{"id":6239,"date":"2016-10-09T16:17:57","date_gmt":"2016-10-09T22:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/americanbuddhist\/?p=6239"},"modified":"2016-10-10T22:02:16","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T04:02:16","slug":"the-buddha-intervienes-in-a-political-dispute-thinking-it-is-my-duty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/americanbuddhist\/2016\/10\/the-buddha-intervienes-in-a-political-dispute-thinking-it-is-my-duty.html","title":{"rendered":"The Buddha intervenes in a Political Dispute thinking “it is my duty…”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Today\u2019s Daily Buddha Vaccana from the Digital Pali Reader<\/a> contains a poignant tale, taken from the commentary to the Dhammapada, in particular the chapter on happiness<\/a>. There, the Buddha literally thinks, \u201cit is my duty to go\u201d deal with disputing parties.*<\/p>\n

Add to that some good humorous attacks, one group calling the other \u201clepers\u201d and \u201cthose who have slept with their sisters\u201d and the other calling their opponents \u201cbrats\u201d and saying they live up in trees. Fairly tame by current political standards, sadly.<\/p>\n

It is said that the Sakyans and the Koliyans dammed the waters of the Rohini River between Kapilavatthu and Koliya and cultivated the fields on both sides of the river. \u00a0During the month of Jetthamula, the crops began to wilt, and the workers employed by both cities assembled. \u00a0Those of Koliya said: \u201cIf the water is diverted to both sides of the river there will not be enough for both of us. \u00a0As our crops will ripen with a single watering, let us have the water.\u201d But the Sakyans replied: \u201cAfter your granaries are full, we will not be able to face taking our valuables and with basket and bags in hand, go begging from your doors. \u00a0Our crops will ripen with a single watering, so let us have the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not give it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we will not let you have it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Talk grew bitter, one person struck another, the blow was returned, fighting broke out, and as they fought they cast aspersions upon the origin of the each other\u2019s royal families. \u00a0The Koliyans workers said: \u201cTake your brats and go where you belong. \u00a0How can we be harmed by the elephants, horses, shields and weapons of those have slept with their own sisters like dogs and jackals?\u201d The Sakyan workers replied: \u201cYou lepers, take your brats and go where you belong. \u00a0How can we be harmed by the elephants, horses, shields and weapons of miserable outcasts who live up jujube trees like animals.\u201d Both groups went and reported the quarrel to the ministers who were in charge of the work, who in turn reported it to the royal households. \u00a0The Sakyans prepared for battle, saying: \u201cWe will show them the strength and power of those who have slept with their sisters.\u201d The Koliyans prepared for battle, saying: \u201cWe will show them the strength and power of those who live up jujube trees.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the Lord surveyed the world at dawn he saw his kinsmen and thought: \u201cIf I do not go, these people will destroy each other. \u00a0It is my duty to go to them.\u201d He passed through the air to where his kinsmen were gathered, and seated himself cross-legged in the air in the middle of the Rohini River. \u00a0When the Lord\u2019s kinsmen saw him they put down their weapons and worshipped him. \u00a0Then the Lord said: \u201cWhat is this quarrel about, great king?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know not, reverend sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen who would know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe commander-in-chief of the army will know.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked, the commander-in-chief suggested the viceroy might know. \u00a0Thus the Lord asked one after the other with none of them knowing the cause of the quarrel, until the workers were asked. \u00a0They replied: \u201cThe quarrel is about the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then the Lord said to the king: \u201cWhat is the value of water, great king?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery little, reverend sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the value of a warrior?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA warrior, reverend sir, is beyond price.\u201d Then the Lord said: \u201cThen is it right that for a little water you should kill warriors who are beyond price?\u201d<\/p>\n

They were all silent. \u00a0Then the Lord said: \u201cGreat kings, why do you act thus? \u00a0Were I not here today, you would cause a river of blood to flow. \u00a0Your actions are unworthy. \u00a0You live in hatred, given to the five kinds of hatred. \u00a0I live full of love. \u00a0You live sick with passions. \u00a0I live free from sickness. \u00a0You live chasing after the five kinds of sense pleasures. \u00a0I live in contentment.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2014 Dhp-a.254**<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, following on from yesterday\u2019s post<\/a>, there may be not only good wisdom, but a sort of duty toward, wise people\u00a0in engaging in political affairs \u2013 even when those political affairs involve people who are a bit unreasonable and unruly.<\/p>\n

* In fact the Buddha thinks \u201cit would be proper\/right for me to go.\u201d (may\u0101<\/span> gantu\u1e43<\/span> va\u1e6d\u1e6dat\u012b<\/span><\/em>)<\/span>
\n** As a commentary to the Dhammapada, it\u2019s quite certain that the material derives from hundreds of years after the Buddha lived. So we might be a bit skeptical about whether this\u00a0historically<\/em> ever happened. Comparing it, however, with other texts it does seem consistent with what the Buddha would have done and said. See, for instance, the Fruits of the Reclusive Life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today\u2019s Daily Buddha Vaccana from the Digital Pali Reader contains a poignant tale, taken from the commentary to the Dhammapada, in particular the chapter on happiness. There, the Buddha literally thinks, \u201cit is my duty to go\u201d deal with disputing parties.* Add to that some good humorous attacks, one group calling the other \u201clepers\u201d and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":6240,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,27],"tags":[520,601,526],"class_list":["post-6239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buddhism","category-politics","tag-buddhism","tag-dhammapada","tag-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Buddha intervenes in a Political Dispute thinking "it is my duty..."<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Today's Daily Buddha Vaccana from the Digital Pali Reader contains a poignant tale, taken from the commentary to the Dhammapada, in particular the chapter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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