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STRICT REGULATIONS.
163 early in Buddha's career they became an organised Brotherhood; and a formal system of admission and rules of conduct were framed as need arose. At first candidates who professed belief in this doctrine were simply admitted by the great teacher, but it is a natural development that this should be delegated to others as the Order grew. The Mahavagga, one of the The oldest Pali books, contains the records of these Mahavagga. events, and of the regulations imposed on the Order, preceded by a narrative embodying many of the early events in Buddha's preaching, including not a few marvels and miracles. Soon it became customary to hold meetings of the Order twice a month, at Fortnightly the periods of full and new moon, already meetings. sacred periods in India, observed by Brahmans with ceremonies of long standing. The special purpose of these Buddhist meetings was the confession Confession of faults one to another and the acceptance of and penance. the due penance. A list of common or possible offences was drawn up, and read out at each meeting, every member present being called upon to answer three times as to his innocence of each offence. Among these offences are some which show how strictly from the Strict first Buddhist monks were regulated. Even regulations. in building a hut it must be of prescribed measurement; no extra robes must be kept; no rug or mat with silk in it must be used by a monk, and a rug must last six years ; spare bowls must not be possessed; no monk must encroach on the hospitality already given to another; no monk might take more than one meal at a public resthouse.
The members of the Order had to go into the neighbourhood of houses completely clad, clean, with downcast eye, making but little noise, not swaying the limbs about with excited gestures. Their heads must be uncovered. Various observances are connected with taking the food given to them. They were not to preach the Buddhist doctrine to persons in unseemly attitudes, nor to any one sitting
After Buddha's death a different system of receiving
