Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 567

DIRECTIONS FOR RECEIVING ALMS
527
Though a sannyasi has the right to ask for alms,
it is more proper for him to receive them without asking.
For instance, if he feel hungry, he should go to some house
IX.
'
where people are living, but he must not say anything to
or even hint at his wants.
If they give him anything
voluntarily, he must take it as if it were of no consequence
to him, and without expressing any thanks.
If he receives
nothing, he must *:<> away without either feeling or showing
any annoyance. Neither must he complain if he does not
like the taste of what is given him.'
X.
He must not sit down to eat.'
XI.
He must build his hut near a river or a tank.'
them
"
'
of this is that he may be able to make frequent
ablutions, one of the first duties of a sannyasi.
When travelling he must make no stay anywhere,
XII.
The reason
'
and he must only pass through inhabited districts.'
XIII.
He must regard all men as equals. He must not
be influenced by anything that happens, and must be able
to view with perfect equanimity even revolutions which
overthrow empires.'
XIV. His one object in life must be to acquire that
measure of wisdom and degree of spirituality which shall
finally reunite him to the Supreme Divinity, from whom
we are separated by our passions and material surround-
ings.
To achieve this end he must keep his senses under
perfect control, and entirely subdue any tendency to anger,
envy, avarice, sensuality
in fact, to any unholy impulses.
Otherwise his penance will bear no fruit.'
There are no doubt other general rules which these
devotees are bound to follow
but I have only been able
'
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:
;
to ascertain the above.
Of all the sannyasi?, those called Bikshukas are con-
sidered the most perfect of all.
They are under no re-
strictions in regard to food
nothing that they eat or
drink, no matter how impure it may be, has power to
;
defile
them.