Tuesday 19 April 2016

Edicts of Ashok

Adoption of "Piety" (using the Greek term Eusebeia for Dharma);
"Ten years (of reign) having been completed, King Piodasses (one of the titles of Ashoka: Piyadassi or Priyadarsi, "He who is the beloved of the Gods and who regards everyone amaiably") made know (the doctrine of) Piety (Greek: Eusebeia)to men; and from this moment he has made men more pious, and everything thrives throughout the whole world. And the king abstains from (Killing) living beings, and other men and those who (are) huntsmen and fishermen of the king have desisted from hunting. And if some (were) intemperate, they have ceased from their intemperance as was in their power; and obedient to their father and mother and to the elders, in opposition to the past also in the future, by so acting on every occasion, they will live better and more happily. (Edicts in Afghanistan in Greek)

Right Behaviour
"Dharma is good, but what constitutes Dharma? (It includes) little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity." Pilar Edict Nb2 (S. Dhammika)
"And noble deeds of Dharma and the practice of Dharma consist of having kindness, generosity, truthfulness, purity, gentleness and goodness increase among the people." Rock Pilar Nb7.

Kindness to Prisoners
"It is my desire that there should be uniformity in law and uniformity in sentencing. I even go this far, to grant a three-day stay for those in prison who have been tried and sentenced to death. During this time their relatives can make appeals to have the prisoners' lives spared. If there is none to appeal on their behalf, the prisoners can give gifts in order to make merit for the next world, or observe fasts." Pilar Edict Nb4
"In the twenty-six years since my coronation prisoners have been given amnesty on twenty five occasions. " Pilar Edict Nb5

Respect for animal life
"Twenty-six years after my coronation various animals were declared to be protected- parrots, mainas, aruna, ruddy geese, wild ducks, nandimukhas, gelatas, bats, queen ants, terrapins, boneless fish, vedareyaka, gangapuputakla, fish, tortoises, porcupines, squirrels, deer, bulls, okapinda, wild asses, wild pigeons, domestic pigeons and all four-footed creatures that neither useful nor edible. Those nanny goats, ewes and sows which are with young or giving milk to their young are protected, and so are young ones less than six months old. Cocks are not to be caponized, husks hiding living beings are not to be burnt and forests are not to be burnt either without reason or to kill creatures. One animal is not to be fed to another." Edict on fifth Pillar

Religious Exchange
"All religions should reside everywhere, for all of them desire self-control and purity of heart." Rock Edict Nb7
"Here (in my domain) no living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice." Rock Edict Nb1
"Contact (between religions) is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by other. Beloved-of-the-Gods, Kind Piyadasi (Ashoka), desires that all should be well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions." Rock Edict Nb12

Roadside Facilities
"Along roads I have had banyan trees planted so that they can give shade to animals and men, and I have had mango groves planted. At intervals of eight krosas, I have had wells dug, rest-houses built, and in various places, I have had watering-places made for the use of animals and men. But these are but minor achievements. Such things to make the people happy have been done by former kings. I have done these things for this purpose, that the people might practice the Dhamma." Pillar Edict Nb7

Officers of the faith
"In past there were no Dhamma Mahamatras but such officers were ppointed by me thirteen years after my coronation. Now they work among all religions for the establishment of Dhamma, for the promotion of Dhamma, and for the welfare and happiness of all who are devoted to Dhamma. They work among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Gandharas, the Rastrikas, the Pitinikas and other peoples on the western borders. They work among soldiers, chiefs, Brahmans, householdrers, the poor, the aged and those dovoted to Dhamma - for their welfare and happiness- from harassment." Rock Edict Nb5
(Source: Wiki)





Navodaya Vichar: Friend

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out the content of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hand will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away."- George Eliot (Nineteenth Century)

Ambedkar

Philosophy of Ambedkar.
Why is he becoming so popular in the contemporary world?