Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c10.7

c10.7

But, we must add, although the Order of Buddha’s disciples, or members thereof specially called on and qualified to do so, have virtually acted as law-makers, yet in theory the community has distinctly disclaimed all legislative functions. The authority to frame a law for the community belongs to Buddha alone according to Buddhist theory. All commands and prohibitions received their character as binding rules from the fact that Buddha has enunciated, or is supposed to have enunciated them. With his death both the possibility and the necessity for creating new laws has become extinct. The Order has only to apply and expound Buddha’s regulations, in the same way here understands: “who has so wounded Buddha that his blood has flowed.” That this definition originated in a time when it had a meaning will be regarded, if not as absolutely certain, at any rate as more than natural. For the elucidation of the passage in point (“Mahâvagga,” i, 67), cf. “Cullav.” vii, 3, 9.