Context:
Sri Lanka recently celebrated Poson Poya, one of the most sacred days in the island’s Buddhist calendar. The festival, observed annually on the June full moon, commemorates the momentous arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka over 2,000 years ago, a spiritual and cultural milestone that continues to shape the identity of the nation.
The Historical Significance of Poson Poya:
- The Poson Poya festival marks the first sermon delivered by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great, to King Devanampiyatissa in 247 BCE at Mihintale, a forested hill located near the ancient capital of Anuradhapura.
- This encounter not only introduced Buddhism to the island but also established deep cultural and political ties between Sri Lanka and India that have endured for centuries.
- This historic meeting is revered as the moment when the Buddha’s teachings were officially embraced by the Sinhalese kingdom, leading to a transformation in Sri Lanka’s religious, ethical, and governance systems. Since then, Buddhism has remained a guiding force in the lives of millions of Sri Lankans.
Origin of Buddhism:
Buddhism arose in the 6th century BCE in the Gangetic plain of India, during a period of second urbanisation and social upheaval. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in response to widespread discontent with Vedic rituals, Brahmanical orthodoxy, and caste-based hierarchies.
Reasons for success of Buddhism:
- Rejection of the caste system and ritualism
- Emphasis on personal ethics, meditation, and compassion
- Patronage from merchants and rulers like Ashoka
- Use of Pali, a vernacular language
- Establishment of the Sangha (monastic community)
- Spread through trade routes and monasteries
Major schools or sects of Buddhism:
1. Theravada (Hinayana) – Focuses on monastic discipline and individual enlightenment; prevalent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
2. Mahayana – Promotes the Bodhisattva ideal and universal salvation; spread to China, Korea, Japan
3. Vajrayana – Emphasises rituals, tantras, and esoteric practices; dominant in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia
4. Navayana – Modern reinterpretation of Buddhism for social justice, especially in India (e.g., Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s movement)
