Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c29.35

c29.35

**Guests allowed at Monasteries for three days.** These hostels of the monks were authorized to receive guests. The manner of their reception is thus described: "When stranger monks arrive, the old residents meet and receive them, carry for them their clothes and alms-bowl, give them water to wash their feet, oil with which to anoint them, and the liquid food permitted out of the regular hours (cf. Vinaya regulations cited above). When the stranger has enjoyed a very brief rest, they further ask the number of years that he has been a monk, after which he receives a sleeping apartment with its appurtenances, according to his regular orders, and everything is done for him which the rules prescribe" (p. 44). The guests were to be entertained ordinarily for three days only. This was the rule noticed by Fa-Hien in the Udyāna monasteries. "When stranger bhikshus arrive at one of them, their wants are supplied for three days, after which they are told to find a resting-place for themselves" (p. 29).