Buddha's Vacana on race supremacy

Are a person's birth, race, culture and religion the criterias to dictates one's supremacy and nobility over others? Many years ago during my university days when I began to study the Sutras which are the teachings of the Buddha as retold by His disciple. One of the earliest sutra which I studied was the Vasala Sutra (Discourse on Outcasts). The last verse of the said sutra which I still remembers by heart is as follows:

"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 term Brahmin denotes a certain caste or class of people who are considered the nobles and are positioned higher than other castes in the society in India especially in olden days.

So when certain people of certain race from certain area starts to claim they are more supreme than others due to their race and place of birth, it makes me wonder what will happen if each and every race and tribe in the world also declares they are a class above all and more noble than others. Will there be a Nobility Olympics so that each race competes against each other to decide who is the "noblest and supreme" of them all. Just like the Winter and Summer Olympics, there should be many events. The events can include the Best in Shouting Aloud, Most Publicity Seeker, Most Intimidating, Most Racist, Most Extreme, Most Rabble Rousers, Most Nonsensical Statements, Most Opportunists, Highest Mob Mentality, Smallest Pea Brain and whatever long list of other events that can be cooked up by these self declared "nobles and supremacies". But I doubt it will include most respectable, most decent, most well behaved, most polite, most dignify, most intelligent, most understanding and more importantly, Most Wise. - Loka

Vasala Sutta

Discourse on Outcasts

Translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera

Thus have I heard:

On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika's monastery. Then in the forenoon the Blessed One having dressed himself, took bowl and (double) robe, and entered the city of Savatthi for alms. Now at that time a fire was burning, and an offering was being prepared in the house of the Brahman Aggikabharadvaja. Then the Blessed One, while on his alms round, came to the Brahman's residence. The Brahman seeing the Blessed One some way off said this: "Stay there, you shaveling, stay there you wretched monk, stay there you outcast." When he spoke thus the Blessed One said to the Brahman: "Do you know, Brahman, who an outcast is and what the conditions are that make an outcast?" "No, indeed, Venerable Gotama, I do not know who an outcast is or the conditions that make an outcast. It is good if Venerable Gotama were to explain the Dhamma to me so that I may know who an outcast is and what the conditions are that make an outcast."

"Listen then, Brahman, and pay attention, I will speak."

"Yes, Venerable Sir," replied the Brahman.

1. "Whosoever is angry, harbors hatred, and is reluctant to speak well of others (discredits the good of others), perverted in views, deceitful -- know him as an outcast.

2. "Whosoever in this world kills living beings, once born or twice born, in whom there is no sympathy for living beings -- know him as an outcast.

3. "Whosoever destroys and besieges villages and hamlets and becomes notorious as an oppressor -- know him as an outcast.

4. "Be it in the village, or in the forest, whosoever steals what belongs to others, what is not given to him -- know him as an outcast.

5. "Whosoever having actually incurred a debt runs away when he is pressed to pay, saying, 'I owe no debt to you' -- know him as an outcast.

6. "Whosoever coveting anything, kills a person going along the road, and grabs whatever that person has -- know him as an outcast.

7. "He who for his own sake or for the sake of others or for the sake of wealth, utters lies when questioned as a witness -- know him as an outcast.

8. "Whosoever by force or with consent associates with the wives of relatives or friends -- know him as an outcast.

9. "Whosoever being wealthy supports not his mother and father who have grown old -- know him as an outcast.

10. "Whosoever strikes and annoys by (harsh) speech, mother, father, brother, sister or mother-in-law or father-in-law -- know him as an outcast.

11. "Whosoever when questioned about what is good, says what is detrimental, and talks in an evasive manner- know him as an outcast.

12. "Whosoever having committed an evil deed, wishes that it may not be known to others, and commits evil in secret -- know him as an outcast.

13. "Whosoever having gone to another's house, and partaken of choice food, does not honor that host by offering food when he repays the visit -- know him as an outcast.

14. "Whosoever deceives by uttering lies, a Brahman or an ascetic, or any other mendicant -- know him as an outcast.

15. "Whosoever when a Brahman or ascetic appears during mealtime angers him by harsh speech, and does not offer him (any alms) -- know him as an outcast.

