Buddha’s Sutta on Caste
I had not heard of this Agganna Sutta before but thought that the Buddha did not address questions on creation. Typically he did not, however in this talk with two Brahmins on the origination of caste, there is much said on the cycle of creation.
Here is the link:
https://suttacentral.net/dn27/en/sujato
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Thanks for posting. Gives the background of what happened on the subtle planes of existence before the physical manifestation happened.
One can assume that something similar happens in each cycle of this type of creation.
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I apoligize, I did not read the article in full.
Hopefuly someone can help me confirm my understanding of this passage:
"Then the Buddha said to Vāseṭṭha, “Vāseṭṭha, you are both brahmins by birth and clan, and have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness from a brahmin family. I hope you don’t have to suffer abuse and insults from the brahmins.”
“Actually, sir, the brahmins do insult and abuse us with their typical insults to the fullest extent.”
“But how do the brahmins insult you?”
“Sir, the brahmins say: ‘Only brahmins are the first caste; other castes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light caste; other castes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are Brahmā’s rightful sons, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā. You’ve both abandoned the first caste to join an inferior caste, namely these shavelings, fake ascetics, riffraff, black spawn from the feet of our Kinsman. This is not right, it’s not proper!’ That’s how the brahmins insult us.”
“Actually, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins are forgetting their tradition when they say this to you. For brahmin women are seen menstruating, being pregnant, giving birth, and breast-feeding. Yet even though they’re born from a brahmin womb they say: ‘Only brahmins are the first caste; other castes are inferior. Only brahmins are the light caste; other castes are dark. Only brahmins are purified, not others. Only brahmins are Brahmā’s rightful sons, born of his mouth, born of Brahmā, created by Brahmā, heirs of Brahmā.’ They misrepresent the brahmins, speak falsely, and make much bad karma."
Is this saying that Lord Buddha exceptionally and uniquely was in those time in India demarking his path and teachings from the racist, bigot inherent cast system that has been one of the wholemarks of hindiusm, and practically all other practices associated to it?
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Keep reading, Surya. Later on the Buddha speaks of the contraction of the cosmos and also how it starts up again. He speaks of the re-emergence of beings after they’ve spent a very long time in the realm of streaming radiance. And within the explanation of how beings evolved into ordinary people, he talks of their characteristics being based on principle (not by birth). The first part of the sutta is admittedly un- interesting, but it’s worth your while to continue. I probably should have titled the post differently. And, yes, I do think that the Buddha is distinguishing himself from the Brahmin caste superiority of his time. Anyone from any caste was welcome to join him, although women had to persistently beg and ultimately got Ananda to successfully plead on their behalf.
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Thank you!
