1. EDICTS
OF ASHOKA
(3rd century BC)
Cast of Inscribed rock, Girnar, Gujarat
The
Emperor Ashoka (272-232 B.C.) dedicated himself to the service of man
and beast within and beyond his vast dominion and strove to elevate
the social and moral outlook of his subjects. His edicts (Dhamma
Lipi) incised on pillars and rocks, in both condensed and elaborate
versions, are found all over the vast region from Shahbazgarhi in
Pakistan to Lauriya Nandangarh in Bihar, and from Girnar in Gujarat
to Dhauli in Orissa and further south up to Erragudi in Andhra
Pradesh.
The
Girnar edicts, represented hereby a metal cast of the inscribed rock,
are fourteen in number like those found at Erragudi, Kabi,
Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra.
This
is the summary of the fourteen edicts:
- No living being may be slaughtered for sacrifice; no festive gathering may be held. Birds and animals formerly slaughtered in the king’s kitchen were large, but now it is almost stopped.
- In and outside his dominions, in neighboring territories like those of the Cholas, Pandyas, Satyaputras, Keralaputras, Ceylon and the far-off Yavana kingdoms of Antiyoka with his neighbors, Priyadarshi Ashoka has arranged for the medical treatment of man and beast. He has caused herbs, roots and fruits to be imported, wells to be dug and trees to be planted on the road-side for the enjoyment of men and animals.
- Twelve years after his coronation, Priyadarshi ordered tours by his officers every five years to inspect and preach Dhamma (moral and social code of conduct) in his dominions, in addition to their regular duties and to teach his people to obey parents, be liberal to friends, relatives, Brahmanas and Sramanas (monks) and to abstain from killing animals.
- Priyadarshi promotes Dhamma proclaiming it by beat of drums. He has achieved more in this way than has been accomplished in many hundreds of years by providing spectacles of celestial cars, elephants, hell-fire and so forth to the people. He wants no decrease in Dhamma which should ever be on the increase and expects his descendents likewise to continue to promote it.
- Formerly, there were no officers called ‘Dhamma Mahamatras’ and now thirteen years after his coronation they have been appointed for establishing and promoting Dhamma in his land and even among the Yavanas, Kambojas, Gandharas, Rashtrikas and others.
- Reports of affairs in his kingdom could be brought to his notice anytime, wherever he was, even if he were in the harem or in the bed-chamber or on the march, as he considered it his duty constantly and speedily to attend to the welfare of his subjects.
- Priyadarshi wishes that all religious sects in his dominions should live in peace and amity and stresses self-control and purity of mind.
- Formerly, kings would make pleasure tours and go hunting. But Priyadarshi who visited Sambodhi (Bodh Gaya, Bihar) ten years after his coronation started on pilgrimage of Dhamma (Dhamma Yatras) making gifts to Brahmanas and Sramanas contacting the people of the countryside and exhorting them to follow the path of Dhamma.
- There are several auspicious rites performed by people as on wedding, birthday and setting out on a journey. These are trivial. The ceremonies associated with Dhamma produce great results. These are courtesy to slaves and servants, reverence to elders, restraint and liberality to Brahmanas and Sramanas. By this practice heaven is won.
- Priyadarshi does not consider glory in this life or fame after death as of any consequence except the glory of his being able to induce his people to practice Dhamma.
- There is no gift like the gift of Dhamma, there is no distribution like the distribution of Dhamma and no kinship like the kinship of Dhamma.
- The growth of Dhamma is by the restraint of speech which means no praise of ones own faith or disparagement of another.
- The conquest of Kalinga eight years after his coronation resulting in unprecedented slaughter and carrying away of captives brought remorse to Priyadarshi. He was therefore determined for conquest through Dhamma and this had been achieved by him not only in his dominions but also in the bordering territories of the Yavanas, Kambojas, Andhras and Pulindas etc. Let all their intense joys be what is pleasure associated with Dhamma, for this brings happiness in this world as well as in the next.
- This record relating to Dhamma has been inscribed in abridged or expanded form. As the kingdom of Priyadarshi is vast, the whole record has not been executed at every place but owing to their sweetness, various things have been uttered over and over again so that people may act accordingly, something has been partially inscribed because a particular record was considered unsuitable for it.
[My
Note: Ashoka = Devanamapriya Priyadarshi; Priyadarshi = “one who
looks at others with love”; Devanamapriya = “one who loves the
divinity” (or loved by divinity); Priya = brotherly (universal)
love.]
2. Sixteen
Pure Human Laws
The
Sixteen Pure Human Laws were first innovated in Tibet a century
before the arrival of Padmasambhava, during the reign of King
Songtsen Gampo (609-649 ce.) who ruled in the seventh century,
uniting clans of the Yarlung River Valley and initiating many
reforms. For the first time, Tibet was a large and powerful empire.
Among his five wives were the Nepalese princess Bhrikuti Devi and
Princess Wencheng, the niece of the powerful Chinese emperor Emperor
Taizong of Tang China. Both of these women were devout Buddhists.
1.
Develop faith in the Three Precious Jewels without sorrow or
weariness;
2.
Search ultimately for the true doctrine;
3.
Skilfully study the excellent sciences;
4.
First recollect and then appraise anything that is to be undertaken;
5.
Do not hanker after unassigned work;
6.
Look to a higher level and emulate the ancients and those of superior
conduct;
7.
Repay kindness to one's parents of the past, present and future;
8.
Be broad-minded and hospitable in one's dealings with elder and
younger siblings and paternal relatives;
9.
Ensure that the young respect their elders by degrees;
10.
Show loving kindness to one's neighbors;
11.
Arduously assist one's acquaintances who are spiritual benefactors;
12.
Perfectly fulfil the needs of those nearby who are connected through
the worldly round;
13.
Help others through one's skill in science and the arts;
14.
Provide a refuge with kindness to those who depend on it;
15.
Resist bad advice and establish advice which will increase the
happiness of the country; and finally,
16
Entrusting one's deeds to the doctrine, one should bring one's spouse
to obtain the ground of enlightenment in future lives.
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Sources:
1. http://wigowsky.com/travels/india/India1/museum2.htm?ref=binfind.com/web
2. http://www.turtlehill.org/ths/16.html
2. http://www.turtlehill.org/ths/16.html
