26 



The 'writing which treats of the ordination of a Priest ( ') 



The offering(-) of the just king; [titleslC^), in whose hand are the 

 lives (of his subjects), and at whose expense was constructed the pa- 

 goda of " Pacified Ang-er/X*) 



(This, h*ke many other of the Burman writings, begins with the 

 following prayer :) 



Oh Lord, filled with glory and power unspeakable, who art 



infinitely more excellent than all creatures, .whose words are by 

 " far more valuable than the words of all other beings ; who art 

 " wise far beyond the wisdom of man, and whom men nor angels(5) 

 <* cannot equal ; who art not subject to misery or trouble of mind, 

 " and to whom all secrets are laid open ; who canst confer happi- 

 " ness on all beings, and knowledge on the ignorant : therefore art 

 " thou called the Lord. What is now said is but a little ; the 

 ** whole life would not suffice to^ispeak it all. Thee, therefore do 

 " I worship- The laws uttered by thee, are eighty and four thou- 



sand : these also do I worship ; and I worship the people who 

 ** abide by these commandments. ^ 



Therefore, on account of worshipping these three, keep me free 



from the ninety- and-six diseases (6) that assail the body ; from 



the thirty- and- tv;o accidents and misfortunes that happen to man, 

 " and from the twenty-and-five unlucky circumstances that befall 

 " him ; from the sixteen sources of trouble ; from the ten crimes^ 



and their corresponding punishments; from the eight cala- 



mitous conditions, (7) and from the five enemies : (8) from all 

 ** these deliver me ; and grant unto me gold, (9) silver, preci- 

 " ous stones, sons and daughters, relations and friends, ser- 

 " vants and slaves, guards and protectors : these grant me ; and 



grant me also a good reputation (or the quality of inspiring res- 

 " spect). Fill me with all these ; and after death let me reach 

 " that place, where 1 may hear the law of the Creator : thus, old I 

 ** shall not become, nor sick, nor shall I die, but shall exist unto 

 " eternity." 



First, a teacher (or priest) of advanced age must be sought for; 

 and after he is found, the thabike,{^^) and thanegan,{}^) and the 

 rest of the eight things . necessary must be obtained : and these 

 are the eight things : a thabike, thanegan, folded leather, (^^^ 

 a water -strainer, a fan, a razor, three needles and a broom. After 

 having procured these things, it is necessary to go to the presence 

 of the teacher advanced in years, and thus address him : " Oh, my 

 Lord, admit me to the noviciate of the priesthood : I will adhere to the 



