z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 06.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 447
THE DUTIES OF THE BHIKKHU
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‘He abstains from cheating with scales or bronzes or measures.
‘He abstains from the crooked ways of bribery, cheating and fraud.
‘He abstains from maiming, murder, putting in bonds, highway robbery, dacoity and violence.’
- “Such are the things, brethren, which an unconverted man, when speaking in praise of the Tathagata, might say. But you should not even on that account, be filled with pleasure or gladness, or be lifted up in heart. Were you to be so, that also would stand in the way of your self-conquest. When outsiders speak in praise of me, or of the Doctrine, or of the Order, you should acknowledge what is right to be the fact, saying: ‘For this or that reason this is the fact, that is so, such a thing is found among us, is in us.’ ”
§ 4. A Bhikkhu Must Fight to Spread Virtue (Dhamma)
Addressing the Bhikkhus the Lord once said:
“It is not I,O disciples, that quarrel with the world,” said the Lord, “ but the world that quarrels with me. A teacher of the truth does not quarrel with anyone in the world.”
“Warriors, warriors, Lord, we call ourselves. In what way then are we warriors ?”
“We wage war, O disciples, therefore we are called warriors.”
“Wherefore, Lord, do we wage war?”
“For lofty virtues, for high endeavour, for sublime wisdom—for these things do we wage war: therefore we are called warriors.”
Where virtue is in danger do not avoid fighting, do not be mealy-mouthed.
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