302 THE MONKHOOD. 



He now is instructed in the preparation and adornment of 



torma, or sacred food for the gods and demons; 



His further acade- ^^^j ^^ ^j^g blowing of the Copper trumpets, in the 



mic instruction. • i i- c ^?^ i i i ■ i • -i 



manipulation oi the cymbals, and in dancing and 



rhetoric, and in any science which he fancies. And he is now at 

 liberty to choose for himself a teacher. The "sciences" usually taken 

 up are astrology, medicine, and painting, but the majority of the newly- 

 fledged monks are content with the position of an ordinary monk. 

 Until, however, he commits to memory the following books, he 



will never become a successful chaplain or family 

 His sacerdotal func- priest (?«chhod-^nas), which is a paying business and 



the goal of most of the monks. For those lamas who 

 can recite by heart all the Litanies and other sacerdotal ritual, without 

 consulting their books, are much more popular and sought after than 

 those who read their ritual service. He therefore tries to learn by 

 heart — " The real story of animal beings by Sagon, who had returned 

 from the dead" (Sagon Iigro (fngos zhi), and the Litany of Avalokita — 

 The Powerful Great Pitier (gar-a'iang Thug-rje chhenpo), and " The 

 exhorting Maui," which are used on the occasion of a death. Also 

 " The ripe (magic) circle which draws to the best and most jDloasing 

 dwelling" (smin-byed-f/iyang gi-f?kyil-/ikor dbang mchhog-^nas /idven). 

 I have already noted that the majority of the lamas exercise 

 sacerdotal functions, and are priests rather than monks. Many of the 

 lamas are permitted to reside in their villages for the greater part of 

 the year, ostensibly as village-priests for the convenience of the people. 

 They must, however, return at definite intervals to their parent-monas- 

 tery, which keeps a roll of all its members and punishes those indivi- 

 duals who absent themselves for unduly long periods. 



The regulation which is most frequently violated is that of 



celibacy; but in most of the institutions other than 

 ofSilf^°'^'^'''^*'°° Pemiongchi celibacy is not observed. Should it 



be proved that a Pemiongchi monk consorts with 

 women, he will be expelled by a chapter, unless it be bis first offence 

 and he prays publicly for forgiveness, and then is awarded some 

 penance and pays a fine of 180 rupees according to the rules of the 

 /Chags-yig. He must also pay over again the entrance fees and 

 presents as before. 



II.—LlMAIC GRADES AND DISCIPLINE. 



The consecutive offices through which the young lama must pass 

 Lower ofBces. to reach the highest grades are the following : — 

 /. — Conch-shell Blower — for about one year. These go in pairs, 

 J J. — Poiirer oj holy water, or Chhab-/idren — for one year. 

 111. — Image care-taker or sKu-^nyer — for three years. 



