Conflict between going forth out of saddhā and secular values

Abstract

This paper discusses saddhā (skt. śraddhā) used in the following fixed phrase in the Pali canon: a disciple goes forth from home to homelessness out of saddhā (saddhā [ya] agārasmā anagāriyam pabbajati). According to M 68, the saddhā is not a faith in Bhagavant (Tathāgata), but confidence in the possibility of emancipation after going forth. In A 1. 14, Raṭṭhapāla is considered as the number-one disciple of monks who went forth out of saddhā (saddhāpabbajitānaṃ aggo). And in M 82 we notice that Raṭṭhapāla's parents, representatives of secular values, objected to his going forth but finally permitted it because they worried about him continuing his fasting. He said that he went forth having seen a danger in objects of sense desire (kāmaguṇesu ādīnava). But there is a problem that the word saddhā does not appear in M 82 at all, but on the other hand, Mp sees his saddhā is the driving force of success of his going forth. On the whole of the fixed phrase in Pali canon, we can conclude that the saddhā aims at the emancipation which is a consequence of going forth and that the saddhā is treated as a mental attitude which emerges as concrete actions to be perceived by others. The above explanation stated in Mp is understandable through these two features. In M 82, Raṭṭhapāla's fasting should be the very expression of his saddhā.