Although Asoka embraced Buddhism and took efforts to spread Buddhism, his policy of Dhamma was still a broad concept. His principles of Dhamma were clearly stated in his Edicts. main features may be summed as follows:
- Service to father and mother, practice of ahimsa, love of truth, reverence to teachers and good treatment of relatives.
- Prohibition of animal sacrifices and festive gatherings and avoiding expensive and meaningless ceremonies and rituals.
- Efficient organization of administration in the direction of social welfare and maintenance of constant contact with people through the system of Dhammayatras.
- Humane treatment of servants by masters and prisoners by government officials.
- Consideration and non-violence to animals and courtesy to relations and liberality to Brahmins.
- Tolerance among all the religious sects.
- Conquest through Dhamma instead of through war.
Therefore , Ashoka’s dhamma was a way of life, a code of conduct and a set of principles to be adopted and practiced by the people at large.His Dhamma is so universal that it appeals to promote the welfare of humanity even today.
(Note 👍-He did not equate Dhamma with Buddhist teachings. Buddhism remained his personal belief.)
