Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c10.t1.5

c10.t1.5

The eldest among the monks in every district calls the meeting, and at evening on the fast-day all the brethren, who are sojourning within the limits of the diocese, come together in the vihâra chosen for the purpose or whatever other place is selected by the Order, be it a building or a cave in the mountain. No one is permitted to absent himself. Only in the case of insanity can a dispensation be granted, and sick brethren can be allowed to remain away, if they can cause an assurance of their purity from the transgressions mentioned in the confessional formula to reach the assembled brethren through a comrade. If there be no one to convey this assurance, the invalid must be brought on his chair or on his bed to the assembly, or if this cannot be done without danger to him, the Order must go in a body to his bedside for the celebration. But under no circumstances is it permitted to go through the sacred office in an assembly short of the full number.