Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c25.26

c25.26

**Learned Meetings.** Another agency of education, especially moral education, furnished by monastic life, was the institution of the periodical gatherings of the monks from different monasteries in religious congregations for purposes of confessions of sins twice in the month, at full moon and at new moon. These meetings helped the monks to transcend the limitations of life in individual monasteries in a larger public life and brotherhood. It was ordained that the monks of a district must assemble to celebrate the fast day of the Vedic cultus by a confessional meeting. The meeting was to be convened by the seniors among the monks. The complete fraternity must be present at the meeting. The completeness was in relation to the diocese, which was defined as extending as far as one residence, the landmarks of which were determined by mountain, tree, rock, wood, path, anthill, a sheet of water and a river, but not up to its opposite bank, unless there was provision for regular communication by a ferry boat or a dyke. The place or the hall of the confessional gathering had also to be fixed and proclaimed beforehand. It might be one or other of the five types of building legitimate for monks, as explained above. The Saṁgha as a body by a Resolution must fix the place of the meeting, which must be duly announced, so that members might be cognizant of it. In the meeting, the Theras must assemble first. They must get the young Bhikkhus who are residents of that place to sweep it beforehand, prepare seats, light lamps, and provide for drink and food. The meeting must be attended by every member of the fraternity. If a member is sick, he must send a declaration of his innocence before the assembled Chapter through another Bhikkhu. Otherwise he must be carried on his bed or chair to the Assembly, or, if he is too ill, the Assembly must go to him and hold their meeting so as to secure his attendance. The exemption from attendance was granted only to a member who had turned mad. The confession was not common or collective, but individual. The common offence of the whole Saṁgha was to be confessed before the guiltless Bhikkhu of another diocese [*Mahāv.*, ii].