page_title: Mendicant
section_title: Theravada
hierarchical_section_title: Mendicant / Buddhism / Theravada
caption_attribution_description: English: Luang Prabang Takuhatsu 日本語: ルアンパバーン 托鉢
context_page_description: A mendicant is one who practices mendicancy and relies chiefly or exclusively on alms to survive. In principle, mendicant religious orders own little property, either individually or collectively, and in many instances members have taken a vow of poverty, in order that all their time and energy could be expended on practicing their respective faith, preaching and serving society.
  Mendicancy is a form of asceticism.
context_section_description: Buddhist literature details the code of behavior and livelihood for monks and nuns, including several details on how mendicancy is to be practiced. Traditionally, mendicants relied on what have been termed the "four requisites" for survival: food, clothing, lodging, and medicine. As stated in the Theravada Vinaya:
  "Properly considering the robe, I use it: simply to ward off cold, to ward off heat, to ward off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, simply for the purpose of covering the parts of the body that cause shame.
  "Properly considering almsfood, I use it: not playfully, nor for intoxication, nor for putting on weight, nor for beautification; but simply for the survival and continuance of this body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the chaste life, (thinking) I will destroy old feelings (of hunger) and not create new feelings (from overeating). Thus I will maintain myself, be blameless, and live in comfort.
  "Properly considering the lodging, I use it: simply to ward off cold, to ward off heat, to ward off the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun and reptiles; simply for protection from the inclemencies of weather and for the enjoyment of seclusion.
  "Properly considering medicinal requisites for curing the sick, I use them: simply to ward off any pains of illness that have arisen and for the maximum freedom from disease."
  In addition, a monk's personal property was also limited. The Theravada tradition recognizes eight requisites (Pali: aññha parikkhàra):
  Uttarāsaṅga (outer robe)
  Antarvāsa (inner robe)
  Saṃghāti (double robe)
  an alms bowl
  a razor for shaving
  a needle and thread
  a belt
  a water strainer
  Commentarial literature provides additional possessions based on circumstance.
caption: A young layperson providing monks with alms
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