Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa

[shekhar9223]

great feeling

[pointing143]

wonderful.. asian countries should help in building up the infrastructure and provide the basic facilities. I wish my best wishes to BHANTE BHIKKU BUDDHARAKKHITA.

[rsdkuruppu]

_/]\_ _/]\_ _/]\_

[freedom71000]

this really makes me happy that the truth of buddhism is spreading

[TheAtheistHindu]

Buddhism in Black Africa! Wow!

[Gwynsek]

They look so dignified with this more evolved form of spirituality,and,as someone said,it can blend well with native animisms and other pagan faiths,just hope they help to abolish animal sacrifices as well,as followers grow in numbers . I know not all buddhists nor all taoists are veggies,but it would be wonderful if vegetarianism spread in Africa too !

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

Go to the English Wikipedia and read about Buddhism and Christianity.

Buddhism existed in Northern Africa before Christianity or Islam.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

Three of them reportedly explained philosophical teachings to the Arabs during the first few years of the Islamic era. Thus, at least some Arab leaders were aware of Buddhism before they extended Islam beyond the Arabian Peninsula.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

The Tarikh-i-Tabari, a tenth century reconstruction of the early history of Islam written in Baghdad by al-Tabari (838 - 923), speaks of another group of Indians present in Arabia, the Ahmaras or “Red-Clad People” from Sindh. These were undoubtedly saffron-robed Buddhist monks.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

According to this theory, “Kifl” is the Arabic rendition of “Kapilavastu,” the Buddha’s birthplace. This scholar also suggests that the Quranic reference to the fig tree likewise refers to the Buddha who attained enlightenment at the foot of one.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

As further evidence, the mid-twentieth century scholar, Hamid Abdul Qadir, in his Buddha the Great: His Life and Philosophy (Arabic: Budha al-Akbar Hayatoh wa Falsaftoh), proposes that the Prophet Dhu’l Kifl (The Man from Kifl), mentioned twice in the Quran as patient and good, refers to Buddha, although most assert him to be Ezekiel.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

More Indian communities established themselves in the Arabian cultural area. Among them, one of the most prominent were the Jats (Arab. Zut), many of whom settled in Bahrain and at Ubla, near modern-day Basrah at the head of the Persian Gulf. The Prophet’s wife, Aisha, was once treated by a Jat physician. Thus, Muhammad was undeniably familiar with Indian culture.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

With the decline of Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations in the middle of the first millennium CE and the simultaneous curtailing of Byzantine shipping in the Red Sea, much of the trade between India and the West came by sea to the Arabian Peninsula and then proceeded by land through Arab intermediaries. Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad (570 - 632 CE), became an important trade center where merchants met from the East and the West.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

As evidenced by archeological remains, other Buddhist settlements were south of Baghdad on the lower Euphrates River at Kufah, on the eastern Iranian coast at Zir Rah and at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden on the island of Socotra.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

Indians of other occupations soon followed. The Syrian writer, Zenob Glak, wrote of an Indian community, complete with its own religious temples, on the upper Euphrates River in modern-day Turkey to the west of Lake Van in the second century BCE, and the Greek ex-patriot, Dion Chrysostom (40 – 112 CE), wrote of a similar community in Alexandria.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

In 255 BCE, the Indian Mauryan emperor, Ashoka (r. 273 - 232 BCE), sent Buddhist monks as ambassadors to establish relations with Antiochus II Theos of Syria and Western Asia, Ptolemy II Philadelphos of Egypt, Magas of Cyrene, Antigone Gonatas of Macedonia, and Alexander of Corinth. Eventually, communities of Indian traders, both Hindu and Buddhist, settled in some of the major sea and river ports of Asia Minor, the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt.

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

India and West Asia have a long history of land and sea trade between them. Commercial relations between India and Mesopotamia began as early as 3000 BCE and between India and Egypt, through the intermediary ports of Yemen, from 1000 BCE. The Baveru Jataka, a chapter from an early Buddhist collection of accounts of the previous lives of the Buddha, refers to maritime trade with Babylon (Sanskrit: Baveru).

[Gwynsek]

Fantastic,I hope they introduce Taoism and Bön religion there too,with other eastern movements as well (I have heard they already have some Eckists,too)

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

@Gwynsek Taoists & Confucianists already exist in Africa, among the Chinese & Vietnamese communities :)

[Gwynsek]

@KriztofferKriztenzen Nice,but it will be even better when native black Africans adopt it too ,as in the vid with the bhuddhist black African devotees.

[mudramind]

WOW! I am very happy to know that Buddhist practices & belief system is finally arrived in the continent of Africa! <3 May it spread exponentially so that the Buddha's teaching can reach many in Africans, which can bring direct self-understanding and the true nature of things, and peace to the populace! Love this! Best wishes...

[MyoHanHtunChannel]

Sardu Sardu Sardu

[RanjanLekhy]

Vandana Ven'ble ! We Nepali Buddhists are with you! 

[sundomain]

Wow...this is such good news! It's really nice to hear that Africa's getting it's first hints of Buddhism in itself. I personally believe that if pure Theravada Buddhism is practised in the continent, people will suffer less, & find the true meaning of life. Also since Buddhism is spread through self-understanding alone, no person or religious representation should take offense. May Ven. Buddharakkhita have the courage and support to spread compassion and peace of mind to all through the Dhamma!

[thomas2678]

SADHU,SADHU,SADHU

[waiswajacobo]

nice reflections...

[waiswajacobo]

cool...

[thiminhthao]

dear friends

I am vietnamese buddhiste et I'am very happy to see that

[Opetlao]

it is a misconception the Dharma door is open to all being color doesn't matter.

[impermanentoo]

I was very happy when I read Bhante Buddharakkhita's booklet sometime back. Spread the dhamma far and wide.

Well done bahnte. Keep up the good job

Lord Buddha said,

The gift of dhamma excels all other gift

Watch this video on youtube

"Wisdom of the Buddha"

May all of you be well, be happy!

[dararais]

I am cambodian,I very happy and hopeful to see that Buddhism coming to Uganda. Compassion to all !

[bluenosedive]

Cool, I'm black and have always been interested in Buddhism but always thought it was an Asian thing ... its nice to see that it can be a global thing

[LakeRafiD]

@bluenosedive

No it's not just an Asian thing, my friend. Buddhism is for all people. And yes it's a global thing

[mitchx69]

@bluenosedive Nah Buddha taught hes followers to spread the teachings and help others also Buddha was Indian so it doesnt matter if your Asian, Jew, Arab or African or European

[KriztofferKriztenzen]

@bluenosedive Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the western world, by converts. ; )

The reason why Buddhism is the fourth largest religion and not the largest, is because many people in Asia practice both Buddhism and traditional Asian religions at the same time ; )

I'm sure that with Buddhism in Africa, you can both keep your traditions and still live a peaceful Buddhist way of life ; )

[Gwynsek]

@KriztofferKriztenzen Well said !

[ploiwang]

saatu

[the1willows]

GREAT JOB!!!!

Lovelovelove,

Abby