B. Horner’s work is probably the earliest and the most comprehensive account presenting the position of the laywomen and of the almswomen in historical focus. The author painstakingly gathered the material for the book from a host of authoritative sources which was, at the time it was published, highly commended by none other than C.A.F. Rhys Davids. The material for the study of the laywomen has been gathered from the Canonical literature, and also from the Commentaries, the Jataka books and the Milindapanha. Most of the material; for the account of the almswomen is to be found in the Vinaya-Pitaka, one of the oldest Buddhist books in existence, and particularly in those portions of it known as the Bhikkuni- Vibhanga. These prescribe the rules and discipline for the outward life of the members of the order. Material has also extensively been drawn from the collection of verses known as the Theregatha, and the Commentaries on them.
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