296 THE MONKHOOD. 



The young probationer is also instructed in certain golden maxims 

 of a moral kind, of which the following ai'e examjDles: — 



" The four Precipices in Speech. — If speech be too long, it is tedious ; 

 . "if too short, its meaning is not appreciated; if 



maxims. P''"'°"^ "rough, it ruffles the temper of the hearers ; if soft, 

 "it is unsatisfying. 



" The Requirements of Speech. — Speecli must possess vigour or it 

 "will not interest; it must be briglit or it will not 

 ° ^^'^'^'^ ■ " enlighten ; it must be suitably ended, otherwise 



" its effect will be lost. 



'■'■The Qualities of Speech. — Speech must be bold as a lion, gentle 

 " and soft as a hare, impressive as a serpent, pointed as an aiTow, 

 "and evenly balanced as a dorje held by its middle (literally ^loaist'). 



" The four Relations of Speech. — The necessary question should first 

 "be stated. The later arguments should be connected with the 

 "former. Essentials should be repeated. The meanings should be 

 "illustrated by examples. 



" The great religious king Srong-5tsan-sgam-po has said,^ ' speech 

 " should float forth freely like a bird into the sky, and be clothed in 

 "charming dress like a goddess. At the outset the object of the 

 "speech should be made clear like an unclouded sky. The speech 

 " should proceed like the excavation of treasure. The arguments 

 " should be agile like a deer chased by fresh hounds, without hesita- 

 " tion or pause.' 



" Collections of human beings occur for three purposes, namely, (I) 



,, . " happiness, (II) sorrow, and (III) worldly gossip. 



Human gatherings. u rpi i.\ ■ £ ^ • i.i i 



° " Ihe gathermgs tor happiness are three, namely, 



' (I) for doing virtuous acts, (2) for worship in the temples, and 



' (3) for erecting houses and for feasts. The gatherings for virtuous 



' acts are four, viz., the gathering of the monks, the gathering of 



' the laity for worship, writing and copying holy books, and giving 



' away wealth in charity. There are six kinds of gatherings for 



' worship, namely, the gathering of the rich, the gathering in a 



' separate place of the common men, the gathering for thanksgiving 



' of those who have escaped from their enemy's grasp, traders 



' who have escaped returned safely and successfully, sick men 



' from the devouring jaws of death, and youths on gaining a 



' victory. 



" The eicjht acts of Loto-horn persons. — Using coarse language, im- 



, ^ "politeness, talking with pride, want of foresio:ht. 



Low conduct. u i i i. • • i j ^^ ° i 



'narsh manners, staring, immoral conduct, and 



"stealing. 



Id the Maui ikah-Abum, vide page 293. 