16. "Whosoever in this world, shrouded in ignorance, speaks harsh words (asatam) or falsehood expecting to gain something -- know him as an outcast.

17. "Whosoever debased by his pride, exalts himself and belittles others -- know him as an outcast.

18. "Whosoever is given to anger, is miserly, has base desires, and is selfish, deceitful, shameless and fearless (in doing evil) -- know him as an outcast.

19. "Whosoever reviles the Enlightened One (the Buddha), or a disciple of the Buddha, recluse or a householder -- know him as an outcast.

20. "Whosoever not being an Arahant, a Consummate One, pretends to be so, is a thief in the whole universe -- he is the lowest of outcasts.

21. "Not by birth is one an outcast; not by birth is one a Brahman. By deed one becomes an outcast, by deed one becomes a Brahman.

22. "Know ye by the example I now cite (the fact that by birth one is not an outcast). There was an outcast's son, Sopaka, who became known as Matanga.

23. "This Matanga attained the highest fame so difficult to gain. Many were the warriors (kshatriyas) and Brahmans who went to attend on him.

24. "Mounting the celestial chariot (the Noble Eightfold path, and driving) along the passion-free high road, (Sopaka, now a monk), reached the Brahma realm having given up sense desires.

25. "His (lowly) birth did not prevent him from being reborn in the Brahma realm. There are Brahmans born in the family of preceptors, kinsmen of (veda) hymns.

26. "They are often seen committing evil deeds. In this life itself they are despised, in the next they are born in an evil state of existence. High birth does not prevent them from falling into a woeful state, or from censure.

27. "Not by birth is one an outcast; not by birth is one a Brahman. By deed one becomes an outcast, by deed one becomes an Brahman."

When the Buddha had thus spoken, the Brahman Aggikabharadvaja said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, O Venerable Gotama, excellent! Just as, O Venerable Gotama, a man were to set upright what had been overturned, or were to reveal what had been hidden, or were to point the way to one who had gone astray, or were to hold an oil lamp in the dark so that those with eyes may see things, even so in many ways has the Venerable Gotama expounded the Dhamma, the doctrine. I take refuge in the Venerable Gotama, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, the Order. May the Venerable Gotama accept me as a lay follower who has taken refuge from this day onwards while life lasts."

China - the next super power?

The Beijing Olympics was launched with a spectacular performance on 8/8/2008 that spread China's rich ancient history to their achievement in the space age. The show was very captivating indeed and the innovating lighting method of the Olympic flame by China's former top gymnast Li Ning captured the attention of all who was at the Bird Nest Olympic Stadium and billions who were glued to the tv watching the opening ceremony beamed live to millions of homes.

China had caught the attention of nations of the world with the opening ceremony. The most popular question now is whether China can overthrow the United States in winning the most gold medals? The world will be looking out for the next sports super power of the world.

As for Malaysia, the people are still waiting for the first Olympics gold medallist. Will badminton deliver this time after so many times of trying or will it be from cycling or even Tae Kwon-do? A million ringgit will be awaiting any Malaysian Olympics gold medallist. For glory, for country and perhaps for money will motivates our athlete to go for it.

China jiayu! Malaysia Boleh! - Loka

Earthquake strikes Beijing Olympics?

Is the Beijing Olympics to be held in August 2008 a target of derailment by certain groups using the recent earthquake in Sichuan province as the reason?

This possibility should not be dismissed if based on previous efforts to link the Beijing Olympics with the monks peace marches in Myanmar, the unrest in Tibet and disturbances affecting the Olympic Torch run in some countries.

Those groups highlighting the human rights record and foreign policies of China and Tibet issue might take a leaf from the natural disaster and caution the athletes from risking their safety by travelling to China to participate in the Olympics.

What a pity if certain people take this route to create uncertainty on the Olympic Games when the whole world is waiting for the best athletes to compete for the glory of mankind capabilities.

Buddhist Supports Beijing Olympics

A group of Buddhists in Malaysia issued a statement (below) supporting the Beijing Olympics and urged everyone not to disrupt the Olympic Torch Run in Kuala Lumpur to be held on 21 April 2008.

I just hoped no one will take any drastic actions that will create unnecessary negative impact on the Buddhist community. It seems that some Buddhist leaders already been summoned to Bukit Aman and told not to do anything which will disrupt the Torch Run.

