This paper examines Indian Buddhist debate narratives, royal historiographies, and hagiographies in conjunction with Buddhist systematic thought on wrong-view, wrong-speech, slander and the sins of immediate retribution. Buddhists narratives are rich with examples of debates in which the wealth and estates of both monastic institutions and their donors were at stake. Forced conversion is a common feature. Slandering the Dharma had a direct relationship to sins considered forms of harm to the Buddha, such as confiscation of property or desecration of sacred objects, and defined as the worst sins leading directly to hell. Buddhist texts often denigrate others’ beliefs and practices and, although their responses to being reviled preclude anger, use of force against enemies of Buddhism is modeled by the Buddha, ideal kings, deities, and wizards. Many examples of mass violence by Buddhist kings against those who oppose the Dharma or harm its saints are exhibited.
目次
Abstract 129 The Dangerous World of The Buddhist Ascetic 131 Unwelcome And Disagreeable Speech 132 Wrong View and Wrong Speech 135 Conversion And Repentance 136 Staking The Dharma 137 The Theory of Wrong Speech And “Blasphemy” 142 Kings And Smiting Enemies of The Dharma 145 Closing Summary 152 References 153
