How Did King Ashoka Influence The Spread Of Buddhism

Tripitaka. King Ashoka gave Buddhism full state support and his life work was continued by his son and daughter, thus Buddhism did not become a footnote in history, but flourished for a century in India and grew to worldwide influence. (Mishra)

Over the next centuries, Buddhist outposts and Monastic centers sprung up on the long 6,000 mile Silk Route, making their way to Central Asia, Russia and east to Mongolia and China. Buddhism often had to go along with new cultures it came across in order for it to spread into new territories. China’s highly developed civilization was cautious to imported beliefs, but after the collapse of the Han Dynasty in 220A.D., Buddhism’s seemed to answer questions that Confucius couldn’t and fell into place

(Kozak) Buddhism in its various forms remains the most widespread of the ancient religions in East Asia, with the greatest concentration of Theravada-The Path of the Elders, in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia. The Greater Vehicle- Mahayana is farther North East, were the atheist creed of Communism must be taking its toll on the Buddhist of China, Tibet, and Mongolia. The Japanese majority still adheres to various forms of Buddhism, Zen and Pure Land. The India Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, brought the religion to China during the Tang dynasty. Strongly influenced by Taoism, Chan Buddhism is the root of Japanese Zen. (Mishra) When the British arrived in India in the 18th century, Bodh Gaya, the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment, was overrun by Hindu Brahmin, absorbing the Buddha into their pantheon of the Hindu dominated India. During the 20th century the faith has also begun to spread to entirely new regions. There is now a significant minority of Buddhists in the United States and in Europe. (Mishra) The “gentlest religion”, Buddhism goal has never been to forcibly convert anyone; rather, it’s very tolerant of different faiths and creeds, mixing into many faiths. (Gach) To have a beginners mind, Zen Master Suzuki Roshi explains is to “Stay awake

Other than what we’ve learned in lecture, the extent of my knowledge of Japanese Zen Buddhism was limited to once whispering to my niece if she and her husband were active practitioners. I burn with shame at the confession of not inquiring further on the subject. Still this piqued curiosity and my usual lust for adventure, led me to the critical decision of following the advice of the Zen Master, Eihei Dogan’s and “To forget the self is to be awakened by all things,” opening my mind to the experience. With unpretentious enthusiasm, I arrived early to pose questions to the teacher thus allowing time to read over the beginners instructions posted at the front door. The center is in a tranquil setting in a Victorian house tucked up a hill amidst aging trees. Other novices began to trickle up the walk until there was about fifteen of us. The student teacher opened the door promptly at 6:30 pm and instructed us all to remove our shoes and place them on the racks provided. I thought this was just religious etiquette, but soon learned; removal of one’s shoes is also for comfort and respect of sanitation. I asked if this center was a temple, he said no, a Japanese Zen meditation hall is called a Zendo. We were told to enter very quietly, from the left side, and then bowed, which is called monjin. Entering on your right foot first, we then walk clockwise around the edge to our sitting place which is