Buddhism in the Western World

The Scholarly Beginnings of Western Buddhismwrote, translated and edited voluminous works in the
HOW BUDDHISM CAME TO THE WESTfield of Buddhist studies. After the death of its founder,
It is said that at present Buddhism is firmly establishedthe affairs and activities of the Pali Text Society were
in England, Germany, France, and the United States.conducted by his wife and co-worker, Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys
The religion of the Buddha has taken firm roots inDavids, whose large contributions to Pali studies
Western soil, and only time is needed for the roots tocrowned her husband's work. The work of the Pali
go deep. And it was through the efforts of WesternText Society was continued by its devoted and
scholars, not Buddhist missionaries, that the seedsenergetic third president, Miss I.B. Horner, until her death
were sown for the growth of Buddhism in the West.in 2524/1981. With the assistance of eminent Pali and
The earliest knowledge of Buddhism came to theBuddhist scholars of various nationalities, the Society
West in the early part of the 19th century, whenhas published the Pali texts, in Roman characters, of all
European scholars, mostly for academic reasons,the works in the Tripitaka, most of the Commentaries,
began an earnest study of Buddhism which attractedand many post-canonical works. A large number of
their attention as a branch of oriental studies or as athe English translations of these texts have also been
part of Indian thought and culture. Pali, Sanskrit, Chinesepublished. In the field of lexicography, the Pali-English
and Tibetan then became subjects of their study. ADictionary, English-Pali Dictionary, Dictionary of Pali
number of Buddhist texts were published and thenProper Names and the Pali Tipitฺakam
translated. Some scholars wrote learned books on theConcordance are publications of the Society. It can be
history and doctrine of Buddhism. Through works ofsaid that the Pali Text Society has done.the most for
these scholars interest was roused both in Buddhismthe spread of Theravada Buddhism in the Western
and in Buddhist studies. Some of these scholars, whileworld and is surpassed by none in aiding the progress
taking up a scholarly study of Buddhism, accepted theof international Buddhist studies.
message of the Buddha and became themselvesMax Muller (2366-2443/1823-1900), the famous English
professed Buddhists. Then there were to bephilologist who was born in Germany, is regarded as
distinguished two kinds of scholars, those who studiedthe father of Indian studies in the West. Through his
and wrote on Buddhism with a Buddhist inspiration, andvoluminous translations and editions, he made a
those who did the same for purely academicsubstantial contribution to the progress of Pali and
purposes. Moreover, reading the writings of theseBuddhist studies. His edition of the 50-volume series of
scholars, many Western people became converted tothe Sacred Books of the East encouraged professor
Buddhism. This state of affairs went on in the periodRhys Davids to begin the Sacred Books of the
when Asian Buddhism was stagnating in the form ofBuddhists, a series which still continues.
habits, or was suffering from persecution orIt was also an Englishman, Sir Edwin Arnold, that
suppression under or in the face of colonialism. Withproduced the most widely known and most successful
the lack of missionary activity on the part of thework on the popularization of Buddhism. His epic poem,
Buddhist communities, Buddhist books filled the role ofThe Light of Asia, published in 2422/1879, caused a
Buddhist missions.sudden and dramatic increase of interest in Buddhism
THE WORKS OF ENGLISH SCHOLARSamong Western people, made many converts and
The West's greatest contribution to the spread offurther stimulated scholarly study of Buddhism. Among
Buddhism and Buddhist studies has been made bythese converts was Charlse Henry Allen Bennet, a
England. In 2380/1837, the Pali text of the Mahavamsayoung man of 18 years of age. Bennet went to study
(the Great Chronicle of Ceylon) together with aBuddhism in Burma, received his ordination there and
translation was published by George Turner, a civildevoted his life to the cause of Buddhism. As a
servant in Ceylon. Meanwhile (2364-2384/1821-1841),Buddhist monk, he was known as Bhikkhu Ananda
B.H. Hodgson collected Buddhist Sanskrit manuscriptsMetteyya. And it was Ananda Metteyya that led the
from Nepal and distributed them to various libraries infirst Buddhist mission to England in April 2451/1908.
India and Europe. Two other civil servants of the BritishAmong those who were then inspired to adopt
government came to Ceylon in 2407/1864 andBuddhism as their way of life, the first to be admitted
became prominent Pali and Buddhist scholars. Onewere Francis Payne and his family. The beginning of
was Robert C. Childers who published in 2415-2418the 20th century in England saw also the founding of
1872-1875 his Dictionary of the Pali Language, a greatthe Buddhist Society of Great Britain and Ireland on
contribution to the study of Pali. The other, probably theNovember 26, 2450/1907. The Society was set up to
most eminent contributor to Pali and Buddhist studies,assist the Buddhist Mission and functioned until 2466
was Professor T.W. Rhys Davids who founded the1923. In 2467/1924 it was replaced by the present
Pali Text Society in 2424/1881, and set to work inBuddhist Society of which Mr. Christmas Humphreys
2459/1916 on his most-consulted Pali-English Dictionarywas the founding President. Besides the Buddhist
which was to be completed by his assistant, Dr. W.Society in London, there are now two Buddhist viharas
Stede in 2468/1925. Professor Rhys Davids alsoto help further the cause of Buddhism.