Reflections No.22 - The Buddha Dharma

The Buddha Dharma

"Not by birth is one an outcast;

not by birth is one a Brahmin.

By deed one becomes an outcast,

by deed one becomes an Brahmin."

The Buddha

The Buddha Dharma is open to all regardless of race, castes and status. The Buddha is the first teacher in his time to reach out to all castes and profess that his Dharma is for all who wish to be free from suffering. All are welcomed to enter his order of monks(Sangha). Kings and nobles venerate the Buddha and his retinue of monks so what if one of them is from the lowly outcaste? Imagine it is even considered back luck coming across an outcast. Will it not cause controversy? One such monk was Sunita who was from the lowly outcast who became an Arahant.

Sunita was born in an outcast family avoided and looked down by people. His job was to collect all the wilted followers from temples.

One morning after collecting two basket full of flowers he walked down the village street on his way back, just then there was a commotion and many people were out on the street.

He too was curious, so standing by the side of the road a little further away from people lest they chase him away he stood on his toes and strained his neck to see what was all the commotion about.

Then he saw a majestic figure walking with a lion gait and leading a retinue of monks slowly approaching. The people were murmuring Buddha! Buddha! They were venerating the majestic figure who was slowly approaching in his direction. At first Sunita stood astounded by the majestic person and wished he could be a monk but in a short while the Buddha was in front of him. Sunita panicked for how can he, a lowly cast, be in the presence of the majestic Buddha. Sunita tried to move away but slipped and fell spilling the content of his two baskets. He tried to get up but again slipping on the spilled contents. He bowed venerating the Buddha. Where are you going Sunita? It is for you that I came. Hearing these words he ask the going forth from the Buddha.

The Buddha just replied, “Come monk.” And so Sunita became a member of the Sangha.