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TULSI-PRAJNA, Oct.-December, 1991
All these isms yearn for some escape from this cycle of birth and to attain Mokşa, Nirvāṇa or Kaivalya froin which stage there is no return to Saṁsāra. For this they prescribe a moral path consisting of ahiṁsā, satya etc. and some kind of Yoga.
Teachers of these schools conveyed words of instruction or advice practically in identical words.
For example Manu explains why elderly people should be respected
अभिवादनशीलस्य नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविनः । चत्वारि सम्प्रवर्द्धन्ते आयुर्विद्यायशो बलम् ॥
-Manu.ll. 121 The Dhammapada repeats practically the same text :
अभिवादनसीलस्स निच्चं वद्धोपचायिनो। चत्तारो धम्मा वड्ढन्ति आयु वण्णो सुखं बलं ॥
-Sahasra Varga. 10 One more example :
The Bhagavad Gitā says: "A person who renounces attachment and dedicates his action to God, is not touched by sin like a lotusleaf (is untouched) by water”.
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा । This simile of a lotus leaf remaining untouched by water through non-attachment appealed to ancient Jains and Buddhists so much that they used it to express non-attachment as the distinguishing characteristic of a Brahmin. States the Dhammapada :
वारि पोक्खर पत्रे व, अरग्गे इव सासपो ।
यो न लिप्पति कामेसु तमहं ब्रूमि ब्राह्मणम् ॥ "Like water on a lotus-leaf, as a mustard seed on the needlepoint, him who does not stick to desires (or pleasures), I call a Brāhmana" (Brahmana Varga. 19) Says the Uttarādhyayana Sutra :
जहा पोम्म जले जायं नोवलिप्पति वारिणा ।
एवं अलित्तं कामेहिं तं वयं बूम माहणो ॥ "Like a lotus (though) born in water, is not touched by water, similarly him who is not attached to (or touched by) desire, we call a brāhmana" A few more similarities are appended.
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