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BANNER OF THE ARAHANTS

Buddhist Monks and Nuns from the Buddha's time till now

by Bhikkhu Khantipalo

Contents

Introduction

Glossary of Pali Words

Chapter I - The Buddha: Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment

Chapter II - The Beginnings of the Sangha

Chapter III - The Sangha and the Development of Vinaya

Chapter IV - The Sangha and the Spread of Buddhism

Chapter V - The Sangha now in Buddhist Countries

Chapter VI - The Life of Bhikkhus

Chapter VII - Bhikkhunis and Buddhist Nuns now

Chapter VIII - Westerners in the Sangha

Appendix I - Discourses to or about Bhikkhus

Appendix II - Ordination Procedure in Brief

About the Author

BUDDHIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY

KANDY SRI LANKA,

First Edition 1979

Digitalised Chiangmai/Thailand 9/1994

INTRODUCTION

This book covers in outline but with many interesting stories and examples, the history and developmentof the Sangha, the Buddhist Order of Monks and Nuns from their beginnings in the Buddhas time to the

present day. Much of the information contained in this book is scattered widely in many different works

or is the result of the authors own experience as a Buddhist Monk for the last twenty years in India, Sri

Lanka and Thailand. The chapter on the Sangha as found now in the principal Buddhist countries of SE

and South Asia contains information probably not available elsewhere, while that on Bhikkhuns, the

Buddhist nuns now is unique in its coverage. New translations of some of the inspiring verses of the

enlightened disciples of the Buddha are found in these pages and the author shows how this living

tradition of enlightened Teachers comes down to the present day.

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This is a book about Buddhist monks and nuns, their history, organisation and lives. When people travel

to SE Asia and see the numerous monasteries in cities and countryside with so many monks living in

them, sometimes they wonder, what do they do, what is their role in society, what is their aim? Besides

the monks in orange, brown or yellow robes there are the nuns, also very numerous in Burma and

Thailand. What is their place in the Buddhas teachings? This book will attempt to answer these

questions though in brief, for to do so in detail would require many more than these pages.

To answer such questions satisfactorily we must go back to the beginnings of the Buddhist Order, the

Buddha himself. He was the first Bhikkhu or Buddhist monk. But why was he called the Buddha,

Awakened or Enlightened? As a short answer to this question an outline of the Buddhas experience of

Enlightenment is given in the first chapter. In the second, the history of the Buddhist Order begins with

the Buddhas first five disciples. Chapter three, upon the rules, which Buddhist monks must keep, is a

little technical and could be omitted upon a first reading of the book. However, they are an integral and

important part of the life of both monks and nuns since without some discipline no spiritual path can be

followed successfully. Chapters four and five provide the history of the spread of Buddhism and the

position of Buddhist monks now in the countries of SE Asia. The next chapter gives details of the life ofBuddhist monks in both town and country. The seventh chapter is all about the formation of the original

Order of Buddhist nuns called Bhikkhuns, how it became extinct, with a possibility for its resurrection

and then something about the nuns now found in Thailand and Burma. The last chapter, Westerners in

the Sangha, is about the increasing numbers of westerners, men and women, who get ordination and live

and train with their teachers in Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Having said what this book contains one should say too what it does not. It is not an introduction to the

Buddhas teachings although some of them are referred to in the course of the book. Also it does notcontain much about the Buddha and his life. So the first two treasures, the objects held most sacred by

Buddhists: the Buddha and the Dhamma (Teaching or Law) are only mentioned where this is necessary

and then not in detail; while the third treasure, the Sangha (Order or Community), is given seven out of

eight chapters. This is the reverse of most books on Buddhism, which give most space to the Buddha and

the Dhamma, but little to the Sangha.

Before closing this introduction something should be said on the books title. The word Arahant, one

who is Enlightened after hearing and practising the teachings of a Buddha, will be defined in more detailin Chapter Two. Most Arahants have been monks or nuns and the robes, which they wear, are their

banner. They are an army of peace, happiness and security bringing with them these qualities out of

compassion for the sufferings of the world. So when Buddhists see a Bhikkhu in patched robes of orange

or brown, they are reminded of the Arahants. The Banner of the Arahants (Arahantaketu in Pali

language) is a sign of a person striving towards the Purity, Wisdom and Compassion of Enlightenment.

I should like to acknowledge permission to quote freely from the issues of the Pali Text Society and the

Buddhist Publication Society. Dr. I. B. Horner, President of the Pali Text Society has most kindly

answered several queries. Venerable Nyanaponika Mahathera has offered valuable suggestions for which

I am most grateful. Translations where there is no acknowledgement are by the author.

