Labh, Baidyanath See all items with this value

2004

5

180-191

1530-4108 See all items with this value

Variety is an essential feature of nature, which speaks of dissimilarity, differentiation or distinction among various objects both living and non-living including humans. No two humans are exactly the same in this world in respect of physical structure, strength, appearance and outlook, intelligence level etc. It manifests even in the thinking and behavior patterns and gives birth to social stratification and often discrimination too. Here arises a question. Should such stratification and discrimination be treated as simply a natural phenomenon and therefore justified? Can it be done away with at all? Had the Buddha got some ready made answer for it?

Before we come to the solution part in the Buddhist perspective, it seems desirable to penetrate into core of the problem of social stratification, inequality and discrimination had stirred and disturbed the Buddha’s mind, provoked him to diagnose it, and prescribed some viable treatment or solution. As the Buddha was like a great physician (mahāvejjo) and believed in proper diagnosis of the problem, let us also try to understand the social milieu which led to the origin and development of the Buddha’s thoughts against caste inequality and social discrimination as well as his outlook fro establishing equality, fraternity and dignity.