<p>From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_color_blindness" rel="nofollow noreferrer">racial color blindness (wikipedia)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A color-blind racial ideology can be defined as holding the belief
that an individual's race or ethnicity should not influence how that
individual is treated in society. This is further divided into two
dimensions, color evasion and power evasion. Color evasion is the
belief that people should not be treated differently on the basis of
their color, while power evasion posits that systemic advantage based
on color should have no influence on what people can accomplish, and
accomplishments are instead based solely on one's own work
performance.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This sutta quote still covers it best, I feel:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Don’t ask about birth, ask about conduct;<br />
for any kindling can kindle a flame.<br />
A steadfast sage, even though from a low class family,<br />
is a thoroughbred checked by conscience.<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn7.9/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 7.9</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Any kindling, any piece of wood, can be used to kindle a flame.</p>
<p>Don't discriminate the type of wood or kindling.</p>
<p>Essentially color blindness.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-20T06:35:56.597Z
2023-01-20T06:35:56.597Z
ruben2020
<p>The Buddha was anti-caste and pro-feminism. Keep in mind this is still limited by the world of India 2600 years ago. The caste system is comparable to racism.</p>
<p>When someone ordained, their caste as a lay person became irrelevant. A monk who was a brahmin (priestly caste) and a monk who was a worker, were treated the same.</p>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn93/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 93 - The Buddha critiquing the caste system.</a></p>
<p>If a woman/girl had been married and wanted to ordain, they could become a full monk (bhikkhuni) in two years. So, a formerly married girl as young as 12 could become a novice monk and then at 14, she could become a full female monk (bhikkhuni). But people had to be at least 20 years old to become a full male monk (bhikkhu).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-17T20:50:42.963Z
2023-01-17T20:50:42.963Z
triplej
<p>Is &quot;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_color_blindness" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Racial color blindness</a>&quot; covered in the Buddha's teaching? What would be the closest Buddhist concept that covers it? Is there a scripture that teaches colorblindness?</p>
<p>Could it have originated from the Buddha's teaching, Christianity, both or somewhere else? Does anyone know what Thích Nhất Hạnh taught MLK about colorblindness?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-17T13:39:28.313Z
Do you mean anti-racism? I closed this question as a duplicate assuming it's about racism. If it's not, I'll reopen it. Possibly duplicate of [Buddhism and Racism](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/39378/471).
ruben2020
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-17T13:55:30.527Z
Come on, don't close my gosh darn question down. It's not about racism. It's about colorblindness. A totally separate concept.
Lowbrow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-17T16:00:52.687Z
Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been [moved to chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/142122/discussion-on-question-by-lowbrow-did-the-buddha-cover-colorblindness-in-his-t).
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-18T08:43:43.610Z
What is "colorblindness"? The biological condition of not being able to identify colors correctly? What do you mean?
ruben2020
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-18T09:58:50.580Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_blindness
Remyla
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-18T11:12:33.247Z
@Remyla Yes that's the normal meaning. Given that the OP is asking about MLK etc., ruben2020 was asking Lowbrow whether that's meant literally/biologically, or instead meant metaphorically/sociologically -- e.g. something like [the second definition here](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/color-blind) i.e. "treating all people the same regardless of race".
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-18T20:52:57.703Z
@ ruben2020 It means not treating someone good or bad just because they are a different color.
Lowbrow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-18T20:55:06.840Z
It represents our heart.
Lowbrow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-18T21:02:25.803Z
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_color_blindness
Lowbrow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-20T07:12:02.530Z
The question about "the origin of color blindness" -- i.e. about the history of the US Supreme Court decisions, and whether they could have originated from religious doctrines -- might be askable on https://law.stackexchange.com/ or https://history.stackexchange.com/
ChrisW
<practice><metta><lay-practices><society>
Did the Buddha cover colorblindness in his teachings?
# Did the Buddha cover colorblindness in his teachings?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-17)

Is "[Racial color blindness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_color_blindness)" covered in the Buddha's teaching? What would be the closest Buddhist concept that covers it? Is there a scripture that teaches colorblindness?

Could it have originated from the Buddha's teaching, Christianity, both or somewhere else? Does anyone know what Thích Nhất Hạnh taught MLK about colorblindness?

**Tags:** practice, metta, lay-practices, society

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean anti-racism? I closed this question as a duplicate assuming it's about racism. If it's not, I'll reopen it. Possibly duplicate of [Buddhism and Racism](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/39378/471).  
> **username_0**: Come on, don't close my gosh darn question down. It's not about racism. It's about colorblindness. A totally separate concept.  
> **username_2**: Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been [moved to chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/142122/discussion-on-question-by-lowbrow-did-the-buddha-cover-colorblindness-in-his-t).  
> **username_1**: What is "colorblindness"? The biological condition of not being able to identify colors correctly? What do you mean?  
> **username_3**: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_blindness  
> **username_2**: @username_3 Yes that's the normal meaning. Given that the OP is asking about MLK etc., username_1 was asking username_0 whether that's meant literally/biologically, or instead meant metaphorically/sociologically -- e.g. something like [the second definition here](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/color-blind) i.e. "treating all people the same regardless of race".  
> **username_0**: @ username_1 It means not treating someone good or bad just because they are a different color.  
> **username_0**: It represents our heart.  
> **username_0**: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_color_blindness  
> **username_2**: The question about "the origin of color blindness" -- i.e. about the history of the US Supreme Court decisions, and whether they could have originated from religious doctrines -- might be askable on https://law.stackexchange.com/ or https://history.stackexchange.com/  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-20. Score: 2

From [racial color blindness (wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_color_blindness):

> A color-blind racial ideology can be defined as holding the belief
> that an individual's race or ethnicity should not influence how that
> individual is treated in society. This is further divided into two
> dimensions, color evasion and power evasion. Color evasion is the
> belief that people should not be treated differently on the basis of
> their color, while power evasion posits that systemic advantage based
> on color should have no influence on what people can accomplish, and
> accomplishments are instead based solely on one's own work
> performance.

This sutta quote still covers it best, I feel:

> “Don’t ask about birth, ask about conduct;  
> for any kindling can kindle a flame.  
> A steadfast sage, even though from a low class family,  
> is a thoroughbred checked by conscience.  
> [SN 7.9](https://suttacentral.net/sn7.9/en/sujato?layout=linebyline&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin)

Any kindling, any piece of wood, can be used to kindle a flame.

Don't discriminate the type of wood or kindling.

Essentially color blindness.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2023-01-17. Score: 1

The Buddha was anti-caste and pro-feminism. Keep in mind this is still limited by the world of India 2600 years ago. The caste system is comparable to racism.

When someone ordained, their caste as a lay person became irrelevant. A monk who was a brahmin (priestly caste) and a monk who was a worker, were treated the same.

[MN 93 - The Buddha critiquing the caste system.](https://suttacentral.net/mn93/en/sujato?layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin)

If a woman/girl had been married and wanted to ordain, they could become a full monk (bhikkhuni) in two years. So, a formerly married girl as young as 12 could become a novice monk and then at 14, she could become a full female monk (bhikkhuni). But people had to be at least 20 years old to become a full male monk (bhikkhu).


---

