Sangha: The Buddhist Order

The Buddha has two kinds of disciples – lay worshippers (upasakas) and monks (bhikkus or shramanas). The latter were organized into the Sangha or congregation. The membership of the Sangha was open to all, male or female above twenty years of age and who were free from leprosy, consumption and other infections diseases. However, slaves, soldiers and debtors were not allowed to enter the Sangha without the permission of their superior. The admission of Prajapati Gautami, the widowed stepmother of the Buddha, to the Sangha, at the innstance of Ananda, one of chief disciples and consatant companion of the Buddha, marked the beginninng of an order of Buddhist nun. The Buddha had reservations on women's entry innto Sangha and even predicted that allowing women to become nun will make the survival of his teachings difficult. Anyone from the age of eight might become a member of Sangha. However in order to become full member of the Order, one has to be at least 20 years old. There were no caste restrictions. The sangha was governed democratically and was empowered to enforce discipline amongst its members. The life of monks and the nuns was strictly governed by laws and the ten commandments, and there was no room for personal likes or dislikes. However, the great defect of the Sangha system was the absence of a central coordinating authority. The Sangha, founded by the Buddha, still exists in its original for in Mayanmar, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Amongst the most famous Bhikkhus at the time of the Buddha were; Sariputta, who was profound scholar of the dhamma; Moggallana, who had the greatest supernatural powers; Ananda, Maha Kassapa, the president of the Buddhist Council held at Rajagriha soon after the Buddha’s death; Upali, master of Vinaya; Anuruddha, master of right Mindfulness; and Rahula, the Buddha’s son.