[Buddha-l] 'Sons of Brahma, sons of Buddha?'

[r.g.morrison]

Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] 'Sons of Brahma, sons of Buddha?'

The most interesting context is found in the Aggañña Sutta (D. iii. 80f.). 
The dialogue begins with two ex-brahmins, who have become Buddhist monks, 
complaining to the Buddha that they are now being reviled and abused by the 
brahmins: 'The brahmin caste is the highest caste, the other castes are 
base; the brahmin caste is fair, other castes are dark; brahmins are 
purified, others are not, the brahmins are the children [puttaa] of Brahmaa 
, born of his mouth, born of Brahmaa, created by Brahmaa, heirs of Brahmaa. 
And you, you have deserted the highest caste and gone over to the base caste 
of shaveling petty ascetics, servants, dark fellows born of Brahmaa's feet'.
This actually refers back to the creation myth in the R.g Veda, where the 
'Cosmic Man' [puru.sa] is dismembered in the cosmic sacrifice. His mouth 
becomes the brahmin caste, his arms become the warrior caste, his thighs 
become the merchant caste, and his feet become the serf caste.
The Buddha then rather ironically says: 'these brahmins have forgotten their 
ancient tradition when they say this.  Because we can see brahmin women, the 
wives of brahmins, who menstruate and become pregnant, have babies and give 
suck.  And yet these womb-born brahmins actually talk about being born from 
Brahmaa's mouth, being the highest caste, etc.  These brahmins misrepresent 
Brahmaa tells lies and earn much demerit.
The Buddha then satirizes this brahmin creation myth by replacing Brahmaa 
with himself and the Dhamma, saying that any samana, brahmana, deva, mara, 
or any other class of being who has faith in the Buddha, can say, regardless 
of the caste they were born into: 'I am a son of the Buddha [bhagavatomhi 
putto], born of his mouth, born of the Dhamma, created by the Dhamma, and 
heir of the Dhamma'.

Robert Morrison