{"id":107434,"date":"2020-10-09T15:34:44","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T22:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=107434"},"modified":"2020-10-13T16:34:58","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T23:34:58","slug":"the-sinhala-buddhist-civilization-of-sri-lanka-part-1c","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/10\/09\/the-sinhala-buddhist-civilization-of-sri-lanka-part-1c\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SINHALA BUDDHIST CIVILIZATION OF SRI LANKA Part 1C"},"content":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA PIERIS<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Revised\n13.10.20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Buddha wanted to spread his ideas   beyond the locality he lived in, and he sent\nsixty disciples in all directions. This\nwas the start of Buddhist missionary work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

300 years later Emperor Dharmasoka (268\n\u2013 232 BC) took over the missionary task. He sent Buddhist missionaries to\nSyria, Macedonia, Cyrene, Epirus, Kashmir, Gandhara, Lower Burma and Thailand. Thanks to king Dharmasoka, Buddhism which\ntill then, had covered only a few thousand square miles in north eastern India\nduring the first two hundred years of its existence, became a world religion,\nsaid Guruge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism spread in east, south, and\ncentral Asia. It did not go to the north, which was Siberia and it did not take\nroot in west Asia. In Central Asia, Buddhism  \nspread to Gandhara, Tibet and Turkestan. In East\nAsia, Buddhism spread to China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia.   In South Asia, Buddhism spread to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and\nSri Lanka. In South East Asia, Buddhism spread to Burma, Thailand,     Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These Buddhist countries practiced\nall three major schools of Buddhism, Mahayana, Theravada and Tantra.  China, Tibet, Mongolia, Korea and Japan, were\nMahayana.  Burma, Thailand, Cambodia,\nLaos, Sri Lanka were Theravada. Tibet was Tantra. In addition, Buddhism allowed\nlocal religious beliefs and customs of the host country to continue unimpeded. Some\nto these beliefs became part of the Buddhist way of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first indication of Buddhism in\nIndo-China peninsula is the arrival of the Burmese of Sino-Tibetan origin to\nlower Burma in 10th century, and the arrival of Thai from Yunnan to Central\nThailand in 12th <\/sup>   century. But\nit is difficult to chart the history of Buddhism during this period since these\nMon, Khmer, Thai groups were moving about and the centers of power kept    shifting, said experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, the Mon kingdom of Dvaravati\nwith Nakon Pathom, Lop Buri as its cultural centers had nurtured Theravada\nBuddhism in Thailand.  The Mon kingdom of\nHaripunjaya at Lamphun also was Buddhist. There was Mahayana influence as well\nin Thailand.  Thai monks had studied at\nNalanda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Burma, the kingdom of Ava and the\nMon kingdom of Pegu unified in 14th<\/sup> century and accepted Theravada Buddhism.\nPagan became a renowned centre of Theravada Buddhism. The monks of Burma\nspecialized in Abhidamma while Thailand and Sri Lanka   focus on Vinaya and Sutta respectively, said\nGuruge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnamese Buddhismbecame well known because of the\npublicity given to monks who set themselves on fire during the Vietnam War. Vietnam\u2019s\nBuddhist monuments included the Lokesvara statue in Huong Qua (7-8 century) the\nmonastic complexes of Dong Duang (10-11 century) and towers of Binh Dinh (12\ncentury).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muslim influence\neliminated Buddhism in Central Asia, India and the Malaysian archipelago, but evidence of Buddhist\ninfluence can still be seen in the ruins of these countries. Indonesia and Maldives is Muslim today, but\nboth were Buddhist earlier.   Fourteen\nBuddhist monasteries have been found in Maldives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indonesia followed Mahayana and\nVajrayana. Singasari in Eastern\nJava   was a centre of Tantric Buddhism. The best known Buddhist monument in\nIndonesia is Borobudur, but there are other monuments too. Indonesia had the\noldest Buddhist art in Southeast Asia, said experts. A bronze image of Buddha\nin Amaravati style of 3-5 AD was found at Celebes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism had   entered Malaysia and Philippines. Neither is\nBuddhist today, but there is evidence to show that Malaysia had Buddhist influence.  In the Philippines, archaeological findings\nindicate the presence of Buddhism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism first took root in India.\nGautama Buddha lived   in India. Buddhism\nstarted in the republics near the Ganges delta, but spread to the west as well.\nPakistan has many Buddhist monuments. Buddhism also took root in south India,\nin Orissa, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Amaravati and Nagarjunikonda are in\nAndhra Pradesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism had a troubled existence in\nIndia. The decline of Buddhism in India took place over a period of three to\nfour hundred years.  Buddhism was opposed\nby Jainism and Vedic Brahmanism.  In\nKarnataka Buddhism was ousted as a result of the growing popularity of\nJainism.