Buddha & Brahmin

In the canonical Buddhist text, "The Dhammapada", Buddha teaches his students the right path. The last chapter is devoted to the qualities of a Brahmin. A brief overview follows.

One does not become a Brahmin by birth but by attaining his highest goal. He should discard evil, live in peace & has given up the impurities.

One should not strike a Brahmin, nor should a Brahmin vent his wrath on one who has struck him. A Brahmin, without anger, endures reproach & punishment with patience.

In a Brahmin lust, hatred, pride & detraction have fallen off. He has no longings, in this world or the next, & is desireless & emanicipated. He has, through knowledge, gained Nirvana.

The Brahmin has passed through this quagmire, the ocean of life & delusion & has attained Nirvana.

(Here it may be mentioned that some Vaishnavite sects in the North India, consider Buddha as the ninth Avatar, replacing Balarama. But if by Nirvana one means Mukti, Buddha defines a Brahmin as one who has realised "Jeevan Mukti' i.e., liberation even before death. But this is considered not possible by the southern Vaishnavites led by Sri Madhvacharya. Also the concept of this world as delusion was anathema to Sri Madhvacharya, the founder of southern Vaishnavism.)