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Messrs Bruno Cassirer of Oxford has kindly permitted me to quote from Buddhist Texts through the

Ages" about the history of bhikkhunis in China (Ch. VII).

Thanks to an excellent typist, Lynne Jackson, this book has reached completion quickly.

Bhikkhu Khantipalo

Wat Buddharangsee,

Stanmore, Sydney, Australia.

GLOSSARY OF PALI WORDS

Abhidhamma: the books of psychological and philosophical analysis and synthesis based on the Suttas

(q.v.). See Ch. IV.

Arahant: one who has perfected himself by the practice of moral conduct, meditation, penetrative

wisdom and so experienced Nibbna (q.v.) Ch. II. Arahantship: the state of being an Arahant.

Ariya: one who is ennobled (including Arahants), having seen Nibbna momentarily and by cutting off

some fetters, become a Stream-winner, Once-returner and Non-returner. (For definitions, see Buddhist

Dictionary", BPS).

Bhikkhu: a Buddhist monk ordained by at least five other monks in accordance with the Buddhas

instructions and undertaking to practise the Dhamma and Vinaya (q.v.). Ch. VI.

Bhikkhuni: a Buddhist nun similarly ordained. Ch. VII.

Buddha: the title of Gotama Siddhattha after he discovered the way to attain Enlightenment (Bodhi). Any

discoverer of the Path to Bodhi who then possesses the Three Wisdoms, etc.Buddhahood: the state of

being a Buddha. Ch. I.

Dhamma (in Sanskrit, Dharma): Truth, Law, Teaching, Path of Practice, the Buddhas Teachings.

Dukkha: all unsatisfactory experience, suffering, ill; may be mental or physical, gross or subtle.

Kamma (karma): intentional actions of mind, speech, body, all originating in the mind with decision or

choice and having inherently a fruit or result for the doer in accordance with the action done.

Kuti: A bhikkhus or nuns hut. Ch. V, VI.

Nibbna (Nirvana): the ultimate Buddhist goal - the cutting-off by wisdom - insight of greed, aversionand delusion, thus establishing the heart in a state of purity, compassion and wisdom, which goes beyond

existence. Ch. I.

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Ptimokkha the code of 227 fundamental precepts for Bhikkhus. Ch. III.

Sl: hall for listening to Dhamma, practising meditation etc., in a vihra (q.v.) Ch. V, VI.

Samana: one who makes himself peaceful, hence usually (but not always) a Bhikkhu or

nun.Mahsamana: an epithet of the Buddha - the Great one who is Peaceful.

Smanera: a little samana, a boy under 20, training to become a Bhikkhu or one who becomes a

smanera (novice) before Acceptance, irrespective of age. Ch. III.

Sangha: the Order of Bhikkhus, or of bhikkhunis; or the Community of all Buddhists, ordained or lay,

who are ennobled with insight to Nibbna - the Noble (ariya, q.v.) Sangha. Ch; II, III, IV, V.

Stupa (Sanskrit, Pali - thpa): reliquary monuments also known as cetiya (chedi, zedi) or caitya, dagoba,

pagoda, etc. Ch. V.

Sutta: a discourse of the Buddha or an Arahant. Ch. IV.

Thera: a Bhikkhu of more than ten Rains (years) in the Sangha

Theravda: the Teachings of the senior disciples of the Buddha who were Arahants. The Buddhism

practised in south and south-east Asia nearest to the form taught by the Buddha. Ch. IV.

Vihra: monastery where Bhikkhus live and temple with Buddha-images, stupas etc. for the devotions of

both Bhikkhus and lay people, Ch. V, VI.

Vinaya: the Disciplinary code of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhuns (and laity in some contexts). Ch. III.

Proclaiming indeed my deep Dhamma-voice,

And drumming upon my good Dhamma-drum,

While winding the conch of the Dhamma-way well,

Fare ye for the weal of gods and for men!

And raising my standard of victory high,

And hauling aloft my fair Dhamma-flag,

And flourishing then my bright Dhamma-spear,

Fare ye in the worlds together with gods!

The Path to the Deathless well proffered by me,

But thorny the track to the tortures of hell,

So foully defiled is the Evil Ones face-

Say this to the world together with gods!

Now since my arising in this very sphere-

And since the appearance of Dhamma as well-

And since have arisen my Dhamma-born sons-

Illumine the world by faring therein !

In caves, in the rocks and far in the woods,

Tree root, the place lonely - there, self-controlled

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Is founded my dwelling and sure Dhamma-path-

Teach these in the world for gods and for men!

Praise of the Peak of Peaks (Samantakta-vannan)

Verses 498-500, 502-503.