Jain Journal 2005 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 25

184
JAIN JOURNAL: VOL-XXXIX, NO. 4 APRIL. 2005
On the other hand, he repeatedly stressed upon the desirability of happiness here (hida-lokika) and hereafter (pala-lokika) R.E 13. In fact, he imparted to his subjects some ethical teachings which are common to all religions. He was not unmindful to the interest of the fallowers of other religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Ajivikism and other sects and harped upon the virtue of tolerance.
In spite of possessing such rational qualities, Asoka was a pious Buddhist, as is evident from some of his Edicts”. In the Rock Edict VIII issued in the 10th year of his reign, Asoka stated that he had visited the Sambodhi or Buddhagayā. In the 14th year of his reign he had enlarged the stupa of “Kanakamuni Buddha". In the 20th year of his reign he worshipped the “Birth-place” of the Buddha. In the Bhāvru Edict, he expressed his admiration for the Buddha, Dharma and Samgha-the triratna of Buddhism and recommended certain texts like “Vinaya Samukase”, “Alaya bāsāni,” Anāgata bhayāni” etc for the special study of the monks, nuns and lay-devotees. In the Sāranātha, Sāñchi and Kaušāmbī Pillar Inscriptions, Asoka reveals his solicitude for the concord of the Buddhist samgha and announced some measures to prevent and punish the schismatics. At a certain period of his life, he lived with the Samgha for one year as an upāsaka.
In order to get a clear idea whether Asoka expelled or threatened to expell erring monks from the Samgha and to establish the identity of the monks in question, let us quote the relevant part from the Sāranātha Edict.
“Thus orders king Priyadarsin beloved of the Gods...............Pāțaliputra........... the samgha may not be divided by any one. But whosoever breaks the samgha, be it a monk or a nun, shall be clad in white raiment and compelled to live in nonresidence”.!0
9. 10
Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar, Asoka, chap VIII p. 231ff. Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar, Asoka, pp. 40-41, the translation of the Ist para of the
Sārnātha Pillar Inscription has been quoted as it is, except "in what not a residence".