Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c25.2

c25.2

**Parivāsa or Probation.** The Vinaya texts distinguish four principal kinds of probation for the Bhikkhus. The first of these applied when the follower of another of the reforming sects was received into the Buddhist Order. Upon such a person was imposed a Parivāsa (a probation-time) of four months. The probationer is required to submit to a strict course of discipline. He must not enter the village too early nor come back to the Vihāra too late. He must not frequent the society of objectionable persons such as harlots, widows, adult girls, eunuchs, or Bhikkhuṇīs. The probationer is to be condemned when he does not show himself "skilled in the various things his fellow Bhikkhus have to do, is not diligent, not able to consider how things are to be done, not able to do things himself, and not able to give directions to others". He is also to be condemned when he does not show keen zeal when the doctrine is preached to him, or when questions are put on the same. He is also expected to be pleased when the Buddha is praised, and not to be displeased when the sect he has deserted is criticized [*Mahāv.*, i, 38.]