The Bhikkhu and the Laity. - Page 474

z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 06.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 455

THE BHIKKHU AND THE LAITY

455

  1. He must take the vow that he shall not try to have carnal knowledge of a woman.

  2. He must take the vow that he shall never drink any intoxicating drink.

  3. All these rules are binding also upon the layman.

  4. The only difference lies in this. With the Bhikkhu they are vows which are not to be transgressed, with the layman they are moral obligations to be voluntarily honoured.

  5. Besides, there are two other differences which are noteworthy.

  6. A Bhikkhu cannot have private property. A layman can have.

  7. A Bhikkhu is free to enter parnibban. Nibbana is enough for a layman.

  8. These are the similarities and differences between a Bhikkhu and the layman.

  9. Dhamma, however, is the same for both.

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