King Asoka and Buddhism - Urban Dharma

If Aśoka was responsible for this innovation, as the edict suggests,the fact that the practice of illustrating happiness in heavensand suffering in hells has remained a significant aspectof Buddhist art would imply its original association with thepropagation of Buddhism.Taking all these clues into consideration, it is reasonableto conclude that Aśoka’s claim that “every proclamation bybeating of drums has become the proclamation of Dharma”applies to the propagation of popular Buddhism through bothadministrative mechanisms (which the edicts and inscriptionsoutline) and missionary operations (of which detailedand accurate records have been preserved by the Sri LankanSaṅgha).7. Foreign Missions of AśokaPI VII, found only on the Topra Pillar now in Delhi and datedin the 27 th year from coronation, summarizes Aśoka’s effortsfor the promotion of the Dharma. In his own words, the followingwere the steps he had taken:This thought occurred to me: “I will cause proclamations ofDharma to be proclaimed and instruction in Dharma to beimparted. Hearing these, the people will conform to them, willbe elevated and will progress considerably through the promotionof Dharma.”For this purpose have I caused proclamations on Dharma to be proclaimedand various kinds of instruction in Dharma have I ordered tobe imparted, so that those officers of mine who are placed by me overmany people will also preach and disseminate them. And the Rajjukasare placed by me over many hundred thousands of beingsand they have also been ordered: “Instruct the people who aredevoted to Dharma in such and such a manner.”Having this very matter in view, I have set up pillars bearing70