Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c25.7

c25.7

**Studies of Monks of different grades.** From the discipline of the monks under training we now pass on to their studies. The ordinary instruction of a pupil-monk seems to have comprised the "giving of recitation, holding examination, making exhortation, and explaining Dhamma" [*Chullav.*, viii, 7, 4]. We read of some Bhikkhus specializing in reciting the Dhamma, of some in propounding the Suttantas, some in the Vinaya, and of some specializing as preachers of the Dhamma [*Mahāv.*, iv, 15, 4]. The Bhikkhus as students were assigned to different classes according to their progress in studies. The lowest class seems to have been made up of students "who were repeaters of the Suttantas". The method recommended for this rote-learning was "to chant over the Suttantas to one another". The next higher class was of those students "who were in charge of the Vinaya" which they would master by discussing it with one another. To a yet higher class belonged those Bhikkhus who were training themselves up as teachers of the Dhamma. And, as part of this training, they were required to talk over the Dhamma one with another before they should preach it to others. There were, lastly, Bhikkhus of the highest classes who were given to meditation, i.e. the practice of the four *Jhānas* or meditations [for the definition of which see Rhys Davids'