14 Budhism : — Laws of the Budhist Priesthood. 



This freedom from desire (and the perfect purity necessarily 

 connected with it) constitutes the state of a Rahat. Super- 

 natural wisdom and super-human power result from these: 

 but he who receives the doctrine of Budha, and is thus free, 

 is a Rahat. There were now, says the author, six Rahats in 

 the world. 



The next accession to the priesthood, was from the family 

 of a wealthy nobleman of Benares. His son Yaso became 

 disgusted with the sensualities with which he was surrounded, 

 and filled with uneasy emotions, he left his house at night 

 and repaired to Budha at Isipatana, a retreat near the city. 

 Budha calmed his mind with his conversation, and the young 

 nobleman was convinced of the truth of his doctrine. The 

 mother of Yaso, missing her son, alarmed her husband, who 

 sending out mounted servants to seek him in every direction, 

 repaired himself to Isipatana, where he also became con- 

 verted to the faith of Goutama, and consented to the desire 

 of his son to become a priest. The whole family followed 

 the example of the nobleman, and embraced the new religion. 



There were four young men of noble birth, the friends of 

 Yaso, living in Benares. They, hearing that Yaso had 

 forsaken secular life, shaved his head and beard, put on the 

 yellow robe, and become a priest of Budha, were induced to 

 follow his example. Fifty young men also, who were the 

 friends of Yaso in the provinces, were persuaded by him to 

 become his companions ; and as they all became Rahats, the 

 Budhist community consisted of 61 priests, all of whom 

 had attained the perfection of virtue. 



Budha then called his priests together and directed them 

 to travel into the provinces, to disseminate his doctrines, 

 that from a feeling of compassion, they might promote the 

 profit and happiness of gods and men. He added, Go singly, 

 priests, not two to one place, and preach this doctrine which 

 is excellent in its commencement, excellent in its continu- 

 ance, and excellent in its termination 3 which is replete with 

 instruction and clearly expressed: thus make known the 



