<p>In India, the word "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C4%81ti" rel="nofollow noreferrer">jati</a>" ("birth") refers to "social role". In the Buddhist suttas, "jati/social role" is called "<a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.002.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sattanikāye</a>" ("category/group/class of beings"). For example, in the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.086.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Angulimala Sutta</a>, the life of a monk is called "Noble Jati/Birth" ("ariyāya jātiyā"). </p>

<p>In <strong>moral</strong> teachings, the Buddha strongly emphasized social roles. However, in <strong>enlightenment</strong> teachings, the Buddha pointed out social role brings suffering. For example, if your social role is a mother or father, you often suffer about your children. This is why enlightenment is described as the ending of identification with social role ("khīṇā
 jāti"). </p>

<p>For example, upon his enlightenment, the Buddha declared: "<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11/en/bodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>This is my last jati/birth (social role)</em></a>". The Buddha fully accepted his social responsibility as The Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, the leader of the Sangha and the liberator of the wise. </p>

<p>However, for the Buddha's Fully Enlightened Disciples, they declared: "<a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.mend.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Jati/birth is exhausted</em></a>" because they had no special social status, apart from being strictly conforming disciples of the Buddha (unlike monks today, who each try to create their own sect &amp; own teachings). </p>

<p>For laypeople, the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sigalovada Sutta</a> is the most detailed of many suttas that strictly define the social roles of laypeople.</p>

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2019-12-09T23:45:33.730Z
2019-12-10T00:10:38.773Z
2019-12-10T00:10:38.773Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Is a buddhist's goal to transcend a culture's social roles? How do enlightened beings see social roles? </p>

<p>As buddhists try to not make distinctions between people, I would imagine that they are not particularly concerned with social roles. Is that true?</p>

<culture>
Buddhism and social roles
# Buddhism and social roles

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-09)

Is a buddhist's goal to transcend a culture's social roles? How do enlightened beings see social roles?

As buddhists try to not make distinctions between people, I would imagine that they are not particularly concerned with social roles. Is that true?

**Tags:** culture


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-09. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In India, the word "[jati](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C4%81ti)" ("birth") refers to "social role". In the Buddhist suttas, "jati/social role" is called "[sattanikāye](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.002.than.html)" ("category/group/class of beings"). For example, in the [Angulimala Sutta](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.086.than.html), the life of a monk is called "Noble Jati/Birth" ("ariyāya jātiyā").

In **moral** teachings, the Buddha strongly emphasized social roles. However, in **enlightenment** teachings, the Buddha pointed out social role brings suffering. For example, if your social role is a mother or father, you often suffer about your children. This is why enlightenment is described as the ending of identification with social role ("khīṇā
jāti").

For example, upon his enlightenment, the Buddha declared: "[*This is my last jati/birth (social role)*](https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11/en/bodhi)". The Buddha fully accepted his social responsibility as The Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, the leader of the Sangha and the liberator of the wise.

However, for the Buddha's Fully Enlightened Disciples, they declared: "[*Jati/birth is exhausted*](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.mend.html)" because they had no special social status, apart from being strictly conforming disciples of the Buddha (unlike monks today, who each try to create their own sect & own teachings).

For laypeople, the [Sigalovada Sutta](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html) is the most detailed of many suttas that strictly define the social roles of laypeople.


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