Vol. 11 · pages 601–605

582 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VIII 16. “I do not see, friend, anyone in the world who could drive me out of my wits or tear out my heart, or take me by the feet and throw me across the river. Still, friend, you may put any question you like.” 17. Then the Yakkha Alavaka asked the Lord the following questions : 18. “What is the noblest wealth for a man in this world ? What pure action brings happiness ? What is the sweetest of all tastes ? What manner of living is said to be the noblest living ?” 19. The Lord replied: “Faith is the noblest wealth for a man in this world. The Dhamma well observed brings happiness. Truth is the sweetest of all tastes. The living endowed with wisdom is said to be the noblest thing. 20. Yakkha Alavaka asked: “How does one cross the flood (rebirth) ? How does one cross the sea (existence)? How does one overcome suffering?” 21. The Lord replied: “One crosses the flood by Faith. One crosses the sea by Vigilance. One overcomes suffering by Exertion. One purifies oneself by wisdom. 22. Yakkha Alavaka asked: “How does one acquire knowledge? How does one obtain wealth? How does one attain fame ? How does one gain friends ? Passing from this world to the other world after death, how does one not repent ?” 23. The Lord replied: “Having faith in Arahats and in the Dhamma for the attainment of Nibbana, and by obedience, the diligent, attentive person acquires wisdom. 24. “One who does what is proper, one who is resolute, one who is awake, he acquires wealth. One who gives acquires friends. 25. “The faithful householder in whom truthfulness, righteousness, patience and generosity are found, he does not repent after death. 26. “Come on! Also consult other numerous monks and Brahmins, whether there are any other qualities higher than truth, self-control, charity and patience.”

583 HIS HUMANITY VIII 27. Yakkha Alavaka said: “Now, why should I consult various Brahmins and monks ? Today I know the prosperity which belongs to my future good. 28. “Indeed ! the Buddha came to the dwelling of Alavi for my benefit. To-day I know, to whom when given, it returns the greatest fruit. 29. “From today I will wander from village to village, from town to town, paying my respect to the fully Enlightened One, and his perfect Doctrine.” § 5. His Sense of Equality and Equal Treatment 1. Whatever rules the Blessed Lord had made for the members of the Sangh were voluntarily and willingly accepted by him to be binding on him also. 2. He never claimed any exemption or any special treatment on the ground that he was the acknowledged head of the fraternity and to whom any concession would have been most willingly made by the fraternity out of the boundless love and respect they bore for him. 3. The rule that the members of the Sangh could take only one meal a day was accepted and followed by the Blessed Lord as much as it was by the bhikkhu. 4. The rule that the members of the Sangh should have no private property was accepted and followed by the Blessed Lord as much as it was by the bhikkhu. 5. The rule that no member of the Sangh should have more than three pieces of cloths was accepted and followed by the Blessed Lord as much as it was by the bhikkhu. 6. Once, when the Lord was living in the Sakyan country at Kapilavastu in the banyan grove, MahaPrajapati Gautami, the mother of the Blessed Lord, came to the Lord with two new lengths of cloth which she begged the Lord to be so good as to accept from her as it was the work of her own hands at the loom expressly for him.

584 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES VIII 7. To her the Lord made the answer, “Give it to the confraternity.” 8. A second and a third time did Gautami repeat her request, only to receive the same reply. 9. Then Ananda intervened, saying, “Pray accept, sir, the cloth presented by Gautami. She was of great service to the Lord as nurse and foster-mother suckling her nephew when his own mother died.” But the Blessed Lord insisted upon the cloth being given to the confraternity. 10. Originally it was the rule of the Sangh that the robes of the members should be made of rags picked up from dung heaps. This rule was made to prevent the wealthier classes from joining the Sangh. 11. Once Jivika prevailed upon the Blessed Lord to accept a robe of newly made cloth. When the Lord accepted it, he at the same time relaxed the original rule and allowed the bhikkhu the same privilege.

PART III His Likes and Dislikes 1. His Dislike of Poverty. 2. His Dislike of the Acquisitive Instinct. 3. His Joy at the Beautiful. 4. His Love for the Lovely.