No. 6.— 1853.] LAWS OF THE BUDDHIST PRIESTHOOD. 



29 



the wind. It will be advantageous, if I become one of that 

 priesthood. He accordingly requested, and obtained ordination. 

 At length, the supply of food brought to the monastery was 

 diminished, and he was directed to take his bowl and collect 

 alms : this he declined, saying, that if they gave him food, he 

 would remain ; but if not, he would leave the priesthood, 

 " What ! friend," said they ; " did you become a priest for the sake 

 of your belly ?" " Truly I did," he replied. The virtuous priests, 

 being much dissatisfied, related the circumstance to Buddha, 

 who reproved the offender, and decreed: — 



13. " I direct, priests, that those who give Upasampadd 

 shall declare the four Nissaya (or things incumbent on a priest). 

 1st, The priesthood is for the purpose of living upon food 

 collected as alms. This is that to which you are to attend as 

 long as you live. 2nd, The priesthood is for the purpose of 

 wearing garments made of cast-away cloth. This is that to 

 which you are to attend so long as you live. 3rd, The priest- 

 hood is for the purpose of residing at the foot of a tree. To 

 this you are to attend so long as you live. 4th, The priesthood 

 is for the purpose of using as medicine the urine of horned 

 cattle. To this you are to attend so long as you live. " 



This appears to have been the original rule for the priest- 

 hood, but it was soon modified ; and now under each head articles 

 are arranged, called " Extras allowed" (Atirekalabho*). The 

 four Nissaya, or necessaries, are food, raiment, dwelling, and 

 medicine. Under the first, in addition to food collected in 

 the alms-bowl, the extras allowed are, food brought to the 

 temples for the priests generally ; daily food furnished by 

 individual benefactors ; food of which they are invited to partake 

 at the houses of their disciples and others ; food given on certain 

 days, on the Poya days (the days of the changes of the moon) ; 



