THE EXAMINATIONS. 301 



(5) The sacrificial ceremony hskang isliags, viz., Rig-dsin 



Jskang-Sshags, Phagmai fokang Jshags. 



(6) The prayer of the glorious "Tashi" — the Lepcha name for 



Padma Sambhava — Tashi-smon-lam. 

 The above books reach to about fifty-five pages. 



(7) The circle of the eight Commanders of the collected Buddhas. 



bKah bgyad bde ffshegs /^duspai tikyil-Ziikhor kyi las 

 and Khrowo-rol wax ^tor-zlog gyi skorl ikah brgyad. 

 This has about 40 pages. [The names of the eight 

 Commanders, ^Kah-igyads, are — (1) Chhe-?«chhog, (2) 

 Yang-dag, (3) g-Shin-rje, (4') rTa-mgrin, (5) Phurpa, 

 (6) Mamo, (7) Z^Gad stong, (8) Rig-Msin).] 



When the young monk recites by heart all these books satisfac- 

 torily, and so passes this examination, he is not subject to auy further 

 ordeal of examination : this being the final one. 



It should be noted, however, that outside Pemiongchi practically 

 ^ ,. .no examination obtains. All that is done is merely 



Ordinary practice. , ■ • , , i i i •„ a 



to insist on the young monks endeavouring to 

 commit to memory as many of these books as possible. 



The Monkhood. — On passing these two examinations, the success- 

 ful candidate becomes a junior monk, and is sup- 



riJile er'"'"" ^""^ P°^^^ *^ ^^^P " '^^^ '^^^ Prccepts," ^ but he is still 

 privi eges. called a gra-pa or " learner." [The term f/ge-ilong 



or "the virtuous beggar," which may be considered as represent- 

 ing the Bhikhu of Indian Buddhism, is not in use in Sikhim; and in 

 Tibet it is restricted to those lamas who profess the strict observa- 

 tion of the 253 obligations.] He is presented with a scarf of honour by 

 the monks, and is considered a member of the Order — even although he 

 be under 20 years of age. And from that date he is relieved of the 

 menial office of serving out tea and beer, and he takes a higher seat 

 in the Assembly Hall. And he now directly receives his share of the 

 money and other lay gifts which had hitherto been the perquisite of 

 his tutor. And he has the privilege of drinking beer which he should 

 not previously have tasted — although abstinence from intoxicating 

 drinks is one of "the eight precepts." And he may even drink the beer 

 o£E the same table as his teacher. But he may not yet discuss any 

 great subject with his master, as this would be disrespectful. He is 

 taught to pay his teacher the deepest respect and to place implicit 

 reliance on all his sayings. 



' The Ten Precepts (Skt. Dasasila) Mi-rfge-6chu— literally " The Ten Unvirtuous Deeds," 

 according to the Lamas, are (1) Not to kill any living being, (2) Not to steal, (3) Not to 

 commit adultery, (4) Not to lie, (5) I^ot to drink wine (this is not observed), (G) Not to sit 

 on a lofty seat or have a large bed, (7) Not to wear flowers or ribbons, (8) Not lo be fond of 

 songs or dances, (9) Not to wear ornaments of gold or silver, (10) Not to eat licsh food after 

 noon. 



