________________
108
BUDDHIST INDIA
tract contains lists of things a member of the Buddhist Order would not do. And among these is a list of games, one of which is called dkkharikā (Lettering), explained as “Guessing at letters traced in the air, or on a playfellow's back.” As the context' gives a number of children's games, this was almost certainly regarded as such. And for children to have such a game, and to call it by the name “ Lettering,” shows that the knowledge of an alphabet was fairly prevalent at the time in
question.
The collection of canon law laid down for members of the Order under the generic name of l'inaja (Discipline) is in its present shape somewhat, perhaps two or three generations, younger. In it there are several suggestive references.
For instance, writing (lekha) is praised at Vin. iv. 7, as a distinguished sort of art; and whereas the sisters of the Order are, as a rule, to abstain from worldly arts, there are exceptions; and one of these is learning to write. A criminal “who had been written up in the king's porch" (as we should say “ who was wanted by the police '') was not to be received into the Order. In a discussion as to what career a lad should adopt, his parents say that if he adopt the profession of a “writer" he will dwell at ease and in comfort; but then, on the other hand, his fingers will ache.* Were a member of the Order to write to a man setting out the
The whole tract is translated in my Dialogues of the Buditha, vol. i. pp. 3–26. The passage in question is on p. 11. 2 Vin. iv. 305.
. Ibiil. i. 75.
+ lbid. i. 72; iv. 12S.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