My take is that Buddhists in Malaysia are peace loving people and usually abstained from taking any actions which might irked the police and the government. My hope is that the police and government will not look upon the Buddhists as potential trouble makers especially in relation to the Olympic Torch Run. In the history of modern Malaysia, the Buddhist citizens in this country have not even once or in any way created problems or incidents to the authorities. Even in the run up to the recent elections, while others were very vocal, which community kept their silence and did not publicised their needs and constraints publicly? It's the Buddhists!

So, please treat the Buddhists citizens with greater respect and gratitude!


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Press Statement

The Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia would like to support the call (NST report dated 16 April 2008) by the Chief High Priest of Malaysia Rev. K. Dhammaratana Thera that politics should be kept out of the coming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Hence, in conjunction with the arrival of the Olympic torch to Malaysia on 21 April 2008, and as consistently advised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we would like to urge all our Member Organizations, all other Tibetan Buddhist Societies/ Centers in Malaysia and the general public, not to disrupt the Olympic torch relay.

Instead, the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia would like to urge all our Member Organizations, all other Tibetan Buddhist Societies/ Centers in Malaysia and the general public to show our concern over the recent deeply saddening and tragic events in Tibet and the surrounding regions in China in a peaceful way.

Therefore, we pray that the Beijing Olympics will be a peaceful and most successful Olympic Games in its series and achieves the Olympic Charter goal in contributing towards the building of a healthy, peaceful and better world through sports.

In conjunction with this message, we encourage our Member Organizations and all other Buddhist organizations to embark on a month of prayers culminating with the occasion of the Wesak Day Celebration on 19 May 2008, for the following purposes:

That there may be continual peace and harmony for all the citizens and residents in Malaysia and all countries in the world.
That there be peace and harmony, compassion and equality for all the trouble spots in the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, Gaza, Myanmar and Tibet.

Yours in the Dharma,
Pek Chee Hen
Secretary
Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia

Politics and Sports - a New Event in Olympics?

Last September I convened a meeting of Buddhist leaders in Kuala Lumpur to discuss and respond to the situation in Myanmar. The meeting under the coordination of the Malaysian Buddhist Solidarity Group decided to submit an appeal to Government of Myanmar via their embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The appeal urged the Myanmar government to adopt the path of compassion and wisdom for a peaceful and non-violent solution to the problem in Myanmar.

What is significant on the stand of the Malaysian Buddhist Solidarity Group is that we seek the Myanmar Government to act in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.

There was no suggestion or proposal for the boycott of the Olympics in Beijing as others had demanded due to China's influence in Myanmar. I for one will not agree to link the situation in Myanmar to the Olympics.

In recent days, the movement to link the Beijing Olympics with the riots and protest in Tibet began to gain ground. The Olympic Torch relay runs were met with protests along multiple cities route including London, Paris, San Francisco and so on. Based on press reports, more protests by pro-Tibet activists are expected in the remaining Olympic Torch relay cities. And the European Union planned to boycott the opening ceremony of the Games.

Most people would agreed to differentiate between sports and politics but when incidents like those in Tibet and Myanmar are linked to Beijing Olympics, those who took issue with China grabbed the opportunity to highlight the needs of the monks and people in Tibet and Myanmar. These actions unintentionally derailed the hopes and aspiration of the people of China whom eagerly looking forward to the largest sporting event on earth.

Recently I was asked on my response to the incidents in Tibet.

For this time around, as a Buddhist, I was very clear that I am not going to convene any meeting to response to this matter as this are to be shouldered by Buddhist-based NGO. Secondly, as in the Myanmar issue, I totally not in favour of any intention or action to drag in the Beijing Olympics.

When did the Olympics adopted a new event by the name of Politics and Sports?

The USA and his allies had boycotted the Moscow Olympics in 1980 in protests of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the former USSR and her Eastern Block allies revenged with boycotting of the Los Angeles Olympics four years later.

The victims at the end of the day was the sportsmen and women. They won gold medals without stiff contests and the sports enthusiasts lost out in seeing top of the line competition amongst the best competitors.

So protest if you may but please leave the Beijing Olympics aside. There is no event for Hu Jintao and H.H. Dalai Lama to compete and the only medals for grabs are for the best sportsmen and sportswomen of the world.