Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c23.9

c23.9

**Manner of Begging.** Dealings with the approved households were carefully regulated. A Bhikkhu must not force his way into a house when a meal is going on, and take his seat there. Nor must he take the meals procured by the intervention of a Bhikkhuṇī unless they were previously and independently promised. The Bhikkhus, invited to laymen's houses, must not, while eating, allow a Bhikkhuṇī to stay there and give directions, saying: "Here give curry, give rice here." They must rebuke her for such officiousness, saying: "Stand aside, sister, as long as the Bhikkhus are eating" [*Pāt.*, p. 56]. The Bhikkhus must not go in a body to the same householder and ask for meals and thus be a burden upon him. Not more than three were permitted to seek alms at a common place together [*Chullav.*, vii, 3, 13]. Exception to this rule was allowed in the case of sickness, distribution of robes, or on a journey by foot, or on board a boat, or when, after *Vassa*, the monks travelled in great numbers to visit the Buddha, or when a general invitation is issued to all Samaṇas as a class including non-Buddhists [*Pāl.*, pp. 37-42, *SBE.*, xiii].