A detaield explanation to A Level standard of the role of Asoka (ashoka) in spreading Buddhism

1. Asoka’s role – the early spread of Buddhism.
Who was Asoka?
Buddhism‟s most
Because he was THE
powerful patron –
single ruler of such a vast
came to power as
sub-continent he was well
Emperor in
placed to ensure the spread
268BCE.
of Buddhism once he
He died in 239BCE. adopted it as his own
guideline.
Brutal and violent
military campaigns
established land
across much of
modern India until
he grew sickened by
the violence and
converted to the
non-violent values of
Buddhism.

2. Asoka’s achievements.
Asoka‟s contribution to Buddhism falls into two
broad categories:
1. He was responsible for the spread of
Buddhism.
2. He was responsible for the beneficial
application of Buddhist values to social
economic and political life.

3. Asoka‟s achievements – the spread of Buddhism
Missionaries were sent to „conquer according to dharma‟ to
Syria, Egypt ,Macedonia, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Burma & other
parts of central and SE Asia.
Their work effectively made Buddhism a major world religion.
Asoka sent his son, the monk Mahinda, to
Sri Lanka around 250 BCE – as a result of
the union formed between Asoka and
Prince Tissa on the island it became
known as the homeland of Therevada
Buddhism.
Asoka‟s daughter is said to have brought a
cutting of the original bodhi tree there and
from the subsequent tree many cuttings
have been taken for use in worship and
shrines.

4. ….the spread of Buddhism.
• During his reign, Ashoka became an avid Buddhist
practitioner, building 84,000 stupas across his empire to
house the sacred relics of the Lord Buddha. State resources
were given to build the stupas and also monasteries
• He sent his family on religious pilgrimages to foreign places,
and staged massive assemblies so holy men from the world
over could converse upon the philosophies of the day.

5. Spread of Buddhism….projects in the Empire.
Once his empire was established Asoka
initiated many social projects:
• Wells, reservoirs and trees for fruit & shade.
• Welfare services appeared
• Temporary financial support for ex-prisoners
• Rest houses for travellers
• Old people and orphans had to be cared for.
• Justice was made fair and equitable and
torture was banned.

6. Spread of Buddhism….ethical principles.
Gentleness,
Asoka applied this to sexual morality
humans and animals and contentment
and its believed the were
entire royal recommended.
household was
asked to become
This could be
vegetarian.
seen as a
NON
„compassionate
VIOLENCE society‟ and was
Non-food the first attempt
animals such as ever to employ
fish and birds Animal sacrifice and Buddhist
were protected hunting was banned and principles across
its possible he may also an entire society.
have banned the death
penalty

7. Asokas Edicts.
There are 14 Rock edicts/2 Kalinga Rock edicts/3 Minor
Rock edicts/7 Pillar edicts/2 Minor Pillar edicts
32 of the edicts Asoka
carved have been
discovered ranging from
historical events to
proclamations about how One should not only honour
to live together morally – ones own
one edict exhorted a religion…..whoever honours
climate of religious his own religion and
tolerance…
condemns other religions
Elsewhere edicts does so…thinking ‘I will
stipulate that: glorify my own religion.’ But
Buddhists should behave on the contrary , in doing so
responsibly, obey parents he injures his own
and superiors, help the religion….
poor and sick, and be
generous and fair.

