PABBAJJA

PABBAJJA
Dr.U.N.Biswas
(Convener, Dharmachakra- An Effort to Spread the message of Dharmachakra in the National Flag of India.)

The world to day has far more people who have huge wealth than in the past, yet unhappiness has increased than the degree of increase of affluence. This fact has been well established by modern researchers. Not that we did not know earlier. We are living in a world of stiff competition to earn more money to enjoy. We are becoming avaricious, covetous and rapacious. The hunt for lust is tremendous. It is fast eroding the values that the mankind has realized throughout the ages. The seers of Ancient India realized the secret of true happiness. It is true that we need money to lead even a simple lifestyle. If people are not employed to earn basic needs, crime in the society will increase. The Ancient masters discovered the truth that material happiness and sensual indulgence are inferior happiness. Renunciation is superior.
The craving for lust, money and fame are now ominously strong and threatens the message of the Dharmachakra in our national flag of India. The tanha for material pleasure is deluding us to commit all kinds of misconducts which are destroying the values discovered by the sages of Ancient India, on which we laid the foundation in our constitution to build a society of equality, liberty and fraternity. Let me confess, i am far from a life of renunciation, therefore, who am i to retell Pabbajja? It is an exercise to remind me and tell others that how imperfect am i. At the same time, we all know that recent exposure of allegations of immorality against holy men in some states of India, point that all is not well among those who preach. This is a reality and the Buddha knew well the nature of mind and set rigorous discipline for those who renounce to become a Monk.
Concept of Human Nature in Buddhism
Once the Buddha, with Ananada set out to a village for alms. At the entrance of the village, some wicked persons abused the Buddha in filthiest of words. Ananda became upset and told the Buddha, ‘The people of this village are ill mannered, so let us go to another village.’ The Buddha replied, ‘Ananda there are such persons in that village too.’ Ananda said. ‘We will go to some other village.’ Then the Buddha observed, ‘ Ananda, you will find impure men in every where. Rarely, a person of purity is found.’ From Ancient saints of India to modern criminologists are of same view that people, by nature are not pure. Vices appear to be natural and spontaneous in us, while virtue is not so. Every one of us can attain absolute purity and it is a universal truth that deviance is latent in us. We need to work hard to attain purity of mind. We always have to remain mindful and watchful. It is a twenty-four-hours exercise of three hundred sixty five days of a year. We need to constantly keep switched on the cleansing process. Unmindful mind is a fertile ground for lust and covetousness.
Pabbajja: Tradition
The tradition of taking Pabbajja goes back to Ancient India. It was definitely prevalent when Siddhartha was born. The Paribrajakas, after attainment of wisdom, would return to the society, but not live with the family. They traveled from place to place and tell people how to lead a clean life. The kings and queen listened to them for guidance to govern and they held the Paribrajakas in high esteem. In other words, they were the conscience keepers of the society. The prince Siddhartha took Pabbajja in broad day light. It is not true that he left home without informing anybody in midnight when Yasodhara and Rahul lay asleep.
Pabbajja: Legal Definition
In India, we have a legal definition of Pabbajja. Renunciation is the closest word in English for Pabbajja. Pabbajja or renunciation is withdrawal, “from worldly interests in order to lead a spiritual life.” (Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, S.13 (vi). A Pbbajja is a person who has renounced the world, “by entering any religious order.” (S.13( vi) of Hindu Marriage Act 1955.)
Pabbajja in Buddhism
Pabbajja is ‘ The Going Forth’, ‘ The Going Forth from Home to Homeless life’ of monk(agariyam pabbajja) consists in severing all family- and social ties to live the pure life of monk, in order to realize the goal of final deliverance pointed out by the Enlightened One.” (Buddhist Dictionary, p.114) “Then I, monks, after a time… in the prime of life, in radiant youth, cut off my hair and beard, donned a dyed robe and went forth from to homelessness ( I renounced).” ( Ariya-parisena sutta, 26.6)
“Leaving home I gave up
All evil words and acts,
Pure was my livelihood.” { Pabbajja-sutta,sn.v.407}
Pabbajja has to severe all family and social ties. Secondly, he has to live a pure life of a monk. Thirdly, his goal should be to realize the goal of final deliverance shown by the Buddha. Fourthly, he gives up all evil words and acts. Fifthly, his livelihood is pure.
