NOTES ET INFORMATIONS 635 
and pure vessels, such as are fit to be used. As regords living creatures, 
an injury to them is a sin, and is prohibited by the Buddha. 
It is this prohibition that is the most weighty of all, and an act of injury 
is placed ad the head of the ten sins. One must not be neglectful of this. 
The filter is one of the six possessions (1) necessary to the priests, and 
one cannot do without it. One should not go on a journey three or five 
chinese miles without a filter. If a priest be aware of the fact that the 
residents in the temple where is staying do not strain their water, he 
must not partake of food there. Even if the traveller die on his way from 
thirst (2) or hunger, such a deed is sufficient to be looked upon as a 
splendid example. The daily use of water necessitates inspection. 
There are some who use the strainer, but let the Insects die within it. 
Some are desirous of preserving life, but few know how to do it. Some 
shake (or Cupset ») the strainer at the mouth of a well, and do not know 
the use of the life-preserving vessel. The Insects will, no doubt, be killed 
when they reach the water of a deep well. Others make a small round 
strainer which only contains one quart or two pints. The silk of which it 
is made is raw, rough, and thin; and in using it one does not look for 
the Insects at all, but after hanging it at the side of the jar, others are 
ordered to do the actual inspection. 
Thus one pays no attention to the protection of life, and commits sins 
from day to day. Handing down such error from teacher to pupil, they 
yet think they are handing down the Law of the Buddha. It is indeed a 
grievous and regretful matter ! It is proper for every person to keep a 
vessel for examining water, and every place must be furnished with a 
life-preserving vessel. 
ERRATUM 
: Tome IV, page 608, ligne 2, lire : Galas, au lieu de Galus. 
(1) For the six possessions, see chap. X, p. 54, i. e. the six Requisites. 
The following are the six Requisites of a Bhikshu : 
. The Sanghâti, which is translated by the « double cloak ». 
. The Uttärasanga, which is translated by the «upper garment ». 
. The Antarvâsa, which is translated by the «inner garment ». 
. Pâtra, the bowl. 
. Nishidana, something for sitting or lying on. 
. Parisrâvana, a water strainer. 
(2) This story is told in the Samyuktavastu, book VI (Nanjio’s Catal., n° 1121). 
Two Bhikshus from the south started for Srâvasti to see the Buddha. They were 
thirsty, but the water around them. was full of Insects. The elder did not drink, 
and died ; he was born in heaven. The younger drank and Was censured by the 
Buddha. Much the same story is told in the Gâtaka Commentary (Rhys David’s 
Buddhist Birth Stories, I, p. 278) ; and in Kullavagga, V, 15, 2. 
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