MONASTIC EULES AND RELIGIOUS DEBATES 141 elephant and carriage; he who can explain six classes of books is allowed a surrounding escort. When a man's renown has reached high distinction, -he then at different times convokes an assembly for discussion of the treatises. He judges of the superior or inferior talent of those who take part in it; he distinguishes their good or bad points; he praises the clever and reproves the faulty. If one of the assembly distin- guishes himself by refined language, subtle investi- gation, eloquent diction, and acute reasoning, he then is mounted on a richly caparisoned elephant and con- ducted by a numerous suite to the gates of the mon- astery. If, on the contrary, one of the members breaks down in his argument, or uses poor and inelegant phrases, or if he violates a rule in logic and adapts his words accordingly, they daub his face with red and white, and cover his body with dirt and dust, and then carry him off to some deserted spot or leave him in a ditch. Thus they distinguish between the meritorious and the worth- less, between the wise and the foolish. The pursuit of pleasure belongs to a worldly life, to follow knowledge appertains to a religious life; to return to a worldly life from a life of religion is con- sidered blameworthy. If one breaks the rules of dis- cipline, such a transgressor is publicly reproved; for a slight fault a reprimand 'is given him, for the next heavier one he is excluded from conversation with the brethren; for a grave offence expulsion is enforced. Those who are thus expelled for life go out to seek
