Vol. 11 · pages 456–460

PART III The Duties of the Bhikkhu 1. The Bhikkhu’s Duty to Convert. 2. Conversion Not to be by Miracles. 3. Conversion Not to be by Force. 4. A Bhikkhu Must Fight to Spread Virtue (Dhamma).

439 THE DUTIES OF THE BHIKKHU § 1. The Bhikkhu’ s Duty to Convert 1. The news of the conversion of Yasa and his four friends to the Dhamma spread far and wide. The result was that lay persons belonging to the highest families in the country and to those next to the highest came to be instructed in the doctrine of the Blessed One and to take refuge in Him and in His Dhamma. 2. Many people were coming to Him to receive instruction in the-Dhamma. The Lord knew that it was difficult for Him personally to give instruction to each one. He also felt the necessity of organizing Parivrajakas whose number was swelling every day into a religious order which He called the Sangh. 3. He accordingly made the Parivrajakas the members of the Sangh and framed rules of discipline called VINAYA and made them binding upon the members of the Sangh. 4. The Blessed Lord later on laid down two stages to be undergone by a disciple before he became a Bhikkhu. First a disciple became a Parivrajaka and remained a Parivrajaka for a certain number of years attached to a Bhikkhu and remaining in training under him. After his training period was over he was allowed to take Upasampada if he satisfied a body of examiners that he was fit for it. It is only then that he was allowed to become a Bhikkhu and a member of the Sangh. 5. There was no time in the early stages of the Dhamma to make such arrangements. The Lord, therefore, made them Bhikkhus and sent them out as Missionaries to spread His religion to anywhere and everywhere. 6. And before sending them out the Blessed One said to the Bhikkhus: “ I am delivered, O Bhikkhus, from all fetters, human and divine. You, O Bhikkhus, from all fetters, human and divine. Go ye row, and wander for the gain of the many, for the welfare of the many, out of compassion for the world; for the good, for the gain and for the welfare of gods and men. 7. “Let not two of you go the same way. V

440 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES Preach, Bhikkhus, the doctrine which is glorious in the beginning, glorious in the middle, glorious at the end, in the spirit and in the letter; proclaim a consummate, perfect and pure life of holiness. 8. “Go then through every country, convert those not yet converted; throughout the world that lies burnt up with sorrow, teach everywhere; (instruct) those lacking” right instruction; 9. “Go where there are great Rishis, royal Rishis, Brahman Rishis too, these all dwell there, influencing men according to their schools; 10. “Go, therefore, each one travelling by himself; filled with compassion, go ! rescue and receive.” 11. The Blessed Lord also told them : 12. “That the gift of the Dhamma exceeds all gifts; the sweetness of the Dhamma exceeds all sweetness; the delight in the Dhamma exceeds all delights; 13. “The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by passion: therefore a gift of Dhamma brings great reward. 14. “The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by hatred: therefore a gift of Dhamma brings great reward. 15. “The fields are damaged by weeds; mankind is damaged by vanity: therefore the gift of Dhamma brings great reward. 16. “The fields are damaged by weeds, mankind is damaged by lust: therefore a gift of Dhamma brings great reward.” 17. Then the sixty Bhikkhus receiving orders to carry on the mission to propagate the Dhamma went through every land. 18. The Lord gave them further instruction in the matter of conversions. § 2. Conversion Not to be by Miracles 1. The Exalted One was once staying among the Mallas, at Anapiya, one of their towns. V

441 THE DUTIES OF THE BHIKKHU 2. Now the Exalted One, having robed himself, put on his cloak, and took his bowl, and entered the town for alms. 3. The Blessed One thought: “It is too early for me now to go through Anapiya for alms. I might go to the pleasance where Bhaggava, the wanderer dwells, and call upon him.” 4. So the Exalted One went to the pleasance and to the place where Bhaggava, the wanderer was. 5. Then Bhaggava spake thus to the Exalted One: “Let my Lord, the Exalted One come near. Welcome to the Exalted One ! It is long since the Exalted One has taken the opportunity to come our way. May it please You, Sir, to be seated; here is a seat made ready.” 6. The Exalted One sat down thereon, and Bhaggava taking a certain low stool, sat down beside him. So seated, Bhaggava, the wanderer spake thus to the Exalted One: 7. “Some days ago, Lord, Sunakkhatta of the Licchavis called on me and spake thus: ‘ I have now given up the Exalted One. Bhaggava. I am remaining no longer under him as my teacher.’ Is the fact really so ?” 8. “It is just so, Bhaggava, as Sunakkhatta of the Licchavis said. 9. “Some days ago, Bhaggava, a good many days ago, Sunakkhatta, the Licchavi, came to call on me, and spake thus: ‘ Sir, I now give up the Exalted One, I will henceforth remain no longer under him as my teacher.’ When he told me this, I said to him: ‘ But, now, Sunakkhatta, have I ever said to you: ‘ Come Sunakkhatta, live under me as my pupil ?’ 10. “ ‘No, Sir, you have not,’ replied Sunakkhatta. 11. “Or have you ever said to me: ‘Sir, I would fain dwell under the Exalted One (as my teacher) ?’ 12. “ ‘ No. Sir, I have not,’ said Sunakkhatta. 13. “ ‘ But if I said not the one, and you said not the other, what are you and what am I that you talk of giving up ?’ 14. “ ‘Well, but, Sir, the Exalted One works me V