What was Ashoka’s message to his subjects?
Answers
Ashoka's Dhamma didn't involve worship of a god, or performance of sacrifice. He felt that just as father tries to teach his children, he had a duty to instruct his subjects. He gave messages to his subjects through teachings.
He said that variety of rituals that people perform when they fall ill, when their children get married, when children are born or when they go to a journey. According to Ashoka, these rituals were not useful. If instead people observe other practices, this would be more beneficial and useful for them. Ashoka gave message to his subjects through these practices :-
1) Being gentle with slaves and servants.
2) Respecting one's elders.
3) Treating all creatures with compassion.
4) Giving gifts to brahmins and monks.
5) It is a wrong practice to praise one's own religion while criticizing other's religion. According to him, by doing this one is actually doing greater harm to one's own religion.
6) One should try to understand the main ideas of another's religion, and respect it.