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THE MAHẦVAGGA.
REVERENCE TO THE BLESSED ONE, THE HOLY ONE,
THE FULLY ENLIGHTENED ONE.
FIRST KHANDHAKA.
(THE ADMISSION TO THE ORDER OF BHIKKHUS.)
11. 1. At that time the blessed Buddha dwelt at
1 To this book is prefixed, as introduction, an account of the first events after Gotama's attaining Buddhahood, down to the conversion of his two chief disciples, Sâriputta and Moggallâna (chaps. 1-24). Among the elements of historical or legendary character with which, in the Vinaya Pitaka, the discussion of the monastic discipline is interwoven, this account occupies by far the first place, both in extent and in importance. For it contains the oldest version accessible to us now and, most probably, for ever, of what the Buddhist fraternity deemed to be the history of their Master's life in its most important period.
The connection in which this legendary narration stands with the main subject of the first Khandhaka is not difficult to account for.
The regulations regarding the admission to the fraternity, which are discussed in this Khandhaka, could not but present themselves to the redactors of the Pitaka as being the very basis of their religious discipline and monastic life. It was possible to fancy the existence of the Samgha without the Pâtimokkha rules, or without the regulations about the Pavaranâ festival, but it was impossible to realise the idea of a Samgha without rules showing who was to be regarded as a duly admitted member of the fraternity, and who was not. It is quite natural, therefore, that the stories or legends concerning the ordination of Bhikkhus were put in connection with the record of the very first events of the history of the Samgha.
Nor is it difficult to account for the theory formulated by the
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