THE SANGHA OR COMMUNITY

  HAVING pointed out to the five bhikkhus the truth, the Buddha

said: "A man that stands alone, having decided to obey the truth,

may be weak and slip back into his old ways. Therefore, stand ye

together, assist one another, and strengthen one another efforts. Be

like unto brothers; one in love, one in holiness, and one in your zeal

for the truth. Spread the truth and preach the doctrine in all

quarters of the world, so that in the end all living creatures will be

citizens of the kingdom of righteousness. This is the holy

brotherhood; this is the church, the congregation of the saints of the

Buddha; this is the Sangha that establishes a communion among all

those who have taken their refuge in the Buddha."

  Kondanna was the first disciple of the Buddha who had thoroughly

grasped the doctrine of the Holy One, and the Tathagata looking into

his heart said: "Truly, Kondanna has understood the truth."

Therefore the venerable Kondanna received the name "Annata-Kondanna

that is, "Kondanna who has understood the doctrine." Then the

venerable Kondanna spoke to the Buddha and said: "Lord, let us receive

the ordination from the blessed One." And the Buddha said: "Come, O

bhikkhus! Well taught is the doctrine. Lead a holy life for the

extinction of suffering."

  Then Kondanna and the other bhikkhus uttered three times these

solemn vows: "To the Buddha will I look in faith: He, the Perfect One,

is holy and supreme. The Buddha conveys to us instruction, wisdom, and

salvation; he is the Blessed One, who knows the law of being; he is

the Lord of the world, who yoketh men like oxen, the Teacher of gods

and men, the Exalted Buddha. Therefore, to the Buddha will I look in

faith.

  "To the doctrine will I look in faith: well-preached is the doctrine

by the Exalted One. The doctrine has been revealed so as to become

visible; the doctrine is above time and space. The doctrine is not

based upon hearsay, it means 'Come and see'; the doctrine to

welfare; the doctrine is recognized by the wise in their own hearts.

Therefore to the doctrine will I look in faith.

  "To the community will I look in faith; the community of the

Buddha's disciples instructs us how to lead a life of righteousness;

the community of the Buddha's disciples teaches us how to exercise

honesty and justice; the community of the Buddha's disciples shows

us how to practice the truth. They form a brotherhood in kindness

and charity, and their saints are worthy of reverence. The community

of the Buddha's disciples is founded as a holy brotherhood in which

men bind themselves together to teach the behests of rectitude and

to do good. Therefore, to the community will I look in faith."

  The gospel of the Blessed One increased from day to day, and many

people came to hear him and to accept the ordination to lead

thenceforth a holy life for the sake of the extinction of suffering.

And the Blessed One seeing that it was impossible to attend to all who

wanted to hear the truth and receive the ordination, sent out from the

number of his disciples such as were to preach the Dharma, and said

unto them:

  "The Dharma and the Vinaya proclaimed by the Tathagata shine forth

when they are displayed, and not when they are concealed. But let

not this doctrine, so full of truth and so excellent, fall into the

hands of those unworthy of it, where it would be despised and

contemned, treated shamefully, ridiculed and censured. I now grant

you, O bhikkhus, this permission. Confer henceforth in the different

countries the ordination upon those who are eager to receive it,

when you find them worthy.

  "Go ye now, O bhikkhus, for the benefit of the many, for the welfare

of mankind, out of compassion for the world. Preach the doctrine which

is glorious in the beginning, glorious in the middle, and glorious

in the end, in the spirit as well as in the letter. There are beings

whose eyes are scarcely covered with dust, but if the doctrine is

not preached to them they cannot attain salvation. Proclaim to them

a life of holiness. They will understand the doctrine and accept it."

  And it became an established custom that the bhikkhus went out

preaching while the weather was good, but in the rainy season they

came together again and joined their master, to listen to the

exhortations of the Tathagata.