[无量香光 · 显密文库 · 手机站]
fowap.goodweb.net.cn
{返回首页}


The Buddha and the Caste System
 
{返回 A Manual Of Buddhism 文集}
{返回网页版}
点击:1804

The Buddha and the Caste System

Very wisely and very effectively He labored to eradicate the social evils that prevailed in His day. He vehemently protested against the caste system that blocked the progress of mankind.

In His opinion:

"Birth makes no Brahman,

nor non-Brahman makes;

this life doing that mould the Brahman true.

Their lives mould farmers,

tradesmen, merchants, serfs;

their lives mould robbers, soldiers, chaplains, kings.

By birth is not one an outcast,

by birth is not one a Brahman,

by deeds is one an outcast,

by deeds is one a Brahman."

According to the Buddha, caste or color does not preclude one from becoming a Buddhist or entering the Order. Fishermen, scavengers, courtesans, together with warriors and Brahmins, were freely admitted into the Order and enjoyed equal privileges and were equally given positions of rank.

Upali,’ the barber, for instance, was made, in preference to all others, the chief in matters pertaining to the Vinaya. The timid Sunita, the scavenger, was admitted by the Buddha Himself into the Order. The courtesan Ambapali entered the Order and attained Arahantship. Sati, the monk who maintained a deadly heresy, was the son of a fisherman. Subha was the daughter of a smith, Punna was a slave girl. Capa was the daughter of a deerstalker. Such instances could be multiplied to show that the portals of Buddhism were wide open to all without any distinction.

It was also the Buddha who attempted to abolish slavery for the first time in the known history of the world.


{返回 A Manual Of Buddhism 文集}
{返回网页版}
{返回首页}

上一篇:The Buddha and Women
下一篇:The Buddha’s Greatness
 Ten Unlawful Points
 The Four Noble Truths
 Reasons To Believe In A Past Birth..
 Temptation Of Mara The Evil One..
 Three Distinct Characteristics of N..
 The Buddha’s Last Moment
 A Manual Of Buddhism - About This B..
 The First Twenty Years
 The Parabhava Sutta - Downfall
 The Doer of Kamma
全文 标题
 
【佛教文章随机阅读】
 修破瓦法的频率多高合适?有人修持过程中头痛,是为什么?[栏目:阿宗白洛仁波切·学修释疑]
 公案禅机 肆、开悟后功用行 四、公案 — 求我空智 7.勿好师为[栏目:善祥法师]
 大毘卢遮那成佛神变加持经(大日经)卷二.普通真言藏品第四白话注解[栏目:药师山·紫雲居士]
 活用佛法·看那位[看的人][栏目:塔汤仁波切]
 觉悟四大苦空[栏目:法门寺佛学院·学僧园地]
 解脱之道讲记 b14 三法印 一 诸行无常[栏目:体方法师]
 大迦叶尊者的悲心 前言[栏目:恒强法师]
 杂阿含经卷第三十三(九二八)[栏目:杂阿含经]
 菩提道次第广论讲记 第36-37卷[栏目:菩提道次第广论讲记·日常法师]
 夏令营:从东林寺到柏林禅寺[栏目:魏德东教授]


{返回首页}

△TOP

- 手机版 -
[无量香光·显密文库·佛教文集]
教育、非赢利、公益性的佛教文化传播
白玛若拙佛教文化传播工作室制作
www.goodweb.net.cn Copyrights reserved
(2003-2015)
站长信箱:yjp990@163.com