Spread and Development of Buddhism

Development of Buddhism41 years. In the early years of his reign, Asoka was a
EARLY BUDDHISMfierce king. In the eighth year of his reign, he invaded
“Go ye forth, O Bhikkhus, on your journey, forand conquered Kalinga; a country of brave people in
the welfare of the many, for the happiness of thethe south. The horrors of this conquest made him so
many, out of compassion for the world, for theremorseful over the suffering of the people that he
good,the benefit, the bliss of gods and men.”gave up war completely. And it was at this time that
The above saying of the Buddha, at the time ofKing Asoka became converted to Buddhism. From this
sending out the first group of sixty disciples tomoment he adopted the policy of Dharmavijaya
propagate the Doctrine in the second year of his(conquest by righteousness or conquest of
preaching, is an explanation of how and why Buddhismmen’s hearts by the Law of Duty or Piety) in
has survived for so long and succeeded in convertingplace of Sangamavijaya (conquest by war), and spent
a large part of mankind to its cause.the rest of his life promoting the Dharma or the Law
During the Buddha’s lifetime, Buddhism spreadof Piety throughout his great empire. He was changed
rapidly through the great personality of the Buddhafrom Canฺdฺasoka, or Asoka the
himself and through the spirit of renunciation,Fierce, to Dharmasoka, or Asoka the Righteous,
self-discipline and sacrifice of the disciples who formedwhose example all later great kings tried to follow.
the Sangha and followed the Buddha’sIn accordance with his policy of piety, King Asoka had
example. After his death, the disciples, still living up tohis edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars which were
these ideals, continued to spread Buddhism far andscattered everywhere throughout his empire to carry
wide.his message to his people. In the 18th year of his reign,
In the first century of the Buddhist Era, two Buddhistthe Third Buddhist Council was held under his
Councils were held to protect and preserve the puritypatronage at Pataliputra (modern Patna), his capital,
of the Buddha’s teachings. The First Councilwith the object of purging the Sangha of heretics and
was held by 500 Arahan at Rajagaha under the royalpreserving the pure teachings. It is said that 1,000
patronage of King Ajatasattu of Mgadha three monthsArahants participated in this Council and the Venerable
after the passing away of the Buddha. TheMoggalliputta Tissa was the president.
purpose-offhe Council was to fix the Doctrine and theAfter the Council, nine missions of elders were sent to
Discipline as taught and laid down by the Buddha. Atpreach the Dharma in various states and foreign
this Council the Venerable Kassapa was the president,countries. Of these, the first mission headed by the
while the Venerable Upali and Ananda were-ctf osenElder Mahinda, son of King Asokahimself, carried the
to recite the Vinaya and the Dhamma respectively.Message of Buddhism to Ceylon. The second mission
One hundred years later, there lived at Vesali a largeheaded by the Elders Sonฺa and Uttara was
number of monks who were lax in discipline. Thesent to Suvarnฺabhumi which some scholars
elders of the Order then challenged them to an openidentified with Nakorn Pathom Province in central
debate. After the lax monks had been defeated,Thailand. According to the Edicts, King Asoka also sent
seven hundred Arahants held the Second Council tohis messengers and ambassadors to spread his
revise and confirm the Canon.message of the Law of Piety in the kingdoms of the
In B.E. 2181 there came to the throne of India one ofWest in Asia, Europe and Africa such as Egypt,
the greatest men in history, King Asoka, the firstCyrene and Greece.
Buddhist emperor who ruled the Mauryan Empire for