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

     When žkyamuni Buddha spoke the Sukhvatƒ S�tra, a
mah bhikŒusa-ngha, a great BhikŒu community, ardhatrayo-
da�abhikŒu�ata, composed of 1250 BhikŒus 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" sa†bahula
     (3) "superior" �reŒŽha
The BhikŒusa/ngha is "great" because it surpasses all
others, destroys all obstacles, and is respected by gods,
kings, and great men. BhikŒus 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.

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

    A bhikŒu lives on offerings made to him by the
faithful.  This meaning of the term can be found in its
root, bhikŒ-, "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. BhikŒu 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 bhikŒu might
then stand for what in the Classical language is the
root bhid- "cut," and the kŒu of bhikŒu for the root
which in its classical form is kŒudh- "be hungry."
Although a bhikŒu is "one who seeks for food," he is also
"one who cuts off hunger"; that is, he cuts off all
passions and afflictions kle�h.

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

      In  Prkrit a final -am is often pronounced as -u,
and so the -kŒu of bhikŒu can stand for the root kŒam-
"be able." One who has left home and become a BhikŒu is
able (kŒu-) 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 BhikŒu is ordained, Mra quakes.