Buddha campaigned for social reform

By P.G. Punchihewa

JAKARTA (JP): Waisak commemorates the birth, the enlightenment and the passing away of Buddha. He was born about 563 years B.C, in Lumbini in present-day Nepal near the north-eastern border with India. His original name was Siddhartha Gautama, and he belonged to the Sakya clan. Hence he was also known as Gautama Putra -- son of Gautama and Sakya Muni -- Sage of Sakyas. King Asoka, who lived about two centuries after his death, visited Lumbini and set up a stone pillar with an inscription engraved on it, to mark the place where Buddha was born. It reads "Reverence was paid here in person by King Priyadarsin, the beloved of the gods, for Buddha the Sakyan sage was born here." The recent discovery by a team of international archaeologists from India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, of a flawless stone slab buried on a platform of bricks five meters under a temple dating from Asoka's time further confirm the exact location where he was born 2600 years ago.

Buddha was born to a royal family and brought up in the lap of luxury. But the realization of the futility and emptiness of that life made him renounce the world at the age of twenty-nine and go into the world seeking a way to end suffering. For six years he went from one religious teacher to another, studying, discussing and following their teachings, and experimenting with vigorous ascetic practices. Not achieving his objectives through ascetism, he went his own way. Following a middle path -- neither enjoyment of sensuous pleasures nor self-mortification, he attained enlightenment at the age of thirty five.

It was again under the full moon of Waisak that he attained enlightenment in Gaya, which is in present-day India's Bihar state.

From that time onward he wondered from place to place in North India in the Ganges Valley, teaching and preaching, carrying his message to the world into the ripe old age of eighty. His passing away took place under the full moon of Waisak. Thus, for Buddhists all over the world, Waisak is a thrice blessed day.

Buddha's life was a multifaceted one. First and foremost, he was a religious teacher. His was a mission of compassion and non- violence. A few weeks after his enlightenment he established an order of monks and his advice to them was to go to the world taking his message "of happiness for the many, and out of compassion for the world". He advised them that no two monks should take the same road, and he himself went off in one direction. After twenty-six centuries, more than 500 million people in the world continue to follow his teachings.

Equally important is his place in history as a social reformer. He was born and lived at a time when society was pinned down by caste irrevocably fixed at birth. Brahmins held the highest position in a hierarchy of four tiers, in which the Sudras, the untouchables, the outcastes, were at the bottom. His was a movement of protest against the tightening grip of Brahmanism.

Long before the modern world recognized the existence of human rights, the Buddha preached their importance and practiced them. What mattered to him was not the caste but the deeds of a person. On one occasion when questioned as to what makes one a Brahmin, he said:

"By birth one is not an outcaste

By birth one is not a Brahmin

By deeds one is an outcaste

By deeds one is a Brahmin"

True to his words, he opened the doors of his order of monks to people from all walks of life. His chief disciple in matters relating to discipline was a barber before joining him. Once when he was seeking alms he met a scavenger belonging to the lowest caste who sought admission to the order of monks. Buddha readily accepted him. Among his disciples were also those from the highest caste. His chief disciple was previously a follower of Brahmanism. He did not condemn anyone. Once he admitted a highway robber seeking refuge with him. Nor did he have any favorites due to birth or relationship. His own son became a monk but did not receive any special treatment.

The Buddha's contribution to the emancipation of women is equally important. At a time when women were considered inferior to men and looked down on, Buddha elevated their status in society. At the request of his foster-mother he established an order of nuns. As in the order of monks he permitted women of any social standing to join. Thus, one would find among them queens, princesses, slaves, prostitutes and housewives. A nun named Subha was the daughter of a smith. In one instance he accepted an invitation for alms from a slave girl in preference to that of her master who was a millionaire. The stories of the monks and nuns who joined from a cross section of society are vividly described in the two books, Psalms of the Monks and Psalms of the Nuns.

It is said the King Kosala while in conversation with the Buddha was dismayed to learn from a messenger that his queen had given birth to a baby girl. The Buddha, to soothe the King's disappointment said, "A female child, O King, may prove an even better child than a male."

Only the brave and courageous could single-handedly go against deep-rooted customs and traditions. Buddha was such a person. In this task he faced many obstacles. Many stood in his way and some even made attempts on his life. He continued his mission regardless. The virtues he preached and practiced 2600 years ago are concepts recognizable to the world today.

The Buddha was a human being. But he was an extraordinary human being.