Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c6.5

c6.5

In order to be admitted to the *sangha*, or community of *bhikkhus*, the conditions were very simple. The applicant must be free from certain diseases, and be neither a slave, a debtor, nor in the king’s service. If under age he must first obtain the consent of his parents. The ceremony of admission is thus described in the *Vinaya Piṭaka*¹:—