Activity 1: Ashoka's concept of 'dhamma'
We have decided to use the word 'dhamma' rather than attempting to translate it to English every time it is used by Ashoka. This means that you will need to discuss it with students. It is a Pali word and the Sanskrit equivalent is 'dharma'.
Although these words are often associated with Buddhism, they need not be thought of as strictly belonging to any particular religious tradition. In the India of Ashoka's time, there were a number of competing sects.
'Dhamma' is usually taken to mean the (natural) law of piety or righteousness. Indian historian Romila Thapar believes that Ashoka uses the word to mean 'a way of life which was both practical and convenient, as well as being highly moral'1. Seen in that way, it perhaps need not even be associated with religion at all.
The word 'sect' is also used in the translations. There were a variety of sects in Ashoka's world, and some of them will be mentioned elsewhere, but at this level student can probably understand the term as referring to differences of faith or religion.
Source C1 provides a selection of texts from Ashoka's Rock Edicts. Some issues for discussion or clarification:
- What did students think the edicts might be about when they first heard about them?
- Why might Ashoka have communicated with his people in this way?
- 'Piyadasi' is a kind of title rather than name. Do our leaders have titles as well as names?
- Do our leaders give the same sorts of messagesnow? What differences are there? How do our leaders communicate them to us?
- When leaders speak to their people, can you 'read between the lines' about what they are saying? In other words, is there more to it than just what the words say? Can you read between Ashoka's lines?
- Can you imagine what sort of person Ashoka might have been?
Students could then:
- Develop a list of the elements of dhamma, according to Ashoka. This could perhaps be a class list, displayed prominently.
- Modify these and write them in a way that would be relevant today. Use them to design a billboard-type advertisement to promote them.
- Apart from his ideas about dhamma, work out what we can learn from the edicts about the India of Ashoka's time. (For example, Rock Edict 1 tells us that meat was eaten and slaves and servants are mentioned several times.)
- Ask their school principal what he or she thinks about whether Ashoka's concept of dhamma could be useful in running a school.
Source C1: Some rock edicts
Rock edict I
The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, says:
Here, no living things should be killed or sacrificed. Some holiday feasts are proper, but many are cruel and unnecessary.
In the kitchen of The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, thousands of creatures used to be killed every day for food. But now only two peacocks and one deer are killed daily, and sometimes not even the deer. In the future, even these will not be killed.
Rock edict IV
In the past, there was a lot of cruelty to people and animals, as well as disrespect towards holy people and relatives.
But now The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, has promoted dhamma among the people and shown them other ways to behave. And they are seeing elephant parades, fireworks and other good things instead of war and killing.
This has not happened for hundreds of years but now dhamma is growing and Piyadasi will make sure that it grows more in the future.
Rock edict VII
The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, wants all sects to be able to live in the kingdom. He knows that they all aim for self-control and purity of mind.
People are not perfect and can not always perfectly follow dhamma. But they should follow as much as they can.
Rock edict VIII
In the past, kings used to go on pleasure tours, hunting animals and having parties.
But eleven years after he became king, The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, Piyadasi started making different tours. Now he visits holy people and the aged, and gives them gifts. He visits people in the country and talks to them about dhamma.
This gives him much more pleasure.
Rock edict IX
The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, says:
People have many ceremonies at times of sickness, weddings, births or before going on a journey. But most of these are useless.
The 'ceremonies' that are worthwhile are the ceremonies of dhamma: respect for slaves and servants, respect for teachers, respect for living beings and generosity to holy people.
Even if these things don’t seem to make much difference in this world, they will certainly make a difference in the next world. So this is how things should be done.
Rock edict X
The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does not believe that glory and fame are the most important things.
He believes that following dhamma is the most important thing and he would only like to be famous for encouraging people to do that.
He knows that it is difficult for kings or ordinary people to avoid doing evil.
Rock edict XI
The-Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, says:
There is no gift like the gift of dhamma and that means treating slaves and servants well, respecting parents, being generous to friends, relatives and holy people of all sects and not killing.
Everyone should agree that this is good behaviour. In this way people will be better off in this world and the next world.