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72 : Śramana, Vol 58, No. 4/October-December 2007
movement was the direct result of the changes taking place in India at the time. Indian commerce also played a part, in Buddhism's spread to these places and were to be greatly influenced not only by Indian culture but also by the work of Indian merchants and monks, who brought with them not only religion but also their country's civilization - writing, art, architecture and methods of ruling as well. The influence of Hinduism was to touch these places before that of Buddhism did, but in time the two coexisted. In the end, however, Hinduism could not endure for long abroad because of the very rigid caste system it supported. Nevertheless, traces of Hindu culture have survived in these places and testify to the great contribution India made over the centuries to the entire Asian world and is still going on. Today India's culture is being carried abroad by the large numbers of Asians emigrating to Australia, Europe, Africa and the United States of America and South America. They are the current carriers of Buddhism and its fourth jewel Buddhist Art and Architecture.
Now, I would like to tell you a true story. The late John Bloomfield, a Buddhist scholar and writer of great repute once told the story of how he first became attracted to Buddhism when he was young. One day, he spied a strange statue in shop in Brighton, Sussex and his curiosity was awakened. When he asked what it was, the shopkeeper kindly told him that it was a statue of a Buddha. Although, he could not afford to by it then and there, he very much wanted to. For days he could not get the image with its calm and peaceful expression out of his mind. As soon as he was able to afford it, he bought it and it became his most treasured possession and kept it with him always. Seeing that statue was for him a turning point in his life. Later he began a life-long investigation into Buddhism.
Buddhism has been making contributions to the world's cultures through its teachings, its art and architecture for more than two millennium long. May this continue!
