Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c10.t3.3

c10.t3.3

But while there was framed from the beginning for the monastic Church an organization, clothed with strict forms of spiritual procedure, there was no attempt made at creations of a similar kind for the quasi-Church of lay-brothers and lay-sisters. Certain customs of spiritual life and practical beneficence must obviously have arisen even here; definite institutions have not followed. There was not so much as any sharply drawn line between the laity, who were to be regarded as adherents of the Order of Buddha, and those who stood aloof therefrom; entry into the circle of “votaries” was dependent on no qualification and followed regularly upon a form fixed by custom, but not determind by rule,† namely upon the person taking the step declaring in the presence of a monk, either on his own behalf alone, or jointly with wife, children, and servants, that he takes his refuge in Buddha, the Doctrine, and the Order of Disciples. Then there was also, it is true, inculcated on the lay-disciples on the part of the Order, the observance of certain duties of temperance and rectitude,* but neither was the profession of a formal vow by them insisted upon, nor did the Church keep watch in any way whatever over the actual fulfilment of these duties. A formal excommunication of unbelieving, unworthy, or scandalously-living lay-brothers there was not, and, as a result of circumstances, there could not be. The only procedure prescribed in the regulations of the Church against laity, who had given cause of complaint, shows clearly how little the ideas of admission and expulsion had been applied to this relation: namely, the Order might resolve “to withdraw the almsbowl” from such a layman (i.e., take no gifts from him) “and refuse the admission of an Upâsaka had been looked upon as one determined by rule, some narrative of the introduction of this form by an injunction of Buddha must also exist. In truth he is an Upâsaka, who shows himself to be so by his acts. It cannot therefore cause astonishment, if occasionally people, who show honour to monks and entertain them, are addressed by them as Upâsakas, although they do not make a declaration of their taking refuge until afterwards (“Dhp. Atth.,” p. 81). Cf. also supra, note p. 162.