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Thinkers, Beliefs And Buildings
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Buddhism in practice: This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given by the Buddha to a wealthy householder named Sigala:

In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees... by assigning them work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness; by sharing delicacies with them any by granting leave at times ...

In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and Brahmanas: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them and supplying their worldly needs.

There are similar instructions to Sigala about how to behave with his parents, teacher and wife.

A. Which were the five ways through which Buddha wanted a householder to look after his employees?

B. How should clansmen treat Samanas and Brahmanas?

C. What according to you should have been the instructions to teachers?

D. What was the Buddhist sangha? Give any two features of the sangha?

Answer

A. Buddha wanted a householder to look after his (her) employees through the following five ways:

(a) by assigning his servants and employees work according to their strength,

(b) by supplying them with food and wages,

(c) by tending them in sickness,

(d) by sharing delicacies with them, and

(e) by granting leave at times.
B. (a) The clansmen should look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and Brahmanas: by affection in act and speech and mind.

(b) By keeping open house to them (i.e., samanas and Brahmanas).
C. According to me the teachers should have been instructed to love and to have affection for their disciples. They should give them food, clothes, shelter and religious preachings.
They should present the bear type of moral character before them.
D. (a) It was a momentic order of the Buddhists union where the Bikhshus (monks) and Bhikshunis (lady monks) lived as commune were called Sangha.

(b) All the members in Buddhism enjoyed equal rights irrespective of their varna and castes.

(c) They used to work in a democratic work. All matters were discussed in a democratic atmosphere in these Sanghas.

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