of a procedure prescribed by law was necessary to the reception of a postulant into the society. The law of the Order pointed out to him his course of action and of omission. The society itself as a court of discipline secured conformity to the ecclesiastical rules by keeping up a regular judicial procedure.