HVK Archives: Rock Edict XII - Toleration
Rock Edict XII - Toleration - The Asian Age
Posted By ashok (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
Wed, 04 Sep 96 18:50:58 PDT
ROCK EDICT XII
TOLERATION
`His Sacred and Gracious Majesty the King does reverence,
by men of all sects, whether ascetics or householders, by
gifts and various forms of reverence.
His Sacred Majesty, however, cares not so much for girts
or external reverence as that there should be a growth of
the essence of the matter in all sects. The growth of the
essence of the matter assumes various forms, but the root
of it is restraint of speech, to wit, a man must not do
reverence to his own sect or disparage that of another
man without reason. Depreciation should be for specific
reasons only, because the sects of other people all
deserve reverence for one reason or another.
By thus acting, a man exalts his own sect, and at the
same time does service to the sects of other people. By
acting contrariwise, a man hurt his own sect, and does
disservice to the sects of other people. For he who does
reverence to his own sect while disparaging the sects of
others wholly from attachment to his own, with intent to
enhance the splendour of his own sect, in reality by such
conduct inflicts the severest injury on his own sect.
Concord, therefore, is meritorious, to wit, hearkening
and hearkening willingly to the Law of Piety as accepted
by other people. For this is the desire of His Sacred
Majesty that all sects should hear much teaching and hold
sound doctrine.
Wherefore the adherents of all sects, whatever they may
be, must be informed that His Sacred Majesty cares not so
much for gifts or external reverence as that there should
be growth in the essence of the matter and respect for
all sects.
For this very purpose are employed the Censors of the Law
of Piety, the Censors of the Women, the (?) Inspectors,
and other official bodies. And this is the fruit thereof
- the one's own sect, and the enhancement of the
splendour of the Law of Piety.'
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