8. Asokas edicts….
Some rock edicts such as the Lumbini pillar to commemorate
the Buddhas birthplace, gave specific support to Buddhists.
Without this and the many Buddhist stupas Asoka had built,
Buddhists then and now, would have had little in the way of
pilgrimage sites to focus upon and there would have been no
evidence pointing to the Buddha’s birthplace.
Asokas First Edict at Girnar
"Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, has caused this Dhamma edict
to be written. Here (in my domain) no living beings are to be
slaughtered or offered in sacrifice. Nor should festivals be held, for
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, sees much to object to in such
festivals, although there are some festivals that Beloved-of-the-Gods,
King Piyadasi, does approve of.
Formerly, in the kitchen of Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi,
hundreds of thousands of animals were killed every day to make
curry. But now with the writing of this Dhamma edict only three
creatures, two peacocks and a deer are killed, and the deer not

9. The Importance of Asoka
Such ethical ideas were revolutionary at the
time of Asoka when a King was a military
leader and protectorate of his people.
Asoka changed this notion to one of protecting
his people morally and directing resources and
edicts to ensure a peaceful life for all.
This was an early form of socialism
and early example of modern
„engaged Buddhism.‟

10. Asoka’s role in the early spread
of Buddhism
• Asoka‟s contribution to the
development of Buddhism was on
balance a positive one? Consider
reasons for and against.

11. Criticisms
1. Asoka‟s edicts promote moral and virtuous
living but there is no reference to the
Buddha‟s teaching.
• Edward Conze writes:
“There is no mention of the four holy Truths,
the eightfold path, the chain of causation, or
even of Nirvana, or of the supernatural
qualities of the Buddha.”
Buddhism: A short History

12. Criticisms
2. Asoka‟s missions in about 250 BCE to the Greek
Kingdoms of Egypt, Macedonia etc were ineffective
and left no trace of Buddhism.
• Edward Conze claims that any awareness of
Buddhism in Greek authors was probably due to
later trade connections between India and the
Mediterranean in Roman times.

13. Criticisms
3.Some historians have questioned how Buddhist
Asoka was, not only did he adhere to Buddhism but
he also supported other world faiths.
• Basham, in „The wonder that was India,‟ claims:
“ in fact, the Dharma officially propagated by Ashoka
was not Buddhism at all but a system of morals
consistent with the tenets of most of the sects of the
empire and calculated to lead to peace and
fellowship in this world and heaven in the next.”

14. Criticisms
4. Denise Cush, Buddhism argues that
Asoka‟s patronage did much for the spread
of Buddhism, but points out that there are
disadvantages in becoming an established
religion:
• She writes: “ It can be formalised and lose
its inner spirit and the standard of
commitment can become lower as people
join for social reasons.”

15. Supporting views
1. Asoka‟s missionary activity in Sri Lanka helped to
establish Buddhism for a longer stretch of time
than elsewhere.
• Sri Lankan monasticism was responsible for
committing the Pali canon to writing, therefore not
only helping to preserve the Buddha’s teaching,
but also facilitating its further growth throughout
SE Asia and other parts of the world.
• The Pali canon provides the doctrinal basis for
all types of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana
alike.

16. Supporting views
2. Asoka‟s edicts (a total of 33 inscriptions carved on
pillars, rock, and caves) provide the first tangible
historical evidence of Buddhism
3. The edicts of Asoka are essentially that of a lay
person, so it could be argued that its precisely
because of their non-sectarian and universal nature,
that they have mass appeal - they capture the heart
of the Buddha‟s teaching e.g. compassion & ahimsa

17. Supporting views
4. According to the „schism edict‟ Asoka was instrumental in
organising the Third Buddhist Council which took place in
Pataliputra around 250BCE.
• Asoka is said to have expelled itinerant or “lazy and lax
monks” from the Sangha, who were causing division
because they were deviating away from the Buddha‟s
teaching, thus uniting and strengthening the Sangha and
helping to preserve the distinctive appeal of the Dharma.
"The Sangha cannot be split.
Whoever, whether monk or nun, splits
the Sangha must be made to wear
white clothes and live somewhere other
than in a monastery."
This language is Prakriti – a medium between
Sanskrit and vernacular (local) dialects.

18. Supporting views
5. Asoka‟s architectural legacy in the form of
monuments known as stupas also provides
early historical evidence for Buddhism as well
as centres of pilgrimage and popular devotion
e.g. the Buddha‟s birthplace at Lumbini