On Saturday, March 25, 2000 at 1:00:00 AM UTC-7, Harri Hannula wrote:   
   > I think that I have to practise Jigmeism, and ask you all about   
   > this issue...   
   > ___________   
   >    
   > Why cannot a male, adult, accident victim (amputee) become    
   > accepted as a monk. Especially if the individual was born in    
   > good health with all appendages attached. I am sure that    
   > the Buddha did not specify no admittance to accident victims    
   > and this policy just results from 'un enlightened' thinking by the   
   > 'clergy'.  Any explanations ?   
   >    
   >              Regards.....Ken   
      
   I am pleased that my question stirred some thought. I am left with the   
   understanding that those 'men' who may have been in charge of the 'system'   
   were required to maintain a status that insured the adherents continue to   
   offer gifts of food, selfless, or    
   in quest of merit. Regardless, without the offerings the pre existing system   
   would have been severely challenged if beggars were allowed to infiltrate the   
   system. The irony is, that in today's world, we generally choose to give   
   selflessly to the    
   handicapped, without need of merit making. Just to help; just to personally be   
   of value.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)