[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897) › c9.41 # The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c9.41 The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c9.41 - **Language:** English ### [c9.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c9.41) ¹ Of an inner conflict between one's conviction of the worthlessness of the world and the duties towards one's dependents which in our view must arise when, on account of the bread-winner going away, the family is thrown into poverty, no trace is found; such duties don't exist for the Buddhists or are subordinate to the strong desire for emancipation. In this respect Buddhism comes in contact with the views of the older Christian Church. Hieronymus writes a letter to Heliodor, urging him to leave his family and become a monk. “Even if your little nephew throws his arms round your neck, if your mother tears her hair and cloth and beats her breast which sucked you, even if your father throws himself upon the ground before you — move even the body of your father, flee with tearless eyes to the sign of the cross. In this case, cruelty is the only virtue.” “For,” says the same Hieronymus in another letter, “how many monks have lost their souls, because they had pity for their father and mother!” Cf. Eicken, Geschichte und System der mittelalterlichen Weltanschauung, Stuttgart, 1887, p. 125. - [Previous: c9.40](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c9.40) - [Next: c9.42](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c9.42) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c9.41](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.fick-1897.c9.41) · Pramāṇa