Vol. 11 · pages 471–475

452 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES 3. In addition to these prescriptions, the laity had a general right to complain against a Bhikkhu to other Bhikkhus, against any mischief or misconduct. 4. The moment the complaint reached the Buddha and he had verified it, the relevant rule in the Vinaya Pithaka was amended to make the repetition of such a conduct, an offence against the Sangh. 5. The Vinaya Pithaka is nothing but redress of the complaints of the laity. 6. Such was the relation between the Bhikkhu and the Laity. § 3. Dhamma of the Bhikkhu and the Dhamma of the Upasaka 1. Some critics of Buddhism allege that Buddhism is not a religion. 2. No attention should be paid to such criticism. But if any reply is to be given, it is that Buddhism is the only real religion and those who do not accept this must revise their definition of Religion. 3. Other critics do not go so far as this. What they say is that Buddhism as a religion is concerned only with the Bhikkhu. It does not concern itself with the common man. Buddhism kept the common man outside its pale. 4. The references to the Bhikkhu occur so often in the dialogues of the Buddha that they go to strengthen the criticism. 5. It, therefore, becomes necessary to make the matter clear. 6. Was the Dhamma common to both? Or is there any part of the Dhamma which is binding on the Bhikkhu but not so on the laity ? 7. Merely because the sermons were addressed to the gathering of the Bhikkhus it must not be supposed that what was preached was intended to apply to them only. What was preached applied to both. 8. That the Buddha had the laity in mind when he preached: (1) The Panchasila, (2) The Ashtanga V

453 THE BHIKKHU AND THE LAITY Marga, and (3) The Paramitas, is quite clear from the very nature of things and no argument, really speaking, is necessary. 9. It is those who have not left their homes and who are engaged in active life that Panchasila, Ashtanga Marga, and Paramitas are essential. It is they who are likely to transgress them and not the Bhikkhu who has left home, who is not engaged in active life and who is not likely to transgress them. 10. When the Buddha, therefore, started preaching his Dhamma it must be principally for the laity. 11. It is not, however, necessary to rely merely on inference. There is direct evidence to disprove the criticism. 12. Reference may be made to the following sermon. 13. Once while the Lord was staying at Shravasti in Jeta’s Grove in Anathapindika’s pleasance, there came to him the lay follower Dhammika, with other five hundred lay followers, who after due salutations, took his seat to one side and addressed the Lord as follows : 14. “What conduct, Oh Lord, perfects, both those that are Bhikkhus and those that are only Upasakas, i.e., those who are homeless and those who are not. 15. “Let the almsmen seated round with these lay followers learn the saving truth.” 16. The Blessed Lord said: “Give ear, almsmen. Hear, and keep the rules prescribed. 17. “Go not thy round when noon is past; be time seek alms. Snares greet the untimely guest. 18. “Before thou seek thy meal, clear thou thy mind of zest for forms, sounds, odours, taste and luck. 19. “Thine alms received, return alone, to sit apart and think, with fixed mind that never stays abroad. 20. “In talk with pious folk, almsmen, let thy theme be the Doctrine. 21. “Treat alms, cell, bed, water and rinsings just as means and nothing more. 22. “Such reasoned use will leave an almsman V

454 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES as unstained as lotus leaf whereon no drop of water rests. 23. “I now pass to the conduct which perfects the lay followers. To them I say: 24. “Slay not, nor doom to death, nor sanction slaughter. Do no violence to aught that lives, strong or weak. Love all living beings. 25. “No layman wittingly should thieve or order theft ; take but what others give. 26. “Shun incontinence as it were a pit of fire, on failing continence, debauch no wedded wife. 27. “In conclaves, courts, let him not be, let him not prompt or sanction lies; let him renounce untruth. 28. “Observe this law : Shun drink, make no man drink ; sanction no drinking. Mark how drink to madness leads. 29. “Through drink, fools sin, and egg lax brethren on to sin. So flee this maddening vice, this folly, bliss of fools. 30. “Slay not, steal not, lie not ; from strong drink keep away ; refrain from lechery. 31. “So make thy sabbath vows as week succeeds week, and keep with pious hearts this eight-fold festival. 32. “At morn, these vows performed, with pious, thankful heart, be wise and of thy means give almsmen food and drink. 33. “Cherish thy parents well; follow a righteous trade. 34. “Thus shall the layman, staunch, reach realms of light above.” 35. It will thus be seen that the Dhamma was the same for both. 36. There are of course differences in the call made upon the two. 37. A Bhikkhu must take five vows. 38. He must take the vow that he shall not kill. 39. He must take the vow that he shall not appropriate to himself property of another which has not been given to him. 40. He must take the vow that he shall never tell a lie. V

455 THE BHIKKHU AND THE LAITY 41. He must take the vow that he shall not try to have carnal knowledge of a woman. 42. He must take the vow that he shall never drink any intoxicating drink. 43. All these rules are binding also upon the layman. 44. The only difference lies in this. With the Bhikkhu they are vows which are not to be transgressed, with the layman they are moral obligations to be voluntarily honoured. 45. Besides, there are two other differences which are noteworthy. 46. A Bhikkhu cannot have private property. A layman can have. 47. A Bhikkhu is free to enter parnibban. Nibbana is enough for a layman. 48. These are the similarities and differences between a Bhikkhu and the layman. 49. Dhamma, however, is the same for both. V