Does the Buddha deny genetic differences?
score:7
MN 98 is about "jati" or "social identity". The Buddha says physical birth or "ancestry" is unrelated to jati; that the jatis are verbal designations assigned due to kamma (actions).
For example, Michael Jordan's great great grandparents were probably slaves. Where as Michael Jordan was a sporting superstar & billionaire. Jordan was born at Cumberland Hospital in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, to Deloris, who worked in banking, and James R. Jordan Sr., an equipment supervisor. These distinctions of "slave", "banker", "supervisor" vs "basketball billionaire" are not related to physical birth or ancestry. They are related to social kamma (activity).
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist. His parents were Hermann Einstein, a salesman and engineer, and Pauline Koch. The Einsteins were non-observant Ashkenazi Jews, and Albert attended a Catholic elementary school.
You’re a brahmin by your deeds, Kammunā brāhmaṇo hoti,
and by deeds a non-brahmin. kammunā hoti abrāhmaṇo.
You’re a farmer by your deeds, Kassako kammunā hoti,
by deeds you’re a professional; sippiko hoti kammunā;
you’re a trader by your deeds, Vāṇijo kammunā hoti,
by deeds are you an employee; pessako hoti kammunā.
you’re a bandit by your deeds, Coropi kammunā hoti,
by deeds you’re a soldier; yodhājīvopi kammunā;
you’re a sacrificer by your deeds, Yājako kammunā hoti,
by deeds you’re a ruler. rājāpi hoti kammunā.
In this way in accord with truth, Evametaṃ yathābhūtaṃ,
the astute regard deeds. kammaṃ passanti paṇḍitā;
Seeing dependent origination, Paṭiccasamuppādadassā,
they’re expert in deeds and their results. kammavipākakovidā.
Deeds make the world go on, Kammunā vattati loko,
deeds make people go on; kammunā vattati pajā;
sentient beings are bound by deeds, Kammanibandhanā sattā,
like a moving chariot’s linchpin. rathassāṇīva yāyato.
MN 98
Upvote:-1
This is a big misunderstanding and this is probably one of the examples where a Pali-English translation give us a completely different understanding as you cannot take it word for word or literal meaning.
Genetics define your look, personality etc. However, a person being born as a child with certain genetic combination is a result of the person's karma. For example, a person with a lot of good karma might be reborn in a womb of a woman who has a potential to create a good-looking healthy human being. A person with a lot of bad karma might be born in a womb of a woman which could grow a child with defects.
A child's genetics are considered "random" and subjected to "probabilities" in science. However, I think these random occurrences are not random and it is as a result of the karma of the being about to be born.
Somewhat similar example is natural distastes such as earth quakes. These natural disasters happen because of nature. However, beings having a bad/good outcome of that is because of the being's karma.
Upvote:3
The sutta should not be read literally.
Buddha describes what he believes makes actual significant difference between people, by starting off exemplifying things that are not significant differences. Among these nonsignificant properties are the physical properties we today understand thanks to genetics.
In the sutta he also goes into detail what he defines as being noble. He uses the example of a brahmin, a title with high social status in his time, as a mean to give his own definition of a brahmin - or rather - his own definition of what is noble.
Again, his use of the brahmin is not to be understood literally. There is likely little to no social status to be gained from buddhism. Instead, the latter part gives many examples of what makes significant difference among people, and what is noble according to the buddhist dhamma.
Upvote:4
That translation you quote is not very clear.
What it actually says is, animals are classified by their inborn characteristics, what modern science calls "phenotype". While humans are not classified like this - their iherited qualities such as hair color, eye color etc. are not useful for separating humans into classes. Instead, humans are classified by their role in society, which is acquired as a result of their deeds.
Then Buddha goes on to say that such classification as "Brahmin" cannot be made on the basis of inborn characteristic aka biological heritage - but only on the basis of the person's lifestyle. Then he gives numerous examples of what makes someone worthy of being called a Brahmin.
So basically, this Sutta is not about genetics, it is about the proper basis of designation of classes in humans vs animals.
More post
- 📝 Is it correct that dependent origination will cease to exist if one doesn't have 12 nidanas?
- 📝 Why would existence remove my knowledge after reicarnation?
- 📝 What is "meditation on the deathless state (nirvana)"?
