Truth Triumphant - Benjamin G. Wilkinson

and east of the Black and Caspian Seas, generally
known as Scythia, was a cradle of nations. Over
and over again, successive waves of fierce warriors
drove westward through the civilized parts of Asia.
Often they settled in the territory they conquered
and founded new kingdoms.
One Scythian tribe in particular may be noted.
It seized the territory of northwestern India, which
was then ruled by the successors of Alexander the
Great, and founded the Kushan dynasty (A.D. 45-
225). It had in its list several notable kings, one of
which, fervently devoted to Buddhism, called a
famous council of Buddhist priests with the intent
of promoting unity among the monks and of
converting the whole world to the new religion of
India. One chief object sought in this conference
was to bring uniformity among the Buddhist monks
on the observance of their weekly Sabbath. A
world convention held at Vaisali reveals how the
Old Testament had impressed upon Buddha and his
followers the weekly observance of a sacred day.
Of this council Arthur Lloyd writes:
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