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The public in India had been vacillating\nbetween Buddhism and Hinduism for several centuries. There are numerous records\nof donations by wealthy persons and kings to both Hindu and Buddhist\ninstitutions at one and the same time. Buddha\nwas accepted into the Hindu pantheon as the incarnation of Vishnu on par with\nRama and Krishna.  But trouble was\nbrewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hindu resurgence which began in the\nGupta age, reached its zenith in the time of Sankaracharya (788-820 or 700-750).\nSankaracharya established the Vedanta<\/a> school of Hindu\nphilosophy. One reason for doing so was to combat the influence of Buddhism<\/a>,   which Sankara deeply disliked. Buddhism was\nstrong in India at that time, said Guruge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 7th and 13th century there were\na few recorded instance of persecution of Buddhists. Buddhist monks were not\ntreated with respect and the Sanskrit dramatic literature it full of derogatory\nreference to and representations of Buddhists, reported Guruge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Buddhism continued as a\nmonastic religion for several centuries after the public had ceased to follow\nBuddhism. In spite of an unfavorable climate Buddhist monasteries continued\ntheir scholastic and religious activities. Buddhist institutions thrived in\nBihar and Bengal with the support of the Pala kings. These institutions were\nMahayana but recognized Tantra as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism was destroyed in   Bihar and Bengal by the Muslim ruler\nMuhammad Ibn Bakhtiyar who took over Bihar and Bengal in 13 century. Buddhism\ndisappeared completely from India. Hardly any monuments of the Buddha\u2019s own period\nare to be seen today. The ruins at Saheth Maheth are considered to be those of\nthe original monastery which the Buddha lived in for nearly 20 years of his\nlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British rulers re-discovered\nBuddhism and its monuments and elevated them. As a result, India today uses\nBuddhist symbols like wheel of Dhamma and the Asoka capital as symbols of\nsovereignty.  Anagarika Dharmapala and his Mahabodhi Society\nattempted to revive Buddhism in India in the       20th<\/sup> century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism went to China along the main\nAsian trade route. Evidence of Buddhism\nis found as early as 65 AD, in Buddhist observances by a prince of Chu. There\nwere Buddhist monks in the capital Han in 130 AD. This is mentioned in a\npoem.  In 191 AD a temple was built in\nKiangsu  . Around 300 AD there were 180\nBuddhist establishment and 3700 monks and nuns \nin the two capitals of Chang An and Loyang. In 286 AD, Dharmaraksa of Tun Huang had\nbrought out translation  of Buddhist\nscriptures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism needed to adapt to  the two  existing  systems of Chinese thought,  Confucianism and Taoism. China  employed \ncertain strategies for this, such as Ko-yi\u201d which paired Buddhist\nteachings  with the local systems.\nBuddhism was presented as a complementary \nsystem of thought, not an opposing one.\nAround 6 century AD, Chinese developed their own school of  Buddhist thought. A typically Chinese version of Buddhism\nallied to Mahayana took firm root in China   and several impressive  monastic centers such as Tun Huan  were established. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least fifty Chinese pilgrims went\nto India  in search of sacred books. Fa\nHsien, who travelled widely in India Sri Lanka and Java (399-478). Huien\nTsang  spent 15 years in India (629-645)\nand took  back several hundred books and I-Tsing\nwas in India from  671-695 AD. Chinese pilgrims  also came to countries like Sri Lanka  in search of books for translation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indian monks   helped Buddhism in China. Some went to China\nto propagate  Buddhism. There was Kumarajiva, the greatest of missionary\ntranslators (5th<\/sup> century ). Gunavarman associated with Kashmir, Sri\nLanka and Java who translated Sanskrit works into Chinese. Vajrabodhi of\nNalanda and his disciple Amogavajra  were\nsent by Sri Lanka to present Buddhist scriptures and sacred objects to the\nChinese king in  8th<\/sup> century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism in China did not always\nenjoy popular patronage, but  it still continued.\nBuddhism was patronized by the last Chinese dynasty,  the \nManchu dynasty (1644-1912).\nToday, China\u2019s   leaders take an interest\nin propagation of Buddhism and work together with Buddhists of other countries\nand the legacy of Buddhism is constantly \ninvoked, remarked Guruge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism  was  \nintroduced to Tibet in 7th<\/sup> century as a result of\nmarriage   alliances  between the Tibet  royal family \nand  the royal families of  Nepal and China. Tibet followed   Sarvastivada \nand Tantra.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tibet \neventually developed its own brand of Buddhism, a blend of  these two \nschools and  Tibet\u2019s own local\nbeliefs.  A Council was held in Lhasa in\n794 AD where they discussed doctoral issues. In the 10th<\/sup>  century 21 young men were  sent to India to study Buddhism  and translate Buddhist books.  