z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 07.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 506
506 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
§ 2. Critics of the Rule of Vows
VI
Why are the five precepts not enough ? Why vows are felt necessary? These were the questions that were often raised.
If was argued that if diseases would abate without medicine, what could be the advantage of weakening the body by emetics, by purges, and other like remedies?
Just so, if laymen, living at home and enjoying the pleasures of the senses, can realize in themselves the conditions of peace, the Supreme Good, Nibbana, by taking precepts, what is the need of the bhikkhu taking upon himself these vows ?
The Blessed Lord devised the vows because of the virtues inherent in them.
A life conditioned by vows is certain to bring with it growth in goodness, it is itself a protection against a fall.
Those who take vows and keep them as selfdependents, are emancipated.
The keeping of vows is the restriction of lust, and of malice, of pride, the cutting of evil thoughts.
Those who take vows and keep them, well guarded are they indeed and altogether pure are they in manners and in mind.
Not so with mere taking of precepts.
In the case of the precepts there is no protection against moral decline as there is in the case of vows.
A life of vows is very difficult and a life of precepts not so. It is necessary for mankind to have some who live the life of vows. So the Blessed Lord prescribed both.
§ 3. Critics of the Doctrine of Ahimsa
- There were persons who objected to the doctrine of Ahimsa. They said that it involved surrender or non-resistance to evil.