Many leaders of
early empires, such as the Hammurabi of Babylon, created codes of laws to help
citizens survive and maintain order in society. In other words, laws tended to
focus on the basic rules for maintaining individuals’ well being. They directed
individuals on how to grow food, protect their money, and keep safe. For
example, agricultural laws in the Mosaic Code regulated how often farmers could
harvest crops in order to prevent soil erosion.
During
the mid-second century B.C.E, King Asoka, the third monarch of the Indian
Mauryan dynasty, took a different approach to establishing order. He
compiled a code of laws called the “Pillar Edicts of Asoka.” Rather than
writing laws to guide followers on how to survive and prosper, Asoka chose to
add laws that taught values and morals based on the Buddhist religion. These
laws focused on the difference between good and evil, just and unjust, and
righteousness versus immorality through a religious lens. For example, the third Rock Edict
stated that “respect for mother and father is good, generosity
to friends, acquaintances, relatives…not killing living beings is good,
moderation in spending and moderation in saving is good.” This law focused on
how to act righteously, a theme that previously not many codes of laws had
touched on.
I believe that by
writing laws that promoted morality, Asoka’s goal was to create a sense of
collective morality within Indian society. Collective morality is a shared
belief and understanding in certain morals and values. By establishing a common morality
within the citizens of India based on shared values and understanding of right
versus wrong, Asoka was attempting to maintain a greater sense of order within
the empire. By establishing “an empire on the foundation of
righteousness,” citizens were less likely to break laws and defy norms
because they were familiar with the ideas of morality and immorality.
Writing a code of
laws based on religious values, legitimized by a religious justification, could
have led to conflicts. I would argue that it could have been difficult for
citizens of the empire to follow this code of laws if their cultures (not Buddhist)
promoted contrasting morals and values.
But history shows
us that this problem did not arise in India under Asoka’s rule. How was Asoka
able to avoid conflict within his empire? It was simple. Asoka promoted
religious tolerance. In his seventh Rock Pillar, it states that “beloved-of-the-Gods,
King Piyadasi, desires that all religions should reside everywhere, for all of
them desire self-control and purity of heart…they may practice all of what they
should or only a part of it.” This law exemplifies Asoka’s understanding that
to maintain internal order within the empire and respect between cultures, he
needed to show that he, and his laws, supported religious freedom. By opening his arms to a wide range of
cultures, Asoka was able to maintain peace within his empire and spread
collective morality to his citizens.
I
believe that we can learn a lot of Asoka’s rule. He encouraged a sense of
righteousness throughout his empire, allowing different cultures to prosper
during his reign. Today’s leaders and legislators may be able to govern our
country more effectively if they could learn how to create a greater sense of
shared values and demonstrate respect for a range of cultural traditions.
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