Intermediate Paper 2 : Lessons & Values from the Doctrine of Kamma
MODULE 2
Lesson 1 : Lesson of Deeds (2)
Beyond forms
“It is not what you eat that makes you a monk. If your head is bald… putting up a robe… or eating one meal a day neither does it make you a monk. It is what you do that makes you a monk.”
- Dhammapada chapter 26 Brahmins -
We should associate with a person not because of his colour, race, gender… or beliefs but his deeds and his capability to change and progress.
When a car, which was recklessly driven, met with an accident, whom do we blame, the driver or the car?
Beyond rituals
Buddhists do not have any tradition or rites such as birth, marriage or death rites. Neither does we have a standard dressing code nor eating procedures. Buddhism emphasizes on the sense of responsible, accountable, devotion and meaningful action.
“The tears that are shed on the grave more often than not are for words not said and for deeds not done.” ~ Traditional ~
In the practice of the Middle path, a Buddhist is encouraged to be moderate and practical. There are no penances in Buddhism. Neither by walking over the fire nor dipping ourselves in the river will cleanse our bad Kamma away.
Once Socrates, because of the temptation of the moment, visited a brothel. After he has done his business he came out and he met his teacher. He quickly took some steps backwards. The teacher noticed him and asked him why is he so afraid to see him (the teacher). Socrates replied that it is because of what he has done.
“Socrates, if you have fear of doing it in the very first place, that fear would have prevented you from doing it and meeting me,” said his teacher.
In Buddhism, they are called “Hiri and Ottapa” which means moral fear and moral shame. A Buddhist should look into the ways of prevention and not seek ways on how to apply the countermeasures.
Beyond Caste
Buddhism does not discriminate one from caste, sex, slavery and etc. One is not an outcaste by birth but by deeds. One’s state of living is the result of one’s own doing either from the previous life or/and from this particular life itself. If one is lazy, one will have to work like a slave to survive later. Everybody has the opportunity to progress in both the worldly and spiritual life. Enlightenment is not limited to the rich, powerful and famous. Neither does age, sex and being an animal deprived one from attaining spiritual Truth.
Beyond Mystic
Happiness does not depend on what is written in Astrology, Numerology, Palmistry, Geomancy, Feng-Shui, and Almanac. Though some of these predictions might have some accuracy in it but these predictions may also be transformed by the way we say, act and think.
Our happiness should be governed by the Noble 8-fold path, which begins with Right Understanding. The Noble 8-fold path itself is performance based. There is no such path called Right Belief.
Sonananda Sutta (DN 4) Quality of the True Brahmin
One day the disciples of a famous Brahmin, Sonananda urged him to challenge the Buddha in a religious discussion. Reluctantly Sonananda agreed because of the pressure and so as not to lose face. But deep in his heart he knew he is going to a losing war; he might lose all his disciples if he failed.
The day came. They were going to the place where the Buddha was residing; each step he took he was thinking of taking two steps backwards.
In his mind, he was thinking how the discussion would take place? There are two possibilities. Either first, he asked the Buddha a question or the Buddha asked him a question. But if he asks the Buddha a silly question, people will laugh at him. And if the Buddha asks him a very difficult question that he could not answer, people will also laugh at him. So he wishes the Buddha to ask him a simple question.
Of course the Buddha can read Sonananda’s mind and the Buddha posed this question to him, “Sonananda, what makes a Brahmin?”
Sonananda was very happy, as he is the most informed person of this subject. And so Sonananda answered, “to be a true Brahmin, one must have the following five qualities:
1. The parents must be 7 generation of Brahmins
2. They must be very handsome if he is a man and very beautiful if she is a lady
3. He must be able to recite all the Vedas
4. He must be very moral
5. He must have wisdom.”
“Well said Sonananda,” the Buddha complimented and all the disciples of Sonananda were very glad that the Buddha, praised Sonananda. “Can any of the five qualities be omitted for one to be called a Brahmin?” asked the Buddha.
After considering for sometime, Sonananda answered, “Yes, sometimes one might not be very handsome. That can be omitted as far as he has the other four qualities.”
The crowd, basically the disciples of Sonananda begun to make some noise and side talk.
Now, can one more criteria be removed?”
“Yes sometimes there are mixed blood…” The crowd became restless and worried.
“Sonananda is repeating exactly the words of the Buddha!” exclaimed some of them.
“Now, can one more criteria be omitted?”
Before Sonananda can speak out, the crowd shouted, “No, Sonananda, never should Sonananda eat the words of the Buddha!”
“If there is any one of you who thinks you are better than Sonananda, please come forward and speak out, and let Sonananda retreat,” said the Buddha to the crowd. And the crowd were thus silenced.
“Very well, since silence means consent, then I shall speak. Yes, you may omit the ability to read all the Vedas. For what does the reading of Vedas means as far as one is morally upright and endowed with wisdom,” answered Sonananda.
“For wisdom is purified by morality, and morality is purified by wisdom: where one is, the other is, the moral man has wisdom and the wise man has morality, and the combination of morality and wisdom is called the highest thing in the world. Just as one hand washes the other, or one foot the other, so wisdom is purified by morality and this combination is called the highest thing in the world."
Thus Brahmin has nothing to do with birth, appearance nor knowledge. One in whom there is truthfulness, virtue, inoffensiveness, restraint and self-mastery, who is free from defilements and is wise – he is truly called a Brahmin. - Dhammapada 260-261
Further reading: Digha Nikaya: DN-4 Sonananda Sutta
Note :
DN Digha Nikaya, Long Discourses, consists of 32 suttas.
MN Majjhima Nikaya, Middle Length, (152 suttas)
SN Samyutta Nikaya, Kindred Sayings in 56 groups, (2,889 suttas)
AN Anguttara Nikaya, Gradual Sayings with 11 numbered books, (8,777 suttas)
Snp Sutta Nipata, Sutta Collection (72 suttas)
Dhp \nDhammapada, Path of the Dhamma (423 suttas)
