Chapter 1 - Introduction

Buddhism is one of the oldest religions of the world. It originated in India about 2500 years back. The religion is based on the sermons of Gautam Buddha after his enlightenment. The Brahmanical practices, prevalent at that time, laid stress on conducting rituals through the medium of Sanskrit which was the prerogative of the Brahmins and the aristocracy. The sermons Lord Buddha offered an alternative to the mainstream religion. The tenets and rules of the new creed were very simple to understand and appealing to the masses. Lord Buddha delivered his sermons in Pali, the language spoken by the common people of that period. Gautam Buddha travelled throughout the whole of the northern India spreading his message and setting up monastic orders. The new faith became very popular among the people of the places through which he travelled.

By the second century A.C., a division in the Buddhist faith occurred with the creation of two sects. the Mahayana and the Hinayana, Mahayana Buddhism believed in the elevation of the Buddha to the status of a god. They also permitted the representation of the Buddha as a human being. The rules governing the monastic orders were relaxed. However, the Mahayana remained the minority in the early phase of the schism Hinayana sect believed in the traditional values of the Buddha, based upon his original teaching. It emphasized individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation. Both the sects started with one goal, Nirbana or salvation, but they followed different ways to achieve that goal in life.

Ashoka was one of the most powerful Indian emperors in the 3rd century B.C. Throughout his life, Ashoka followed the policy of nonviolence based on the concept of Buddhism. The third council of Buddhism was held under his patronage. He sent missionaries to far-off places to propagate the ideals of Buddhism and to inspire people to live by the teachings of Lord Buddha. He even engaged members of the royal family including his son and daughter to carry out the duties of Buddhist missionaries. The missionary zeal of Ashoka was carried forward by other Indian emperors like Milinda and Kanishka. They patronized Buddhism in various ways during their periods of reign.

Interestingly, Buddhism did not last long in the Indian Subcontinent. Turkish invasions and the revival of Hinduism dealt a major blow to Buddhism. But this virtual disappearance of Buddhism from the soil of India did not herald its extinction. The seeds of this religion had already been sown in the countries outside India by Buddhist missions sent abroad under the patronage of Ashoka and the succeeding dynasties.

The history of Tibet is nothing but the history of Buddhism in this Himalayan country. King Sron Tsan Gampo is credited with the foundation of the Tibetan empire and the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet.

Yu Tee, a great emperor of the Liang dynasty of Chinese history, was a devout believer in Buddhism. This great patron of Buddhism was instrumental in preparing the first Chinese collection of Buddhist scriptures.

Buddhism spread among the common people of Korea during the period of Wang dynasty, founded by Wang Kiyen during the reign of Wang Kiyan. Buddhism captivated the hearts of the masses in Korea. Of course, Buddhism was spreading in Korea before this period under the patronage of Silla kings. In course of time Buddhism became a state religion in Korea.

King Dutthagamani, a great national hero of Sinhala, devoted himself to the service of Buddhism in various ways. He constructed many stupas, chaityas and viharas for the propagation of Buddhist ideals in the then Sinhala. Another great patron of Buddhism in Shrilanka was king Parakkamabahu. He was born and brought up at a difficult time when the country was troubled with civil war. When he took the reins of power, he preached Buddhism in his kingdom.

Buddhism was introduced in Japan in the sixth century. It came to Japan, first from Korea and then later from China. Initially Buddhism faced some resistance in Japan, but thereafter it spread rapidly under the patronage of the emperor’s second son Shotoku Taishi. Prince Shotoku is a very important figure in the history of Japanese Buddhism. He is often compared with emperor Ashoka who played a vital role in the history of Indian Buddhism. Shotoku overcame the initial difficulties that he faced and Buddhism won the hearts of Japanese people under his able leadership.

King Dhammaceti, one of the most successful kings of Hansavati dynasty, had brilliant contribution to Buddhism in the history of Burma (Myanmar). It may be mentioned here that the history of Burmese Buddhism is as old as the history of Sinhalese Buddhism. Among the Dhammadutas of Ashoka, the great, Uttara and Sona went to Burma for the propagation of Buddhism in that country. The history of Buddhism in Burma spanned more than two thousand years.

Kublai Khan, one of the great rulers in human history, played an important part to disseminate Buddhism in Mongolian empire. He transcended the narrow nomad mentality of his ancestors and governed a huge empire with the help of Buddhism. During his reign, Buddhism became a symbol of national integrity as it had been in Sinhala island, Burma, Siam and Tibet. The expansion of Buddha Sasana continued even after Mongol administration came to an end.

Since its inception, Buddhism was based on a complete philosophical and psychological theory, worked out by men of great intellectual power and considerable culture. The religion made a mark among an advancing and conquering people who took pride in their racial superiority, their achievements and their progress. It made it first conquests in a great continent occupied by peoples of various races and holding widely different views. Buddhism was adopted by the wild hordes on the table lands of Nepal, Tartary and Tibet as well as by the Chinese people who had a cultural background. It was welcomed in the peninsula at Korea whence it spread to the islands of Japan. The Sinhalese and Siamese people greeted the religion in their countries with equal Zeal.

Buddhism is a dominant religion in many Asian countries. It has penetrated even the western world publication and translation of Buddhist texts in great number in Europe and America bear witness to the growing interest of the Western people to this doctrine of nonviolence. It is to be admitted that human civilization throughout the world has been influenced greatly by Buddhist philosophy.