Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c40.6

v2.c40.6

(ii) Ethical teaching (elementary): The ethical teachings imparted by Aśoka were the usual day to day rules and customs followed by an average householder. These were,—hearkening to parents, reverence to teachers, liberality and seemly behaviour towards friends, acquaintances and relatives, and towards Brāhmaṇa and Śramaṇa ascetics, and also towards slaves and servants.¹ This teaching, as pointed out by Profs. Bhandarkar, Barua and others is an echo of the instructions given by Buddha to Sigāla the householder, and may be traced in the Dhammapada, Suttanipāta, Aṅguttara Nikāya and other works, in passages which were addressed to some householders and had nothing to do with the precepts prescribed for the Buddhist monks and laymen. It will be observed that Aśoka imparted this teaching only in the earlier years of his reign, the Edicts being dated mostly in the 12th year.