A
Comparative Study on the Modes of Dissemination of the Dhamma used in the Past
and Present
Second Year
Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
Abstra
Various
methods have been used in the past as well as in present for the dissemination
of Buddhism. With the use of such diverse methods, it was expected to introduce
Buddhism to the people quickly. This research aims at comparative study on the
strategies that have been used in the past and present for the dissemination of
Dhamma. According to the historical records, dissemination
of the Dhamma started during the Buddha’s lifetime. The Buddha advised the
first sixteen Arahants to wander alone for the welfare of others and to spread
the Dhamma. They completed the task undergoing many hardships. After the third
Buddhist Council, Moggaliputtatissa thero advised king Dharmashoka to start the
dissemination of the Dhamma. Accordingly, missionaries were sent to nine countries.
Those missionaries used many methods to disseminate the Dhamma to the
respective countries. Moreover, the
history illustrates that various methods such as the establishment of inscriptions,
stupa and temples, preaching the most attractive doctrines of Buddhism at first
were used by these Arahants to popularize the Dhamma. With the development of
the modern technology such as television, social media, websites, apps, etc.,
the Dhamma communication could be easily transformed to any corner of the world.
The present paper thus analyses the various communication modes that have been
in use in spreading Buddhism illustrating their effectiveness. Books, journals
and web articles were used to gather the referent data for the study and data was analysed
through comparative methodology on the diverse modes of communication in
disseminating the Dhamma.
Keywords: Dhamma, Dissemination,
Past, Present, Missionaries, Technology
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| Edict of king Ashoka |
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