Eastern Monachism:

The opening chapters introduce Gotama Buddha, the basic structure of Buddhist doctrine, and the gradual formation of monastic rules. Hardy describes the Buddhist canon as consisting of the Vinaya, Sūtra, and Abhidharma, and explains that monastic regulations developed progressively as situations arose within the community. The text gives special attention to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Pātimokkha, and the classification of monastic offences. The later chapters examine practical and institutional aspects of monastic life: names and titles, noviciate, ordination, celibacy, poverty, mendicancy, food, sleep, tonsure, robe discipline, residence, obedience, communal discipline, miscellaneous regulations, and the order of nuns. The final sections move beyond discipline to sacred writings, worship, ceremonies, meditation, ascetic observances, supernatural powers, nirvāṇa, the modern priesthood, and reflections on the past and future of Buddhist monasticism.