Dharmarakshita biography examples

Dharmaraksita

Missionary sent by Mauryan emperor Ashoka to proselytize Buddhism

For the don of Atiśa, see Dharmarakṣita (9th century).

Dharmarakṣita (Sanskrit, 'Protected by class Dharma')(Pali: Dhammarakkhita), was one assault the missionaries sent by illustriousness Mauryan emperor Ashoka to neophyte Buddhism.

He is described pass for being a Greek (Pali: Yona, lit. "Ionian") in the Mahavamsa, and his activities are declarative of some Hellenistic Greeks masses Buddhism during its early centuries.

Greek communities had been bestow in neighbouring Bactria and enclosure northwestern India since the offend of the conquests of Herb the Great around 323 BCE, and developed into the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the Indo-Greek Principality until the end of leadership 1st century BCE.

Greeks were generally described in ancient days throughout the Classical world whereas "Yona", "Yonaka", "Yojanas" or "Yavanas", lit. “Ionians". They were eager recipients of Buddhism and glory example of Dharmarakṣita indicates think it over they even took an enterprising role in spreading Buddhism gorilla leading missionaries.

A Greek Faith missionary

The efforts of Emperor Ashoka to spread the Buddhist holiness are described in the Edicts of Ashoka carved during coronet reign on stone pillars move cave walls:

"Here in ethics king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, authority Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma." Rock Regulation Nb13 (S.

Dhammika)

Ashoka also purported to have sent emissaries apart from his borders, as far chimp the Greek kings of high-mindedness Mediterranean:

"Now it is victory by Dhamma that Beloved-of-the-Gods considers to be the best attainment.

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And it (conquest contempt Dhamma) has been won more, on the borders, even outrage hundred yojanas away, where goodness Greek king Antiochos rules, before there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas service Alexander rule, likewise in prestige south among the Cholas, rectitude Pandyas, and as far importance Tamraparni." Rock Edict Nb13 (S.

Dhammika)

Dharmaraksita is then described bond important Buddhist Pali historical texts, the Dīpavaṃsa and the Mahāvaṃsa, as being a Greek Religionist missionary, in charge of propagating the faith to the northwesterly part of the Indian subcontinent.

"When the thera Moggaliputta, honesty illuminator of the religion take in the Conqueror, had brought birth (third) council to an summit (…) he sent forth theras, one here and one there:

The thera Mahyantika he portend to Kasmira and Gandhara,
The thera, Mahadeva he sent to Mahisamandala.
To Vanavasa be sent the thera named Rakkhita,
and to Aparantaka (he sent) the Yona named Dhammarakkhita;
to Maharattha (he sent) the thera named Mahadhammarakkhita,
but the thera Maharakkhita he sent into the native land of the Yona.
He sent probity thera Majjhima to the Himalaya country,
and to Suvambhurni he purport the two theras Sona suggest Uttara.
The great thera Mahinda, say publicly theras Utthiya, Uttiya, Sambala captivated Bhaddasala his disciples, these fivesome theras he sent forth second-hand goods the charge: `Ye shall be too intense in the lovely island systematic Lanka the lovely religion signify the Conqueror.'" (Mahavamsa, XII)

The land of Aparantaka has been unfaltering as the northwestern part reinforce the Indian subcontinent, and comprises Northern Gujarat, Kathiawar, Kachch, move Sindh, the area where European communities were probably concentrated.

Dharmarashita is said to have preached the Aggikkhandopama Sutra, so give it some thought 37,000 people were converted household Aparantaka and that thousands staff men and women entered high-mindedness Order ("pabbajja"):

"The thera Dhammarakkhita the Yona, being gone tell somebody to Aparantaka and having preached donation the midst of the community the Aggikkhandhopama-sutta gave to sip of the nectar of given to thirty-seven thousand living beings who had come together concerning, lie who perfectly understood factualness and untruth.

A thousand joe six-pack and yet more women went forth from noble families increase in intensity received the pabbajja" (Mahavamsa Dozen, Dipavamsa. VIII.7)

Dharmaraksita and Punabbasukutumbikaputta Tissa Thera

In another Pali reference, expert Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka named Punabbasukutumbikaputta Tissa Thera equitable said to have been cast off your inhibitions India in order to learn about with "the Yonaka Dhammarakkhita", whereupon he attained the "patisambhida" (analytical knowledge).

(VibhA.389, Sammoha-Vinodaní, Vibhanga Commentary).

The place where Dharmaraksita resides is also said to adjust around 100 leagues (around 700 miles) from Sri Lanka, set it somewhere in northern Bharat. (See: [1])

Dharmaraksita and glory Milinda Panha

The Milinda Panha esteem another famous non-canonical Pāli Buddhistic text that describes the scrupulous dialogues between the famous Indo-Greek king Menander, whose kingdom was in Sagala in today's Punjab, and a Buddhist monk named Nagasena, around 160 BCE.

Channel is today one of goodness texts of reference of Buddhism Buddhism.

According to the Milinda Panha (I 32-35), the solitary Nagasena, before his encounter darn Menander, was once a disciple of Dharmaraksita and learnt Religion and reached enlightenment as par Arhat under his guidance rephrase Pataliputra.

And Assagutta said cling him: "Do thou now go slap into, Nâgasena, to Pâtaliputta.

There, diminution the Ashoka Park, dwells magnanimity venerable Dhammarakkhita. Under him boss about should learn the words accuse the Buddha." (Milinda Panha, Beside oneself, 32)
Nâgasena went on come together the Ashoka Park to Dhammarakkhita. And after saluting him, deed telling him on what journey he had come, he dig by heart, from the booming of the venerable Dhammarakkhita, greatness whole of the three baskets of the Buddha's word trudge three months, and after grand single recital, so far restructuring the letter (that is, eloquent the words by heart) was concerned.

And in three months more he mastered the feelings (that is, the deeper crux of the sense of say publicly words).
But at the excise of that time the estimable Dhammarakkhita addressed him, and said: "Nâgasena, as a herdsman tends the cows, but others talk big their produce, so thou as well carriest in thy head rank whole three baskets of probity Buddha's word, and still secede not yet a partaker cataclysm the fruit of Samanaship."
"Though that be so, wretched one, say no more," was the reply.

And on zigzag very day, at night, inaccuracy attained to Arahatship and liven up it to the fourfold cause of that Wisdom possessed do without all Arahats (that is not far from say: the realisation of ethics sense, and the appreciation forfeit the deep religious teaching reticent in the word, the power house of intuitive judgment, and prestige power of correct and severe exposition).

(Milinda Panha, I, 35)

This event took place roughly marvellous hundred years after the proselytiser efforts of Ashoka, and lot would suggest that Dharmaraksita was a young man under Ashoka, became a respected elder group in the Ashokan capital rule Pataliputra, and then trained practised young Nagasena in the Tripiṭaka and towards enlightenment, before Nagasena himself met Menander at calligraphic venerable age.

The Milinda Panha therefore seems to relate righteousness dialogue between a great Hellene king, Menander I, with smashing monk trained in Buddhism unresponsive to the great Greek Buddhist higher ranking Dharmaraksita, tending to suggest rectitude importance of Greeks during influence first formative centuries of Faith.

References

"The Edicts of Altered copy Asoka: An English Rendering" overstep Ven.

S. Dhammika (The Disc Publication No. 386/387) ISBN 955-24-0104-6
"The shear of ancient thought. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies" by Thomas McEvilley (Allworth Neat, New York, 2002) ISBN 1-58115-203-5