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But national characteristics make themselves obvious in the differences. Gotama says nothing about politics or loyalty; the Chinese list, which opens with the mutual duties of sovereigns and subjects, is silent respecting the church and clergy. The Sangha is an Indian institution and invites comparison with that remarkable feature of Indian social life, the Brahman caste.
In some Buddhist countries such as Burma and Siam women enjoy almost the same independence as in Europe. Those who follow the law of the Buddha but are not members of the Sangha are called Upâsakas , that is worshippers or adherents.
The most important document for the chronology of his reign is the inscription known as the first Minor Rock Edict . It is now generally admitted that it does not state the time which has elapsed since the death of the Buddha, as was once supposed, and that the King relates in it how for more than two and a half years after his conversion to Buddhism he was a lay-believer and did not exert himself strenuously, but subsequently joined the Sangha and began to devote his energies to religion rather more than a year before the publication of the edict.
While, therefore, we recognize that good has sometimes come even out of evil, we should also acknowledge the superiority of Buddhist countries and of India in the treatment both of other human beings and of the lower animals. The Sangha, or Monastic Community, is the third treasure of Buddhism, and the satisfaction of the Buddhist laity with the monastic body is said to be very great.
It is said to have been held two hundred and thirty-six years after the death of the Buddha and to have been necessitated by the fact that the favour shown to the Sangha induced heretics to become members of it without abandoning their errors. He did so.
I therefore think it probable that he became a lay Buddhist soon after the conquest of Kalinga, that is in the ninth or tenth year after his accession, and a member of the Sangha two and a half years later. On this hypothesis all his edicts are the utterances of a Buddhist.
It is known as the Sangha and its members are called Bhikkhus . It is chiefly to this institution that the permanence of his religion is due.
He orders that monks or nuns who endeavour to create a schism shall put on lay costume and live outside their former monastery or convent. He thus assumes the right to expel schismatics from the Sangha. "And on the Uposatha days in all months every officer is to come for the Uposatha service to be inspired with confidence in this Edict and to learn it."
The Sangha exercised no hierarchical authority over them and they accepted such simple symbols of union as the observance of Uposatha days. The character of the Sangha has not materially changed since its constitution took definite shape towards the end of the master's life.
The members of the Sangha are not priests or mediators. They have joined a confraternity in order to lead a higher life for which ordinary society has no place. They will teach others, not as those whose duty it is to make the laity conform to their standard but as those who desire to make known the truth.
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