Burning Quest - Part 46

If you study the advance of Buddhism since its inception in India, you will note that the missionary endeavors of the Buddhists have been rather successful.  Very early on from Before the Common Era (BCE) onwards, Buddhism had come with the merchant traders, by land and by sea to India's neighboring countries, to China, and to many parts of South East Asia, and beyond.  

In 2008, The Buddha Dharma Education Association and Buddha Net did a survey and published the statistics that found that 6 % of the world's population, to that date, were Buddhists.  They estimated that there were about 360 million adherents.  By comparison, they attributed the so-called "Christian" adherents to be figured at 33 %; Christianity topping at somewhere around 2 billion persons.

The author of What Buddhists Believe, Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, attributes such success to their aim which claims,

"...to show how people could gain more peace and happiness through the practice of Dharma" (Page 359).

Picking up on the idea of peace, it's true that many people worldwide do search for peace and happiness.  It is good to find the best kind of peace and happiness too.  We followers of Jesus Christ believe Jesus to be the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Ephesians 2:14-18 tell us that Jesus Himself is our peace.  We can dwell in perfect peace...

Peace from our sins (unwholesome thoughts and actions) and their consequences.

Peace with God through Jesus Christ.

Peace during and in spite of the storms of life.

Peace brings the happiness and contentment and visa versa.   There are many Bible verses about happiness and its Source.  I like Isaiah 12:3 (ESV),

"...with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." 

Salvation in and through Jesus Christ, the Living water (John 4:1-14).

What about this one found in Psalm 144:5 (ESV)...

"Blessed (happy) are the people to whom such blessing falls!  Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD."

There are blessings of peace and happiness when a person relies on Jesus Christ.  They will be able to live in perfect peace.

Let's get back more specifically to the topic of Buddhist Missionary expansion. At one point Sri Dhammananda writes,

"Buddhism was never introduced to any country through the influence of colonial or any other political power" (Page 359).

That sounds good and recommends itself especially in light of Buddhism's cause for peace and their  non-aggression stance.  However, if one Googles such ideas of Colonialism and Buddhism teaming up, you'll discover they did.  This is not to take a pot shot at the author of What Buddhists Believe, only to take blinders off anyones' eyes who do not want to investigate the claim.  (Please click on link given above to see more.)

You'll discover Japan had a big hand in such doings in Korea, and Tibet.  The Sinhalese of Sri Lanka also pressed their brand of Buddhism, perhaps not exactly in the wake of the true meaning of colonialism, but they did force the hand of many citizens in their area to adopt Buddhism.  In Bhutan, Buddhists are restricted from converting to other beliefs.  There are many rules against those who have other beliefs and may even lose their citizenship, among others things, because of it.

Back between the 5th and 6th centuries, there was the expansion of the Mon Kingdom.  Buddhist art was influenced by Indian Gupta art and sequentially followed that expansionas well as with the aforementioned merchant trade to Southeast Asia.  One cannot say whether this was forceful or a peaceful "take over" but surely Colonialism and Buddhism (especially Theravada) did partner each other; inevitable happenstance.

There were, though, times of advance of Buddhism that were indeed peaceful.  A time of slow but sure growth.  Nowadays more of the western world seek the so called peace and harmony of the more mystical admixture type of Buddhism such as found in Tibetan Buddhism with its more Mahayana Buddhism leanings.

If you scrutinize further, you will conclude that in Colonialism's wake, Buddhism did sprout up in tandem, and there was indeed aggression.

If you wish to learn more of this, click on the links given below:

History of Indian Influence on Southeast Asia

History of Buddhism

Buddhism Can Be Violent

Christianity often followed on the heels of colonialism.  Maybe that looks like hypocrisy.  Aggression by the invading, so-called "Christian" country and set up of governing powers, often with harsh governors, and then the missionaries coming to preach peace and love.  How does that equate?

We read on page 358 of What Buddhists Believe that...

"Aggression never finds approval in the teaching of the Buddha."

Similarly from page 360...

"Holy wars, crusades, inquisitions and religious discrimination do not mar the annals of the history of Buddhist countries..." 

Crusades initiated by those who called themselves "Christian" are a blatant travesty of history and an abomination to God.

Yes, the descendants of the initiators of crusades apologized with speech and walk of reconciliation.  The walk, joined even, by many from the Protestant persuasion showing contrition, went a long ways towards healing.  Even the Pope, said sorry.  Yet, there were those who were still not appeased due to reasons of suspected lack of sincerity on the part of some.

Aggression, sadly, marked the Christian history.  Where was the peace?  Where was the love?  Many have been turned off from becoming a true child of God because of the violence perpetrated by so-called Christians.  

My prayer is that many will be able to overcome all that hatred and discrimination, discerning the true source of the violence and come to Jesus despite the atrocities committed in His Name!  Know that Jesus came to bring life, and for people to have life more abundantly (John 10:10).  May they realize that it is Satan who still comes to "steal, kill and to destroy" (John 10:10).

This is an extensive topic, however, it is easily accessible via the internet should you wish to learn more.  Suffice it to say, that the religious beliefs of conquerors usually follow in the wake of their respective dominance.  This appears to be true whether, Christian, Buddhist or of any other vanquisher's religion.

Ideally, religion should be a positive influence, as Dr. Sri Dhammananda says,

"...so long as they truly help people to lead a religious way of life according to their own faith, enjoy peace, harmony and understanding" (Page 361).

Regrettably many did not, and often still do not.

May the true Christian bring the peace and joy of Christ, as the wafting of a sweet fragrant perfume scents the air, through Jesus Christ wherever they may be.

                                               ~ERC  November 2018~