Remember that monks were mendicants — they had few possessions. They traveled by foot, begging for food, mingling amongst the native people while performing compassionate acts to further themselves along the path toward enlightenment. As they traveled they spread the message of the Buddha's teachings and convinced people — through example rather than selfpromotion — that the Path was a good way to live. Their passage through south Asia was one way in which Buddhism started to spread across the continent.

King Ashoka Sends His Son

Also recall that King Ashoka was another primary reason for the spread and growth of Buddhism. Ashoka was the great Buddhist missionary. Powerful and respected, Ashoka was able to attract people to the Buddha's teaching through his missions and architectural monuments throughout his kingdom.

King Ashoka had cast his eye toward the south and decided to send his son, the monk Mahinda, to the beautiful tropical island Sri Lanka as a missionary. Mahinda was well received by King Devanampiyatissa, the king of Sri Lanka, and they held many enthusiastic and energetic conversations about the religion that had so completely changed Ashoka.

Captivated by such engaging exchanges, the native king asked Mahinda to bring a branch of the Bodhi Tree to Sri Lanka so they could have their own symbol of enlightenment. And so Mahinda sent for his sister, Sangha mitta, who soon left India for Sri Lanka, bearing the gift her brother had requested. A grateful King Devanampiyatissa planted the branch on the grounds of the Mahavihara — the first and largest monastery built in the city of Anuradhapura. To this day there are Bodhi trees in Sri Lanka considered to be relatives to the original branch brought over by Sanghamitta.

Sri Lanka embraced Buddhism and shortly it was thriving in the small nation. Sometime around 100 B.C.E., during the Fourth Council held in Sri Lanka, the Pali scriptures were written down on palm leaves.

Sri Lanka Nurtures Buddhism

Some 400 years later, in the fifth century C.E., a Buddhist monk by the name of Buddhaghosa left India for the beautiful island. Buddhaghosa wrote a detailed examination of the Tipitaka, a commentary on the Pali texts, called Visuddhimagga (Path to Purity). It is still widely read today and is considered the great treatise of Theravada Buddhism. In Pali, Buddhaghosa means “Voice of Enlightenment.” He was also known as The Great Translator.

During the fourth century C.E., the Buddha's tooth was brought to Sri Lanka with great fanfare. To this day there is a celebration centered on the Buddha's tooth. It is preserved in the city of Kandy in the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Daily rituals revolve around the venerated tooth; it is a much revered and celebrated artifact.

Buddhism was eventually challenged by European colonialism and invasions of the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British. Efforts to convert the natives to Christianity were exerted, but Buddhist practice persisted. At one point bhikkus were imported from India to retain and fortify the presence of Buddhism. Buddhism prevailed, and today Sri Lanka is considered one of the few predominantly Buddhist countries.