Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c22.9

c22.9

**Rules of First Ordination (Pabbajjā).** We shall now describe the other particulars of this preparatory ordination of *Pabbajjā*. In the case of a layman under twenty years of age seeking admission to the Order, he approaches, tonsured, the Vihāra or monastery of his choice with a suit of the yellow robes of the monk in his hands and presents himself before an elder of the monastery for initiation. The elder then invests him with the yellow robe and calls upon him to take the following oath of Three Refuges (*Saraṇattaya*) three times: "I take refuge with the Buddha. I take refuge with the Religion. I take refuge with the Order" [*Mahāvagga*, i, 12, 3-4]. Next, the following Ten Commandments are administered to him (the *dasasikkhāpadāni*), viz. abstinence from (1) taking life, (2) taking what is not given, (3) impure practices, (4) telling a lie, (5) intoxicating drinks, "arrack," etc., (6) eating out of time, (7) dancing, singing, and seeing shows, (8) using garlands, scents, unguents, ornaments, and finery, (9) use of a high or large couch or seat, and (10) receiving gold and silver. It will be noted how most of these interdicts figure in the code of regulations governing the life of a Brahmachārī too. Then the ceremony is over, and the novice is committed to the care of his elder or preceptor who brings him up till he is fit for the higher ordination.