Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c30.14

c30.14

**Ascetics consecrating their lives to Learning.** But the race of Naishṭhika Brahmachārīs, who chose to consecrate themselves to lifelong studentship and celibacy in quest of learning and truth, was not extinct in India in Hiuen Tsang's time. The description given of these noble bands of seekers after truth by the Chinese traveller is well worth quoting: "There are men who, far seen in antique lore and fond of the refinements of learning, are content in seclusion, leading lives of continence. These come and go (lit. sink and float) outside of the world, and promenade through life away from human affairs. Though they are not moved by honours or reproach, their fame is far spread. The rulers treating them with ceremony and respect cannot make them come to court. Now as the State holds men of learning and genius in esteem, and the people respect those who have high intelligence, the honours and praises of such men are conspicuously abundant, and the attentions private and official paid to them are very considerable. Hence men can force themselves to a thorough acquisition of knowledge. Forgetting fatigue, they expatiate in the arts and sciences; seeking for wisdom while relying on perfect virtue they count not 1,000 *li* a long journey. Though their family be in affluent circumstances, such men make up their minds to be like vagrants, and get their food by begging as they go about. With them there is honour in knowing truth (in having wisdom), and there is no disgrace in being destitute."