"twelve-hundred-fifty Bhikåus" (part two)

     When ûkyamuni Buddha spoke the SukhvatÉ Sètra, a
mah bhikåusa-ngha, a great Bhikåu community, ardhatrayo-
daçabhikåuçata, composed of 1250 Bhikåus was with him.
There were others besides these Bhiksus in the Assembly,
but since these disciples of the Buddha had transcended
the world they are listed first.

     Mahat, the stem form of the word mah,
has three meanings:
     (1) "great"    mahat
     (2) "numerous" saÜbahula
     (3) "superior" çreåéha
The Bhikåusa/ngha is "great" because it surpasses all
others, destroys all obstacles, and is respected by gods,
kings, and great men. Bhikåus do not bow to but are
bowed to by kings and gods.  It is "numerous," made up
of many members, in this case 1250. The Sa-ngha is also
"superior" because it refutes all heretical views, all
ninety six non-Buddhist schools of thought.

    Bhikåu, also has three meanings:
     (1) "seeker of alms food";
     (2) "destroyer of passions"; and
     (3) "frightener of Mra."

    A bhikåu lives on offerings made to him by the
faithful.  This meaning of the term can be found in its
root, bhikå-, "seek alms food". To the root is added
a -u ending which roughly means "one who"; most words
which mean a person who seeks something have this -u
ending. Bhikåu is "one who seeks alms."

     In the popular spoken languages, called Prkrits,
the ends of words are often weak and final consonants
especially are often lost.  The bhi- of bhikåu might
then stand for what in the Classical language is the
root bhid- "cut," and the kåu of bhikåu for the root
which in its classical form is kåudh- "be hungry."
Although a bhikåu is "one who seeks for food," he is also
"one who cuts off hunger"; that is, he cuts off all
passions and afflictions kleçh.

     Because in popular spoken tongues final
long vowels were weakened to short ones, the bhi- of
bhikåu can be said to represent the root bhÉ- "fear."

      In  Prkrit a final -am is often pronounced as -u,
and so the -kåu of bhikåu can stand for the root kåam-
"be able." One who has left home and become a Bhikåu is
able (kåu-) to put fear (bhi-) in Mara the Lord of
Death.  Mra knows that the Bhiksu who truly commits
himself to the path at the time of ordination is sure
eventually to escape birth and death and attain Nirvna.
Consequently each time a Bhikåu is ordained, Mra quakes.