[Buddha-l] Re: Rational or mythological Buddhism and WesternBuddhist lay practice

[Mikael Aktor]

Richard P. Hayes wrote:

>>With all due respect, I don't see why merely having wives, mistresses or
>>pets would, in and of themselses, would impede begging. Beggars throughout
>>history have had wives and children, whom they often inveigled into begging
>>as well. 
>>    
>>
>
>Religious mendicants in Magadha at the time of the Buddha were expected
>to be celibate. If you read the commentaries to the vinaya rules you
>find it said again and again that Buddhist monks were expected to follow
>various rules, lest the village people talk. Apparently one of the
>things that caused villagers to talk was religious beggars who had
>families to support.
>
Villagers talk if religious beggars have wife and children, presumably 
because men with wife and children are expected to live the life of a 
householder (like the villagers), not that of a renouncer. Mendicants 
are regarded as renouncers and cannot have a family. The only legitimate 
reason to take up the life of a religious mendicant is renunciation, 
which implies the endeavor to conquer sensual desire. Why make it 
anymore complicated?

mikael

-- 
Mikael Aktor,
University of Southern Denmark