To create peace and harmony in the world, it is necessary to propagate Buddhism, it is necessary to propagate the Thoughts of Buddha.
Buddhism, The Ideal of Social Change
Caste system is the main problem of Indian society. The Psychology of Indian society is based on casteism.
Buddhist culture, Stupa, Cetiya, Monastery, Bodhi Tree, Pali literature, Sanskrit literature and ancient university like Taxila, Nalanda,Vikramashila, Indian Buddhists have given to the world first. Varna system and caste system was an integral part in the social system of India. ‘Poverty’ and ‘caste’, it is created by God, has been accepted by these orthodox rites. By using Buddhism, in Indian history, has been made the society healthy from the diseases of casteism. The Shudras, Atishudras, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, Brahmins, Adivasis have created the ancient history of India by accepting Buddha Dhamma.
Refutation of Caste Discrimination in Vāsettha Sutta
Buddha has opposed the caste system through his philosophy. In the Vāsettha Sutta of the sutta Nipāta, Buddha has said that caste discrimination is unnatural, artificial. Naturally, all humans are equal. No human can be high or low by birth.
Na jaccā brāhmano hoti,
Na jaccāhoti abārhmano;
Kammanā brāhmano hoti,
Kammanā hoti abrāhmano.
(Not by birth is one becomes a brahmin,
Not by birth becomes a non-brahmi,
By action is one becomes a brahmin,
By action one is becomes a non-brahmin.)
By saying such Theory of kamma, the Buddha changed this prevailing social rules.
Refutation of Caste Discrimination in Madhur Sutta
In the Madhur Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya, Thera Mahā kaccāna has refuted ‘Varna system and casteism’ by rationalism. Thera Mahā kaccāna has also analyzed Kamma principle in this Sutta.
Who Is Called a Brahmin?
The Buddha explains to whom Brahmins are called-
- The one who has destroyed all kinds of fetters, the one who has destroyed attachment, the Brahmin.
- He who has destroyed anger, destroyed craving, destroyed false belief, destroyed ignorance, is a Brahmin.
- Who does not condemn anyone, does not commit violence, does not hate, is forgiving, is free from anger, Who is intelligent, profound wisdom, who opposes not them that oppose, For anyone, does not desire and hate, he who speaks soft, sweet, respectful truth, does not hurt the other, he is a Brahmin.
Support the Principle of Equality
Buddha was about to accept equality. Buddha has expressed clear views on ‘Varna system and caste discrimination’. The Bhikkhu Sangha established by Buddha was without casteism, based on the pillar of equality. In the Bhikkhu Sangha of Buddha there were people from all castes like Chandal, Bhangi, Nai, Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya.
Equality Principle and Upāli
Buddhism has followed the principle of equality, to understand that look at the example of Upāli. Knowing that Buddha supports the principle of equality, that is why, the princes of Shakya clan, who came with Upāli Nai, requested the Buddha to include Upāli in the Sangha before them. “Bhagwant, we are ‘proud Shakya’ and this ‘ Upāli ‘ has been serving us for many years. Bhagwant took him to the Sangha before us. By which we will give him the respect and honour he deserves. By which our pride of being ‘Shakya’ will be destroyed”. This was the result of the ‘caste-free society‘ principle of the Buddha. This ‘ Upāli ‘ further became ‘Vinayapāmokkham‘.
Thera Ānand Follows the Principle of Equality
As a result of the elimination of the caste discrimination of Buddha, Thera Ānand drank water from the hands of a Chandal girl named ‘Prakriti’. Thera Ānand asked for water from Prakriti. But due to being a Chandal girl, she refused to give water to Thera Ānand. But Thera Ānand explained to her that I want water. I do not owe anything to your caste. After hearing this, Prakriti gave water.
Buddha’s Teaching in The Context of Caste Elimination
In order to eradicate caste discrimination, Buddha asked the Bhikkhu Sangha to do ‘Cārika’ for meal without any distinction. Buddha himself used to accept meal of anyone. ‘There is no caste, no inequality, not high-low, all are equals’. This was the teaching of Buddha. ‘It is more important to have a higher ideal in life than to be born in a higher clan. ‘Think of yourself as others and treat others as yourself’. This was the preaching of the Buddha.
Buddha’s Interpretation of Dhamma
Buddha’s interpretation of the Dhamma is simple, Well defined and prevalent. That has become the fact of life.
“Bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampaya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānam, ādikalyānam majjhekalyānam pariyosānakalyanam
”Buddhism, it is for the welfare and happiness of the people. To love them. It is welfare in the beginning, in the middle and also in the end.
Buddhism, The Ideal of Social Equality
Buddha was a staunch supporter of equality. Freedom, equality and fraternity, these human values have special significance in Buddha’s philosophy. All humans are equal from birth, that’s why everyone has the same rights. This original thought was introduced by Buddha in this country two and a half thousand years ago. Buddha never discriminated between human beings on any basis from caste, religion, lineage, etc.
Forming a society based on equality and morality is the ultimate objective of Buddhism.