Vol. 11 · pages 326–330

307 WHAT IS SADDHAMMA ? III 11. “No, Gotama, I do not know who an outcast is. Nor indeed do I know what things make a man an outcast.” 12. The Lord pleaded that nothing would be lost in knowing who is an outcast. “Now that you insist on my knowing it,” the Brahmin Aggika said, “well go on and explain.” 13. The Brahmin having responded, the Blessed One spake as follows : 14. “The man who is irritable, rancorous, vicious, detractive, perverted in views, and deceitful— know ye that he is an outcast. 15. “Whosoever in this world harms living beings once-born or twice-born, in whom there is no compassion for living beings—know ye that he is an outcast. 16. “Whosoever destroys and besieges villages and hamlets, and is known as an oppressor—know ye that he is an outcast. 17. “Whether in the village or in the forest whosoever appropriates by theft what belongs to others, or what is not given—know ye that he is an outcast. 18. “Whosoever, having really taken a debt, flees, when pressed, saying, ‘There is no debt to you,’— know ye that he is an outcast. 19. “Whosoever, desiring some trifle, kills a man going alone on the road, and pillages him—know ye that he is an outcast. 20. “Whosoever for his own sake, or for the sake of others, or for the sake of wealth, utters lies when asked as a witness—know ye that he is an outcast. 21. “Whosoever by force or with consent is seen transgressing with the wives of relatives or friends— know ye that he is an outcast. 22. “Whosoever, being rich, does not support aged mother and father who have passed their youth— know ye that he is an outcast. 23. “Whosoever, when questioned about what is good, counsels what is wrong and teaches in a concealing way—know ye that he is an outcast.

308 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES III 24. “No one is an outcast by birth—and no one is a Brahmin by birth.” 25. Aggika, on hearing this, felt greatly ashamed for the abuse he had hurled against the Blessed Lord. §3, Dhamma to be Saddhamma must Promote Equality between Man and Man 1. Men are born unequal. 2. Some are robust, others are weaklings. 3. Some have more intelligence, others have less or none. 4. Some have more capacity, others have less. 5. Some are well-to-do, others are poor. 6. All have to enter into what is called the struggle for existence. 7. In the struggle for existence if inequality be recognized as the rule of the game the weakest will always go to the wall. 8. Should this rule of inequality be allowed to be the rule of life ? 9. Some answer in the affirmative on the ground that it results in the survival of the fittest. 10. The question, however, is : Is the fittest the best from the point of view of society. 11. No one can give a positive answer. 12. It is because of this doubt that religion preaches equality. For equality may help the best to survive even though the best may not be the fittest. 13. What society wants is the best and not the fittest. 14. It is, therefore, the primary reason why religion upholds equality. 15. This was the viewpoint of the Buddha and it was because of this that he argued that a religion which does not preach equality is not worth having. 16. Can you respect or believe in a religion which recommends actions that bring happiness to oneself by causing sorrow to others, or happiness to others

309 WHAT IS SADDHAMMA ? III by causing sorrow to oneself or sorrow to both oneself and others ? 17. Is not that a better religion which promotes the happiness of others simultaneously with the happiness of oneself and tolerates no oppression. 18. These were some of the most pertinent questions which he asked the Brahmins who opposed Equality. 19. The religion of the Buddha is perfect justice springing from a man’s own meritorious disposition.

BOOK IV Religion and Dhamma Part I— Religion and Dhamma. Part II— How Similarities in Terminology Conceal Fundamental Difference. Part III— The Buddhist Way of Life. Part IV— His Sermons.