- 📝 How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them
- 📝 Ex-monk reliable Teacher?
- 📝 What's the "wise" answer when the epistemic distance is important?
- 📝 What are "lower yanas"
- 📝 Is Mind in Buddhism connected to Brain (the physical organ)?
- 📝 Miracles of Gautama Buddha
- 📝 Early life of the Buddha's references
- 📝 How is 'Chanda' (Intention) related to 'Tanha' (Desire)?
- 📝 What are the reasons for and against studying other religions?
- 📝 Equanimity, aversion and anatta
- 📝 How to talk to a friend about "lack of control" in what happens to her son?
- 📝 What do ethical conduct (sila) and compassion have to do with the cessation of dukkha?
- 📝 How does someone decide from what direction to approach the twelve-Nidānas?
- 📝 Can all human beings potentially be enlightened in this lifetime?
- 📝 Is there a mistranslation of definition of ignorance?
- 📝 How or why do arahants not experience aging & death?
- 📝 My job requires me to shuck oysters
- 📝 Is it possible to become a buddhist without a formal teacher?
- 📝 Why is "jīva" translated as "soul"?
- 📝 Pursuit of raising children ok?
- 📝 Original reference for 'The essence of all religions is love, compassion and tolerance' by the HH the Dalai Lama
- 📝 Pride and Shame in Buddhism
- 📝 Does illegal downloading or viewing of copyright material violate the second precept?
- 📝 Is the experience of suffering or enjoyment completely reducible to physics e.g. such as in materialist views i.e. materialism?
- 📝 What would be some very concise Buddhist teachings and symbols that could be on (future) coinage?
- 📝 Where can I find a Buddist Monastery that practice hard training in india?
- 📝 What does the word 'nimitta' ('sign') refer to in SN 47.8?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Does the Buddha deny genetic differences?
- 📝 Why does the Buddha call himself the Tathāgata?
- 📝 Why does the Buddha always answer a question if asked three times?
- 📝 Does the Buddha like dogs?
- 📝 Does Pure Land Buddhism ever have a Buddha other than Amitābha as the object of devotion?
- 📝 What does the Buddha mean by this quote? "There is no punishment for anger. It is the anger which will punish you."
- 📝 Does the Nihilism view (natthika-dithi) actually deny rebirths?
- 📝 Why does the Buddha appear androgynous in some depictions?
- 📝 Does Mahayana Buddhism discourage attaining enlightenment under the Gautama Buddha Sasana?
- 📝 Anesthesia, being knocked out, unconsciousness...what does the Buddha have to say about it?
- 📝 Where does the Buddha mention a craving for non-existence?
- 📝 In which suttas does The Buddha cover annihilationism (ucchedavāda)?
- 📝 How does the Buddha subdue fear in MN4?
- 📝 Where does the Buddha say 'you will be punished by your anger'?
- 📝 Where does the Buddha compare the Dharma to leaves on a tree?
- 📝 Does Vajrayana accept the idea that Buddha placed Lord Yama (a supposed Bodhisattva) in charge of the hell realms to ensure karmic retribution?
- 📝 Where does the Buddha describe suffering as being like a person who is hit by two arrows?
- 📝 Does Avalokiteshvara speak through the Buddha in the Heart Sutra? Or how is it that Avalokiteshvara speaks to Shariputra?
- 📝 Where does the Buddha talk about investigation of energy (offering him some relief while in physical pain)?
- 📝 In which sutta does the Buddha discuss his attitudes toward his audience either understanding or not understanding his teaching?
- 📝 Where does the Buddha say, There is no happiness without calm?
- 📝 How does the story of General Siha's Meal for the Buddha at Vaisali vindicate the Buddha?
- 📝 How does the Buddha define "atheist"?
- 📝 What did the Buddha do, and what does a teacher do, to teach?
- 📝 Why does the Buddha blame Ananda asking him to remain living forever?
- 📝 In which sutta does a lay disciple of the Buddha tell a non-buddhist mendicant that he has experienced jhana?
- 📝 Does a Buddha see the heart objectively?
- 📝 Does every Buddha have knowledge of the past, present and future?
- 📝 Where in the canon does the Buddha teach about mindfulness?
- 📝 How does the Buddha attain nirvana?