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The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c10.s8: The Social Institutions and Theories of the Nikāyas

The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c10.s8

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The Social Institutions and Theories of the Nikāyas

c10.s8.1

The doctrine adumbrated in the different *Nikāyas* of the *Sutta Piṭaka* must not be considered to be all psychological, metaphysical, theological, theocratic, eschatological or the like. A good deal of these dialogues of the *Dīgha Nikāya*¹⁵ division, for instance, deals with socio-economic and socio-political questions. Among other topics, *Khattavijjā* (the science of Kṣatriya), polity, treaties, wars, etc., are discussed in the *Brahmajāla-sutta*, which, as a work on the *sīlas* or moral precepts, thus approaches in the miscellaneous character of its contents almost a *Śukranīti* or a *Yuktikalpataru* of "Hindu" (Brāhmaṇic) literature, or, say, any of the *Dharmaśāstras*. Caste problems, the position of the Brāhmaṇa, as well as sacrifices both in their orthodox, Brāhmaṇic (Vedic) presentations as well as in the "rational" interpretations of Śākya the Buddha constitute, among other things, the subject matter of the *Ambaṭṭha*, the *Soṇadaṇḍa*, the *Kūṭadaṇḍa* and the *Tevijja Suttas*. In many of these rationalizings Śākya continues, be it remarked *en passant*, but the corresponding strands of old Vedic and contemporary Upaniṣadic thought (*e.g.*, the *Chhāndogya Upaniṣad*).

c10.s8.2

¹⁵ See the translations of the *Dīgha Nikāya Suttas* in the Sacred Books of the Buddhists (London) under the title of *Dialogues of the Buddha* (tr by T. W. Rhys Davids, subsequently with the collaboration of Mrs. C. A. Rhys Davids); N. N. Law: "Early Buddhism and the Laity" in *Indian History and Culture* (London 1925).

c10.s8.3

From the schedule of topics on which, according to the *Paṭṭhapāda Sutta*¹⁶, the *Paribbājakas* or *Wanderlehrer* and "sophists", so to say, used to hold discourses, one is introduced to the intellectual *milieu* that held political science in solution. The celebrated "seven conditions of welfare" for a community as well as the duties of householders etc., are proclaimed and discussed in the *Mahāparinibbāna Suttānta*. The majesty of the "greatest king", his glorious capital and his palace are described in the *Mahāsudassana Suttānta*, which can bear comparison for certain purposes with any of the Utopias of world thought in the domain of spirituality, "righteousness," etc. The "seven treasures" conceived in this milieu of Śākyan righteousness have been traced by Sénart in *La Legende du Bouddha* to the Vedic hymns. The "ideal Brāhmaṇa", the "assembly hall" of the gods, etc., are among the topics discussed in the *Mahāgovinda Suttānta*, in which, besides, the geography of India is described according to the ideas of the time. The "ideal world-monarch" is the subject of the *Chakkavatti Sīhanāda Suttānta*, which, further deals with the problems of life, prosperity and longevity. Universal education is dealt with in the *Lohichcha Sutta*, and birth, old age and death in the *Mahānidāna Suttānta*. Within the general frame-work of righteousness the *Agganna Suttānta* may be described as a general treatise of sociology, dealing as it does with the evolution of the world, man and society as well as the problems of the four castes. The thirty-two marks of the "Superman" are discussed in the *Lakkhana Suttānta*. The entire gamut of *Beziehungen* of man in society is the subject matter of the *Singalovada Suttānta*, which may be described as a comprehensive treatise on *gihivinaya* (householder's duties) or domestic and social ethics.

c10.s8.4

¹⁶ Chapter on "Teachers of Political Morals" in B. M. Barua: *A History of Pre-Buddhistic Indian Philosophy* (Calcutta 1921), pp. 347-353; Chapter on "Wandering Teachers" in B. C. Law: *Historical Gleanings* (Calcutta 1922), pp. 13-15.

c10.s8.5

The crimes such as burglary, robbery, adultery etc., as well as punishments like flogging, bastinado, bludgeoning, mutilation of hands and feet, tortures of the saucepan, boiling oil, etc., come in for treatment in the *Mahāduk-* *khakkhandha Sutta* of the *Majjhima Nikāya*. The pretentions of the Brāhmaṇas to social superiority and other caste questions are discussed in the *Assalāyana Sutta*, the *Chanki Sutta*, the *Esukari Sutta* and the *Vaseṭṭha Sutta* of the same *Nikāya*. The teachings on unity and concord are to be found in the *Samāgama Sutta*.¹⁷

c10.s8.6

¹⁷ See the translations of the *Majjhima Nikaya Sutta* in the Sacred Books of the Buddhist Series (London), Vol. II (1927), pp. 84-102, 139-144.

c10.s8.7

Methods of punishment and criminal justice are described in the *Dukanipāta* of the *Anguttara Nikāya*.

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