The \nSangha laid much emphasis on good handwriting. The monks trained using\ncopy books. There is a rich Tibetan\nBuddhist literature, which includes translations of Sanskrit and Chinese\nwritings, also works from India ,Nepal \nand Central Asia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahayana Buddhism found its way to\nKorea in 5th<\/sup> century AD, and was firmly established in the peninsula  due to the  enthusiastic support of king Chin-ji-wang\n(546-656) Queen Sonduk (7th<\/sup> century) King Sunjong (982-997) and King\nMunjon (1047-82). The sixty roll  Koryo\nTripitaka was printed in the time of King Munjon. Korea helped in the spread of\nBuddhism by its invention of wood block printing in 8th<\/sup> century and\ntype casting with metal in the 12th<\/sup> century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prince Kudara of South Korea sent the\nfirst Buddhist mission to Japan in 552 AD. \nThe mission got a mixed reception. Opponents resisted it for nearly fifty\nyears but by end of the  6th<\/sup>\ncentury Buddhism was established in Japan. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The greatest patron of Buddhism in\nJapan was Prince Shotuku who became regent in 593 AD and ruled for 30 years. He\nmade Buddhism the state religion, established institutions for the propagation\nof Buddhism and for the implementation of Buddhist ideals of service to the\nsick and destitute. He put forward \u2018the\nConstitution of Seventeen articles\u2019<\/em> which combined political principals\nwith the ethical ideas of Buddhism. Buddhism became the foremost religious and\ncultural force in Japan for the next few centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 In 7th and 8th<\/sup> century six schools\nof Buddhism were introduced to Japan, said Guruge. Japan itself established two\npowerful schools of Buddhism, Tendai which came from China and Shingon Buddhism\nwhich was Vajrayana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 13th- 16th century three forms\nof Buddhism  developed in Japan, the Pure\nland school of Honen(1133-1212) the Lotus doctrine of Nichiren ( b 1222)\nand  Zen Buddhism . Zen Buddhism was  introduced from China by Yeisai ( 1141-1215)\nand Dogen ( 1200- 1253). Zen Buddhism  alone,\nof these three,  emphasized the elements\nof early Buddhism such as the training of the mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka was one the earliest\nsovereign states to receive Buddhism . \nScholars  say that the Buddhist\nphilosophy  would have come to Sri Lanka\nin the time of the Buddha itself. It would have come  naturally and easily , due to the  frequent movement  of persons \nbetween  North India and Sri\nLanka. There is evidence that the public knew \nthe Buddhist philosophy by the time Arahant Mahinda arrived. They\nconverted in droves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Minister Ariththa consented to\nbe the first ordained Bhikkhu. He would not surely have agreed to lead a\nreligion he knew nothing about. By the time of Dutugemunu, Sri Lanka  had established contact with Buddhist\ncommunities abroad. They were invited to attend the  unveiling of the Maha Thupa. By the time of\nDutugemunu, Sri Lanka  had established contact\nwith Buddhist communities abroad. They were invited for the  unveiling of the Maha Thupa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first  Chaitya in Sri Lanka  was built \nat Tissamaharama, not Anuradhapura . \nthis was the largest such monument in the Buddhist world, at the time,\nsaid Guruge. Later, three much larger  \nstupa were erected in Anuradhapura , Ruvanveli, Abhayagiri  and  \nJetavana.  Jetavana was even\nlarger than Abhayagiri. Sri Lanka knew\nto build high. Lohapasada was a \nskyscraper with 125 feet and 1000 rooms, observed Guruge.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka  followed Theravada Buddhism where the\nscriptures were concerned. Sri Lanka’s contribution to world Buddhism is in the\npreservation and propagation of Theravada. The Sinhala commentaries  and the Sinhala Upasampada were much sought\nafter. But Mahayana practices were added on  the medieval period. Bodhisatva Avalokitesvara\nand his Tara are worshipped. The statues at \nBuduruvegala are Mahayana.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka played an important role in\nthe propagation of Theravada Buddhism in Asia. Sri Lanka helped to entrench\nTheravada Buddhism in the Indo-China peninsula. \nSinhala Buddhism went first to Cambodia, and from Cambodia  the teachings  fanned out \nto Burma, Thailand and Laos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Sri Lanka sculptors present Buddha in  Yogasana position and Burma, Thailand,\nCambodia followed this .Yogasana  was a\ndifficult position,  both ankles  were crossed , facing upwards. Sri Lanka  was recognized  not only for Theravada but also for its\nMahayana and Tantra studies. Abhayagiri influenced Buddhism in Indonesia\nand  Bhikkhuni Chandramali went to Tibet\nto advise on the scriptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \ninformation in this series is taken almost completely   from  Ananda Guruge\u2019s Buddhism, the religion and its culture\u201d<\/em> (2 ed. 2017).  I  acknowledge\nthis  with deep  appreciation.(Concluded)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA PIERIS Revised 13.10.20  Buddha wanted to spread his ideas   beyond the locality he lived in, and he sent sixty disciples in all directions. This was the start of Buddhist missionary work. 300 years later Emperor Dharmasoka (268 \u2013 232 BC) took over the missionary task. He sent Buddhist missionaries to Syria, Macedonia, Cyrene, Epirus, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[104],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kamalika-pieris"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107434\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}