z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 03.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 122
122 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
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escape therefrom, is the main problem of Dhamma, such recluses and Brahmins in my opinion are not to be regarded as recluses and Brahmins ; nor have those worthies come to know fully of themselves what in this very life is the real meaning of Dhamma.”
The Parivrajakas then asked him : “If the foundation of your Dhamma is the recognition of the existence of suffering and the removal of suffering, tell us how does your Dhamma remove suffering !”
The Buddha then told them that according to his Dhamma if every person followed (1) the Path of Purity ; (2) the Path of Righteousness ; and (3) the Path of Virtue, it would bring about the end of all suffering.
And he added that he had discovered such a Dhamma.
§ 3. The Buddha’s First Sermon— (contd.)
The Path of Purity
The Parivrajakas then asked the Buddha to explain to them his Dhamma.
And the Buddha was pleased to do so.
He addressed them first on the Path of Purity.
“The Path of Purity,” he told the Parivrajakas, “teaches that a person who wishes to be good must recognize some principles as principles of life.
“According to my Path of Purity the principles of life recognised by it are : Not to injure or kill : Not to steal or appropriate to oneself anything which belongs to another : Not to speak untruth : Not to indulge in lust : Not to indulge in intoxicating drinks.
“The recognition of these principles, I say, is most essential for every man. For every man must have a standard by which to judge whatever he does. And these principles according to my teachings constitute the standard.
“There are everywhere people who are patit (fallen). But there are two classes of the patit: the patit who has a standard and a patit who has no standard.