CHAPTER III.

FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF RAHULA'S RELIGIOUS LIFE TILL THE NEAR APPROACH OF THE NIRVANA.

Buddha sends for Rahula--Arrangements for instructing Rahula and other boys--Tutors--Boys admitted to the vows--Nuns--Rapid spread of monasticism--Disciplinary rules--Education in metaphysics--Ananda and the Leng-yen-king--Buddha in these works like Socrates in Plato--Buddha said to have gone to Ceylon--Also to the paradise of desire--Offer of Devas to protect Buddhism--Protectors of China--Relation of Buddhism to Hindoo polytheism--Pradjna Paramita--King Prasenajit--Sutra of the Benevolent King--Daily liturgy--Ananda becomes Buddha's attendant disciple--Intrusted with the Sutras in twelve divisions--Buddha teaches his esoteric system--Virtually contained in the "Lotus Sutra"--In this the sun of Buddha culminated--His father's approaching death announced--Buddha reaches the forty-ninth year of his public preaching.

WHEN Buddha was forty-four years old he sent a messenger to his father and wife to say that his son Rahula was now nine years of age, and ought to commence the religious life. Maudgalyayana was the messenger. The mother replied, "When Julai (Tathagata) was a prince he married me, and before we had been married three years he went away to lead a mountain life. Having after six years become Buddha, and returned to visit his country, he now wishes me to give him my son. What misery can be so great as this?" She was, however, persuaded to consent to this sacrifice, and committed him to the care of the messenger. With him the king

sent fifty sons of noble families to be his companions in taking the vows and receiving instruction.

They were placed, says the legend, under the care of Shariputra and Maudgalyayana as their tutors--Ho-shang (Upasaka), and A-che-li (Acharya). The original meaning of the ordinary Chinese term for Buddhist priest thus appears to be "tutor." The primary duty of the Ho-shang was to be the guide of young monks. The term was afterwards extended in Eastern Turkestan to all monks. From that country it was introduced into China, where it is still used in the wider sense, all monks being called Ho-Shang.

It was now arranged by Buddha that while boys might be received into the community, if the parents were willing, when still of tender years, as from twelve to seventeen, they should not receive the full vows till they were twenty. He also ordered the erection of an altar for administering the vows. It is called Kiai-t'an, "Vow altar." It is ascended by three flights of steps. On the top sit the officiating priest and his assessors. The flights of steps are so arranged that the neophyte passes three times round the altar on his way up, to indicate his triple submission to Buddha, the Law, and the Priesthood.