Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c40.17

v2.c40.17

(v) Rejection of rites and ceremonies as also of Samājas: Aśoka discouraged rites and ceremonies, specially those performed by women on auspicious occasions, or for averting evils. He condemned Samājas (festive assemblies), which indirectly gave occasion for "drunkenness, revelry and infatuation" (See Barua, *Inscriptions*, ii, p. 226). It is very likely that Aśoka's dislike of rites and ceremonies was derived from the Buddhist teaching of the avoidance of *śīla-vrata-parāmarśa* (contagion of rules and rituals) and that of Samājas from the admonitions found in the *Sigālovāda-Sutta* (*Dīgha*, iv, p. 163; Cf. *Śivālakasūtra* in the *Mahākarma-vibhaṅga*, p. 56).