was banned and cruelty to domestic and wild animals was prohibited. The individual morality that he hoped to foster included respect towards parents, relatives, elders, teachers and friends, and generosity towards servants, ascetics and, of course, Brahmins. Not surprisingly, Asoka encouraged harmlessness towards each and every form of life. In conformity with the Buddha’s advice in the Anguttara Nikaya, II:282, he also considered moderation in spending and moderation in saving to be good. Treating people properly, he suggested, was much more important than performing ceremonies that were supposed to bring good luck. The qualities of heart recommended by Ashoka in the edicts indicate his profound spiritual insight. They include kindness, self-examination, truthfulness, gratitude, purity of heart, enthusiasm, strong loyalty and self-control. No doubt, throughout the ancient Buddhist world monarchs looked to his style of government as an ideal to be followed.
This article was last updated on Monday, Jan 03, 2005
