but this is aside entirely from his sacred profession.
Certain duties he has, however. Every morning as the earliest sunlight
comes upon the monastery spires, when the birds are still calling to the
day, and the cool freshness of the morning still lies along the
highways, you will see from every monastery the little procession come
forth. First, perhaps, there will be two schoolboys with a gong slung on
a bamboo between them, which they strike now and then. And behind them,
in their yellow robes, their faces cast upon the ground, and the
begging-bowls in their hands, follow the monks. Very slowly they pass
along the streets, amid the girls hurrying to their stalls in the bazaar
with baskets of fruit upon their heads, the housewives out to buy their
day's requirements, the workman going to his work, the children running
and laughing and falling in the dust. Everyone makes room for them as
they go in slow and solemn procession, and from this house and that
come forth women and children with a little rice that they have risen
before daylight to cook, a little curry, a little fruit, to put into the
bowls. Never is there any money given: a monk may not touch money, and
his wants are very few. Presents of books, and so on, are made at other
times; but in the morning only food is given.

The gifts are never acknowledged. The cover of the bowl is removed, and
when the offering has been put in, it is replaced, and the monk moves
on. And when they have made their accustomed round, they return, as they
went, slowly to the monastery, their bowls full of food. I do not know
that this food is always eaten by the monks. Frequently in large towns
they are fed by rich men, who send daily a hot, fresh, well-cooked meal
for each monk, and the collected alms are given to the poor, or to
schoolboys, or to animals. But the begging round is never neglected, nor
is it a form. It is a very real thing, as anyone who has seen them go
knows. They must beg their food, and they do; it is part of the
self-discipline that the law says is necessary to help the soul to
humility. And the people give because it is a good thing to give alms.
Even if they know the monks are fed besides, they will fill the bowls as
the monks pass along. If the monks do not want it, there are the poor,
there are the schoolboys, sons of the poorest of the people, who may
often be in need of a meal; and if a little be left, then there are the
birds and the beasts. It is a good t