ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIPZTY, 

 CEYLON BRANCH. 



THE LAWS OF THE BUDDHIST 

 PRIESTHOOD, 

 By the Rev. D. J. Gogerly. 



In the Papers laid before the Society respecting the 

 laws relative to the Ordination of Buddhist priests, the dif- 

 ferent precepts are literally translated in the order in which 

 they are recorded in the Mafia Vaggo. But this mode, 

 although exact, is tedious, and therefore will be abandoned 

 in this, and the following Papers. The substance of the 

 precepts will be given, with such observations as may tend 

 to elucidate them. 



It has been previously noted, that Buddha declined the 

 formation of a code of laws for the government of the 

 priestly order when he was requested to do so by Sariputra, 

 one of his chief priests ; stating, that it would be more 

 advisable to legislate as circumstances should arise requiring 

 directions to be given. The precepts thus given were 

 afterwards arranged under separate heads. The Pdrdjika 

 and Pachittiyan divisions contain the Moral precepts, binding 

 upon every member of the order. The Mahd Vaggo and 

 Clu'da Vaggo, contain the Ecclesiastical laws, and the 

 Pariwdra Pdtho is a technical recapitulation and explanation 

 of the other four sections of the Vinaya Pitaka. 



The second chapter of the Mahd Vaggo, explains how 

 the Poya, or Uposatha days were instituted, and gives the 

 rales of their observance. The Poya days are, up to 

 the present time, observed by all Buddhists, who on 



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