Download Prince Asoka

Prince Asoka made one of the greatest contributions to the growth of Buddhism, into a world religion.
Buddhism initially only existed in small pockets throughout some parts of India, but various aspects of Asoka's
life and actions significantly influenced the spread of Buddhism. These aspects varied from Asoka's teachings,
works, his life as a role model and his effect on society.
Asoka was initially a blood thirsty boy who grew to become a fierce warrior. Once Asoka obtained his title as
king over the deaths of his brothers; he conquered the majority of India at the prices of thousands of lives.
Eventually as time past, Asoka became so overwhelmed and distorted by remorse, that he found a way to help
restore all the devastation which he had caused by converting to Buddhism, and devoted the remaining of his
life in helping others. Siddhartha is represented for the individual as an idol and role model for Buddhism,
Asoka too soon became considered a role model, as his life demonstrated to the individual that no matter
who you are or what your have done, one can always grow from these experiences and convert ones life to
goodness by devoting their life in helping others. He not only was able to enforce and fund this helping
throughout the remaining of his ruler ship but he took on an active role in the helping of others too. This
helped promote Buddhism throughout his ruler ship as his life became a very appealing demonstration of the
acceptance Buddhism has towards any individual.
Asoka's works illuminated on the main characteristics of Buddhism values; Asoka saw the great devastation
which he caused to the land throughout India, consequence of the horrific wars and battle which too place
during Asoka’s conquering and decided to initiate funding programs for reforestation throughout India. He
then built and funded hospitals all over India. These hospitals which he built were not only for people but he
also built hospitals for animals. Asoka decided to send missionaries out of India to help teach and promote
Buddhism to everyone, as he evaluated how Buddhism had influenced him and subsequently India with such
staggering outcomes. Asoka also helped establish the first religious tolerant country of that time. He was able
to do this through the funding and supporting of all religions in India not just for Buddhism. Asoka also
situated pillars throughout India which had simple and common Buddhist concepts inscribed on them. He did
this in order to help encourage the people of India to follow these new positive philosophies. These
accomplishments which Asoka carried out assisted the reinforcement of his contributions to the growth of
Buddhism into a world religion.
Asoka's teachings were of simple but powerful Buddhism concepts and edicts which were represented
through pillars which were positioned throughout India, all of which presented a positive example on how to
live in harmony and with oneself and also how treat one another. There were over 500 words of texts, and not
one word of criticism of anyone, anything or and past event. There were two main underlying matters which
he emphasised on, and it was that “all religions are to desist from self-praise and condemnation of others”, he
also stressed the importance of the truth.
Asoka's effect on society reflected his success on his capability to the spread of Buddhism. Asoka was able to
accomplish this through his ruler ship which was governed with love. He not only made society more
religiously tolerant but made the nation fair and just for all individuals which helped improve his ability in the
spread of Buddhism. The pillars which Asoka had planted throughout India also helped formulate the basic
concepts of Buddhism into ordinary thought process of that society.
Through Asoka's various teachings, works, being a role model and effect on society he was able to significantly
contribute to the promotion and spread of Buddhism into a world religion. Not only this be he advanced a
more figurative symbol to the individual on how to improve ones life through the ways of compassion and
through an active role, with emphasis on tolerance and truth.