- Examine Ashoka’s view of other faiths
with reference to his 12th Edict. [10 marks - AQA]
Plan:
·
Introduce Ashoka and explain his conversion/the
role of edicts in his empire.
·
View of 12th edict – contact between
religions is good and helps people to understand their own dharma.
·
All religions are equally worthy of respect and
equal protection.
The Emperor Ashoka ruled almost the entire Indian
subcontinent from 268-232BCE, and is regarded as the first Buddhist ruler of
India who used his beliefs in his political policies. Ashoka’s conversion is
recorded in edicts that he published throughout his kingdom, and he professed
to have converted to following the Buddhist dharma after seeing huge amounts of
bloodshed and suffering in the Kalinga war, which he waged to occupy territory.
It is suggested that after seeing and causing so much suffering, Ashoka had a
change of heart and began to seek the end of suffering, leading him to the
spiritual dharma (truths or teachings) of Siddhartha Gautama, which were
growing increasingly popular within India at this time. This then led Ashoka to
radically change his policy and leadership style, embracing ahimsa through
vegetarianism in his palaces, and bringing an end to his political control
being achieved through violent military conquests. Ashoka made his beliefs and
the laws he passed known throughout his kingdom by having huge rock edicts
transcribed and erected throughout his kingdom, in order to spread his wishes
to those under his command, the 12th edict deals with his attitudes
to other religions.
Ashoka, in the 12th Edict, suggests that other
faiths are worthy of respect and tolerance, and encourages contact between
different religions in his kingdom. His reasoning for this is that one’s own
understanding of their dharma can be aided by hearing about the truth claims of
other religions. He professes that his greatest desire for the “growth in
essential of all religions” within his kingdom, suggesting that he wants all
faiths to be able to flourish in India. He also suggests that those of
different religions can learn from one another, stating plainly that “contact
between religions is good.” It is evident that Ashoka has taken some time to
consider and compare similarities between different religions, identifying in
the edict that many share the same moral practices, for example Ashoka suggests
that rejecting false speech is a common moral standard in all religions. It
seems that Ashoka is providing common ground to start interfaith dialogues
within his kingdom, and that he wanted his followers to discuss with each other
and find further similarities between their religions to help them gain a
better understanding of both others and themselves.
Ashoka does also seem to recognise that there may be times
when religions may not agree, but his edict gives guidance over how to deal
with this criticism. Ashoka commands in his Edict that those who want to
criticise another’s faith should only do so “mildly”, which could be seen to
link to the Buddha’s sila teachings about right speech and right action. This
shows that Ashoka did not encourage disparagement or rejection of other faiths,
but wanted open discussions between these religions in his kingdom. Overall, it
appears that Ashoka is very tolerant of the variety of religions within India
at this time, and that he encouraged contact between the religions to help
people become wiser in their own faith and matters of other faiths, likely as a
way of maintaining peace and harmony within his kingdom.
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