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WHAT IS SADDHAMMA ?
SECTION II
DHAMMA TO BE SADDHAMMA MUST PROMOTE PRADNYA
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§ 1. Dhamma is Saddhamma when it Makes Learning Open to All
The Brahminic doctrine was that acquisition of knowledge cannot be thrown open to all. It must necessarily be limited to a few.
They permitted acquisition of knowledge only to the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. But it was only to the male sex of these three classes.
All women, no matter whether they belonged to the Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishyas, and all Shudras, both males and females, were prohibited from acquiring knowledge, even from acquiring literacy.
The Buddha raised a revolt against this atrocious doctrine of the Brahmins.
He preached that the road to knowledge must be open to all—to males as well as to females.
Many Brahmins tried to controvert his views. His controversy with the Brahmin Lohikka throws great light on his views.
The Exalted One, when once passing on a tour through the Kosala districts with a multitude of the members of the Order, arrived at Salavatika, a village surrounded by a row of sala trees.
Now at the time, Lohikka the Brahmin was living at Salavatika, a spot teeming with life, with much grassland and woodland and corn, on a royal domain granted him by King Pasenadi of Kosala, as a royal gift, with power over it as if he were the king.
Lohikka the Brahmin was of opinion that if a Samana or a Brahmana acquired knowledge, he should not communicate it to the women or to the Shudras.
Then the Brahmin Lohikka heard that the Blessed Lord was staying in Salavatika.
Having heard of this he said to Bhesika the barber : “Come now, good Bhesika, go where the
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