Enlightenment for Everyone

85. Enlightenment for Everyone

A Brahmin learns from Buddha that sharing spiritual knowledge is a sacred responsibility.

Introduction

In Buddha's times, the religious and social situations were truly challenging. The Kshatriyas and Brahmins were occupied in rituals and atrocities. The common people were caught up in the bondage of traditions, customs and casteism.

Transformation

Buddha had achieved enlightenment. He preached this knowledge to the common people in a very simple way, explaining that the root cause of all sorrow was 'desire'. However, some religious scholars were of the opinion that Buddha should not share this knowledge with the common people. They felt that this would only cause the common people to leave their earlier rituals, customs and traditions and adopt new customs. In short, apart from changing the rituals that bound them, nothing else would be achieved.

The Divine Blessing

Lohitya, a Brahmin from Shalvatika village was also of this opinion. Once, he invited Gautam Buddha for a meal. During the meal, Buddha asked him, "Do you think that if one acquires some specific knowledge, one should experience it oneself and not share it with others?" Lohitya replied that it was indeed so.

Then Gautam Buddha asked him, "Friend, the king has gifted you this village. Would it be correct to say that the produce of this village, its resources, and all the money it earns belong to you alone? Are you the sole owner of everything that the village produces? What about those who depend on the farm produce and the trade in the village for their livelihood? Would it be fair to them?"

Lohitya said, "Not at all, O Holy One! It is important for every villager to obtain his share in the produce of the village. Denying him his share would be doing a grave injustice to him."

Pearls of Wisdom

Try to answer the question below before checking the answer.

1. What did Gautam Buddha reply?

Gautam Buddha said, "Similarly Lohitya, denying others the knowledge of the path of enlightenment is doing a grave injustice to them. Everybody has a right to this knowledge."

🌟 Everyone deserves to know the truth. Sharing wisdom is not just kind — it is just. 🌟

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