4. Sonadanda Sutta
While on tour, accompanied by five hundred Bhikkhus, the Buddha came to stay at the corner of a pond named Gaggara in the city of Champa, in Anga country. At that time there lived one Sonadanda, a Brahmana honoured by Seniya Bimbisara, the King of Magadha. He wanted to visit the Buddha. Other Brahmanas under him, when they heard of Sonadanda’s desire, not only advised him not to do so but also tried to prevent him from fulfilling this wish.
They reasoned with him thus : “You, Sonadanda Brahmana, will lose prestige by visiting the Buddha, while that of the Buddha will increase. For this reason it would be more proper for the Buddha to come to visit you”. Sonadanda was not inclined to follow their advice against his intended visit; and began to speak well of the Buddha in various ways. He argued thus : “The Buddha has come here to our country as a guest. As such, we are bound to show him respect. We should respect, revere, honour, venerate him and show him every politeness. Having spoken thus, he then recounted several good qualities present in the Buddha without limit.
After this Sonadanda Brahmana went to where the Buddha was said to sojourn at that time. But he suffered great mental distress as he considered what question he should ask of the Buddha. “Brahmana, this question should not be asked like this.” Such, a response from the Buddha might make the great gathering of visitors tease him. These thoughts made him nervous. If he should return without speaking a word to the Buddha, that again would lead to a decline in others’ respect for Sonadanda. With such doubts he reached the Buddha. The Buddha, the Blessed One, knew his doubts and questioned him on a subject in which Sonadanda was well versed : “Brahmana, what are the distinctive qualities that make one a true Brahmana ?”
The answer of the Brahmana was : “The distinctive qualities of a true Brahmana are the followings : (1) His parents are to be of noble descent’ (2) He must be a master of the Vedas. (3) He must be handsome, attractive and dignified in bearing. (4) His character must be blameless and. (5) Lastly he must be full of wisdom and learning.
Thereupon, the Buddha, the Blessed One, asked him further : “Is it necessary for a true Brahmana to possess all these five qualities, or can one of these five be left out as not essential ?” Sonadonda agreed this could be so. In the same way, the Buddha asked whether two, or three, or four qualities might be regarded as not essential for a true Brahmana ? Sonadanda however came to take two of them as absolutely necessary, morality (Sila) and wisdom (Panna). Thus, under the pressure of critical questioning by the Buddha. Sonadanda had to abandon the caste system and accept morality (Sila) and pañña as essential for a true Brahman. read more
The Buddha agreed with this position and explained that Pañña purified by morality and morality (Sila) purified by Pañña were the essential qualities of a true Brahmana. For wherever there is morality, there is sure to be pañña, and wherever there is Pañña, it is certain that we shall find morality as well.
Sonadanda was convinced of the correctness of Buddha’s teaching and impressed thereby. He accepted householder discipleship, but could not do so openly, for he was afraid of adverse public opinion. Hence he begged the Buddha : “Oh, Gotama ! If I should happen to be sitting in the assembly and I fold both my hands towards you, please take it to mean that I stood up from my seat in order to greet you. If I unfold my turban, kindly consider it as my reverencing of you with my head. If I should happen to be in a chariot, and raise the whip up, please regard it as my getting down in honour of you. If I should close my umbrella, kindly interpret it as my obeisance to you.”
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