It is not easy to go forth from home to homelessness. To remain happy in homelessness is very hard.
The Buddha states two kinds of happiness: happiness of life of laity and happiness of Pabbajja, a happiness of sensual indulgence and happiness of renunciation. To the master, happiness of Pabbajja- going forth and that of renunciation are superior.
According to The Buddha there are two distinct ways of life, one that leads to worldly gains and the other that leads to Nibbana. A Pabbajja- a Monk, says, the Buddha, has to realize this truth and should not take delight in worldly gain and honour, he should live a life of solitude, detachment and realization of Nibbana.
“There are two kinds of happiness, that of a lay life (ghisukham) and that of “going forth” (pabbajja sukham) : that of sensual indulgence (kama sukham) and that of renunciation (nekkhamma sukham). Of these, monks, the happiness of “going forth” and of renunciation are superior.” ( A.i.80.)
We may deal desire to earn fame and honour. This is also tanha and this tanha can be so intense that it can lead to mass killing, destruction of country, criminal misconducts to women and various other crimes. On individual plane, a person, be that he a Monk or laity, if he is blown away by greed for fame, he can stoop to any level to do any illegal acts. Which is why, the Buddha tells the Monks not to be thirsty for fame
“The thirst for fame, power and domination has brought untold agony to mankind. If a man makes no effort to check the longings that are ever ready to away his mind, he will become a slave to that mind.” ( Thera,Piyadassi, The Buddha’s Ancient Path,U.K, 1964, p.166.)
The Buddha, while explaining to live a right livelihood, refers to some aspects of human behavior which are extremely important from criminological point of view, so far the life of Monks are concerned. Merely one is a Monk, which does not necessarily follow that he is pure and holy.
“Monks whatsoever monks are cheats, stubborn, babblers, cunning, passionate, proud, uncalmed – such monks are no followers of mine. They have fallen away from Dhamma-vinaya ( Doctrine and Discipline), nor do they grow, increase and prosper in this Dhamma-vinaya .” ( A.ii.26, sutta 25.)
The seven impurities that are mentioned need very deep analysis to understand their significance. Sections 415-420 of Indian Penal Code deal Cheating. Cheating does not mean merely the acts of commission pertaining to material objects, it also means, damage in mind or reputation. ( S.W. Palantikar V State of Bihar 2002 SCC (Cri) 129.) Cheats, stubborn, babblers, cunning, passionate, proud and uncalmed are disqualified to become the followers of The Buddha.
The Master, again and again warns the Monks not to cheat people. The holy life of a Monk is not for cheating, scheming, profit making, hankering after favour and honour, gossiping etc. The holy life of a Monk is lived with restraint and sacrifice.
“Monks, this holy life (brahmacariyam) is lived neither to cheat people nor for scheming, nor for profit and favour, nor for the sake of honour, It is not for gossiping so-and-so.” ‘But, monks, this holy life is lived for the sake of restraint, for abandoning, for dissipation, for cessation.’ ( A. ii.26, sutta 26.)
Craving for honour, reward, award, fame and felicitation is dangerous. When we accept an award or reward, there is strong likelihood of craving taking root in our sub-conscious mind. If something nests in the sub-conscious, it becomes extremely difficult to erase that. With some experience of the investigation of the sub-conscious, I can say with all humility and some degree of accuracy, those who want to purify mind by the way of the Buddha, may shy away from reward and felicitation. Beware of praise!
A monk has to be calm in body, mind and speech. He is well composed. The Buddha lays emphasis on restraint and control. A Monk is restrained in eye, ear, nose, tongue, speech, body, restrained everywhere. He is controlled in hand, foot, speech and head. The Monk who is arrogant and not gentle in action and speech is not follower of the Buddha.
A true Buddhist Monk is an ideal person to be followed by the laity. He has overcome greed, hatred and delusion. He remains in sublime state of mind of Metta, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha. Personally, I am far away from this. I am still struggling to overcome anger, greed and lack of equanimity. I have, however, no doubt that a true Pabbajja has cleansed karmically unwholesome roots and is firmly rooted in alobha, adosa and amoha. His mind is sublime and that sublimity radiates among his followers.

U.N.Biswas
15 September 2008.
Salt Water Lake, Calcutta, West Bengal, India.