Jai Bhim Network

The credo of Jai Bhim Network is the „Dauazasj si doj da zminc”, the 22 vows based on Dr. Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ramji Ambedkar’s text written in October 1956. Half of the vows is unchangedly adopted to our need, but the other half is adjusted according today’s local context. The first two paragraphs we use, are much older then the rest of the text, for those originate in the two-thousand-year old Pali Canon. We chose the translation made by Lajos Erőss in 1906. There are eleven vows (no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 17, 18, 19) the meaning of which only make sense in the social context of India, so we used sentences to suit our life in today’s Hungary instead.

22 Vows

1. I do not believe something just because it has been passed along and retold for many generations.
I do not believe something merely because it has become a traditional practice.
I do not believe something simply because it is well-known everywhere.
I do not believe something solely on the grounds of logical reasoning.
I do not believe something merely because it accords with my philosophy.
I do not believe something because it appeals to „common sense”.
I do not believe something just because I like the idea.
I do not believe something because the speaker seems trustworthy.
I do not believe something thinking, „This is what our teacher says”.
2. Kesamuttisuttam.
3. I will take responsibility for my own life.
4. I will not allow to anyone to dominate or control me.
5. I do not believe that the Buddha was the incarnation of God. I believe this to be sheer madness and false propaganda.

6. I will not work for a bottle of wine. I will be neither a master nor a slave. I will abandon oppressive social structures.
7. I will live in manner being in harmony with the virtues and teachings of the Awakened One.
8. I will develop myself in every way: in health, education, culture.
9. I believe in equality of human beings.
10. I shall endeavor to establish equality.
11. I shall follow the noble eightfold path of the Awakened One.
12. I shall follow the ten paramitas of the Awakened One.
13. I shall have compassion and loving kindness for all living beings and protect them.
14. I shall not steal.
15. I shall not tell lies.
16. I shall not commit carnal sins.
17. I shall not get drunk and I shall not take drugs.
18. I appreciate rationalism and the science.
19. I shall endeavor to establish fraternity. I will work for the benefit of others, helping them to help themselves.
20. I will take the Awakened One, The Doctrine and the Community as my refuge.
21. I feel I am being reborn and that I am entering a new life.
22. I solemnly declare that I shall hereafter lead my life according to the principles of the Awakened One and his Doctrine.