Buddhist Monastic Life
According to the Texts of the Theravada Tradition

This 1991 book describes the ideal way of life prescribed for Buddhist monks and nuns in the Pali texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism.

Mohan Wijayaratna (Author), Claude Grangier (Translated by), Steven Collins (Translated by), Steven Collins (Introduction by)

9780521367080, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 November 1990

216 pages
23 x 15.3 x 2.4 cm, 0.475 kg

"I am delighted to see this translation in print. The French version has been revised and admirably translated. For an understanding of the founding and early form of the Buddhist monastic order most people still rely on Dult's pioneering book, published in 1924, which is now quite out of date. This book completely supersedes Dult. Let us hope that this major contribution to the history of religions will now reach the audience it deserves." Richard Gombrich, Oxford University

This 1991 book provides a brief yet detailed account of the ideal way of life prescribed for Buddhist monks and nuns in the Pali texts of the Theravada school of Buddhism. The author describes the way in which the Buddha's disciples institutionalized his teachings about such things as food, dress, money, chastity, solitude and discipleship. This tradition represents an ideal of religious life that has been followed in South and Southeast Asia for over two thousand years. In previous writing on the early period of Buddhist monasticism, scholars have usually tried to give an historical account of the evolution of the monastic order, and so have seen the extant Vinaya texts as coming from distinct historical periods. This book takes a different approach by presenting a synchronic account, which allows the author to show that sources are in fact predominantly consistent and coherent.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The origin of the community
2. Dwelling places
3. Clothing
4. Food
5. Money
6. Chastity
7. Solitude
8. The rules of the community
Conclusion
Appendices
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Buddhism [HRE]