Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c40.18

v2.c40.18

(vi) Aśoka's toleration: There can be no doubt that though Aśoka was favourably inclined towards the Buddhists, he was not therefore unmindful of the interests of the other religionists. In the Edicts, he harped on the virtue of toleration, which even the Buddhists lacked inspite of Buddha's prohibition of attukkaṃsanā (self-praise) and parapāsaṃnā (other's denunciation). He appointed officers (dhammamahāmātras) to look after the interest of the members of all sects (R.E.V.). Their main duty was the promotion of dharma among the different sects as also to make money-grants to them. He himself paid visits and made gifts to the brāhmanical and non-brāhmanical ascetics (samaṇas) (R.E. VII). But he wanted that all religious men, irrespective of their creed, should freely dwell at all places (R.E. VII) provided they exercised self-restraint, possessed purity of mind and knew what is right. In R.E. XII, he is more explicit regarding toleration. He says that he honoured members of all sects, ascetics, and even non-ascetics (lay-devotees) and he expected that there should be not only absence of sectarian squibbles but also they should meet and try to acquaint themselves with, and if possible appreciate, one another's views. There must be mutual appreciation, and he enjoined his Dharma-mahāmātras to promote it as far as possible. He did not insist that the several sects should agree regarding their ultimate views but they must all be pure in speech, thought and action. (See also P.E. VI). In the seventh Pillar Edict, he specifically mentioned the Ājīvikas, Nirgranthas and the Buddhists (Saṅgha), for whose welfare he appointed the Dharma-mahāmātras. It is remarkable that he would not distinguish between ascetics and householders, if the latter be religious. In his opinion all religious men, whether ascetics or not, were good and as such should be looked after for their spiritual development, which he believed, consisted mainly in the purity of speech, thought and action, and in avoiding self-praise and other's denunciation,¹ in other words, mutual appreciation of one another.