Everything Everywhere Daily · Thursday, July 9, 2026
Ashoka played a pivotal role in transforming Buddhism from a regional belief system into a global religion. He sent his children on a maritime mission to Sri Lanka with a sapling of the Bodhi tree, which helped establish Buddhism there and subsequently spread it throughout Southeast Asia.
“Ashoka was a key factor in transforming Buddhism from a regional belief system to more universal religion.”
“One example was sending his own children on a maritime mission to the kingdom of Sri Lanka.”
“This act established Dharma-based Buddhism in Sri Lanka, which eventually served as a launching pad for the expansion of Buddhism into Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and the rest of Southeast Asia.”