How Did Buddhism Spread

Spread of Buddhism Across the World
“This is why I am continuing my travels—not to seek other, better teachings, for I know there are none, but to depart from all teachings and all teachers and to reach my goal by myself or to die” - Hermann Hesse. The teachings of Buddhism have been continuingly traveling all across the world and spreading. Buddhism originated from India during the 5th century BCE, and the spread began. By the 1st century Buddhism began to split within the religion, the new evolving Buddhist branch of the Mahayana led to that split. The Mahayana created a huge spread across the eastern hemisphere of China, Japan, and Korea, where that branch of Buddhism still remains dominant. Buddhism eventually from this path makes it way
However during the first 500 years after his death, none of teachings were written down and only recited by monks (Buddha Dharma 2008). Councils were held regularly to make sure that Buddha’s teaching remained the same. It was not until the 2nd council of where a split between monks occurred. A group known as the “Great Community” led to a new evolution of two major forms of Buddhist tradition, the Theravada and the Mahayana. Why they differed is because the Theravada taught that the highest point people can reach is Arhat (Buddha Dharma 2008). The Mahayana tradition teaches that the only goal that is the attainment of buddhahood. This was a major turning point and contribution to the spread of Buddhism, with the evolution of two branches of Buddhism. Another event or person that helped in the cause to spread Buddhism was Ashoka. Ashoka was known as ruthless leader, making many military conquest were thousand were killed, wounded, and captured (Source). After, the realization of the loss of people, Ashoka turned to Buddhism and became very devoted to the religion, by participating in many meritable acts. He later went on to send Buddhist missionaries to all over the world, even to Sri
It is estimated that 1.2 million people and 40 percent of those people living in Southern California make up the Buddhist population in America. Saying that, California also has the most temples out of any state in America with 435 . Recently, many Zen Buddhist Centers have been related to scandals across the United States. There has been over 9 sex scandals that have happened in over the last 30 years (Eck 2001). However, there has been good things that have happened recent years as well. In 2006, history was made in America as the first female monk became ordained and took vows from an American monk. Experts often ponder on why Buddhism did not advance or grown on people as much. Some believe that, the religion is too passive to public life (Eck 2001). Also believed that most people that are part of the Buddhist religion were not people that converted to it, but rather people that came into the religion was extended family. Many new attempts to become engaged in society and make it more appealing to the