How Sri Lanka became a Buddhist Country : Complete Story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
By Bodhisattva
Published Loading...
N/A views
N/A likes
AI Summary of "How Sri Lanka became a Buddhist Country : Complete Story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka"
Get instant insights and key takeaways from this YouTube video by Bodhisattva .
Introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka
π Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, establishing what is considered the oldest continuing Buddhist civilization.
π The Pali Canon was first written down in Sri Lanka, safeguarding Buddhist texts through centuries of conflict.
π Early historical rulers included Prince Vijay and his followers from Kalinga, India, who arrived in the 5th century BC.
Propagation by Emperor Ashoka
βΈοΈ King Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War and became a fervent supporter of Dharma.
π£οΈ The Third Buddhist Council in Pataliputra finalized the Pali Canon, leading to missions sent across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
π Arhat Mahinda, Ashoka's son, arrived in Sri Lanka in 250 BC and converted King Devanampiyatissa, establishing the first *Mahavihara* (great monastery).
Challenges and Preservation of the Teachings
βοΈ Buddhism faced severe persecution during foreign invasions, including massacres of monks and destruction of monasteries, leading to near extinction at points.
π The Pali Canon was first committed to writing in 103 BC on palm leaves during the reign of King Vattagamini Abhaya, following a catastrophic famine that killed over 20,000 monks.
πΏ In the 16th century, the Portuguese intensified persecution, leading to only five fully ordained monks surviving when they were expelled in 1658.
πΉπ After the near collapse, monks were invited from Thailand (in 1751 under King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe) and Myanmar to re-establish the order of ordination.
Buddhist Revival in Modern Times
π£οΈ Brilliant monk Anagarika Dharmapala and American Colonel Henry Steele Olcott spearheaded a major revival following open debates against Christian missionaries in the late 19th century.
π Olcott established several Buddhist schools across the island, while Dharmapala co-founded the Mahabodhi Society in Bodh Gaya, India.
π Today, 70% of Sri Lanka's population follows Buddhism, supported by approximately 6,000 monasteries and over 15,000 monks.
Key Points & Insights
β‘οΈ Sri Lanka holds the distinction of being the location where the Pali Canon was first committed to writing due to a severe famine threatening oral tradition survival.
β‘οΈ The survival of Buddhism often depended on external intervention, notably missions from Thailand and Myanmar to restore the monastic order after periods of intense persecution.
β‘οΈ The 1873 Panadura Debate involving the monk Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera against Christian missionaries gained international attention, attracting H.S. Olcott and catalyzing the modern revival movement.
πΈ Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 23, 2025, 09:58 UTC
Related Products
Find relevant products on Amazon related to this video
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases
πTranscript
Loading transcript...
πVideo Description
TranslateUpgrade
Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the third century BC and soon it took deep roots in the island nation. When Buddhism spread beyond India, the first nation in which it took root was Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is considered to have the oldest continuing Buddhist civilization. The Pali Canon was first written in Sri Lanka. Here Buddhism has survived repeated invasions by colonial forces, large-scale massacres of monks, burnings and destructions of monasteries and libraries and persecution of the lay disciples. At multiple times the persecution of Buddhism on the Island was so complete that hardly a couple of ordained monks survived and Sri Lanka had to import monks from countries like Thailand and Myanmar to save Buddhism from extinction. Letβs understand how Buddhism reached this beautiful island, how it was challenged by Indian Kings and later by European colonial powers and missionaries and how it revived from its ashes.
#Buddhism #srilanka #buddhist
Chapters :
0:00 - Intro
2:59 - Buddhism Reaches Sri Lanka
6:30 - Order of Nuns
6:59 - The arrival of the Sacred Bodhi Tree
7:33 - Pali Cannon / The Tripitaka
10:46 - Buddhghosha and Visuddhimagga
11:55 - Colonial Period and Buddhism
15:57 - Revival of Buddhism
Credits:
Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
MediaJet, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
"Stock footage provided by Videvo, downloaded from www.videvo.net"
Pierre AndrΓ© Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
India_rivers_and_lakes_map.svg: User:Planemadderivative work: Aymatth2, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cherubino, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand, CC BY 2.0 ttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Neoclassicism Enthusiast, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ΰ€ͺΰ€Ύΰ€ΰ€²ΰ€Ώΰ€ͺΰ₯ΰ€€ΰ₯ΰ€°, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rambukwelladk, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Z_thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A.Savin, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
Anandajoti Bhikkhu, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Anandajoti, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cherubino, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A.Savin, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
Hirushini Dematagoda, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nahid Sultan, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nicolas Chadeville, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Michael Gunther, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Dharma, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mandovi1, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jorge LΓ‘scar from Australia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lakdee, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grentidez, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Full video URL: youtube.com/watch?v=4B0IeiLaiCs
Duration: 38:39
Recently Summarized Videos
πRelated Tags
Buddhabuddhismbuddhism in sri lanka documentarybuddhism in sri lanka historybuddhism in sri lankasri lankaanuradhapuraanuradhapura travelsri lanka buddhistsri lanka buddhist templesri lanka buddhism
Total Video Summary Page Visits :1
AI Summary of "How Sri Lanka became a Buddhist Country : Complete Story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka"
Get instant insights and key takeaways from this YouTube video by Bodhisattva .
Introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka
π Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, establishing what is considered the oldest continuing Buddhist civilization.
π The Pali Canon was first written down in Sri Lanka, safeguarding Buddhist texts through centuries of conflict.
π Early historical rulers included Prince Vijay and his followers from Kalinga, India, who arrived in the 5th century BC.
Propagation by Emperor Ashoka
βΈοΈ King Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War and became a fervent supporter of Dharma.
π£οΈ The Third Buddhist Council in Pataliputra finalized the Pali Canon, leading to missions sent across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
π Arhat Mahinda, Ashoka's son, arrived in Sri Lanka in 250 BC and converted King Devanampiyatissa, establishing the first *Mahavihara* (great monastery).
Challenges and Preservation of the Teachings
βοΈ Buddhism faced severe persecution during foreign invasions, including massacres of monks and destruction of monasteries, leading to near extinction at points.
π The Pali Canon was first committed to writing in 103 BC on palm leaves during the reign of King Vattagamini Abhaya, following a catastrophic famine that killed over 20,000 monks.
πΏ In the 16th century, the Portuguese intensified persecution, leading to only five fully ordained monks surviving when they were expelled in 1658.
πΉπ After the near collapse, monks were invited from Thailand (in 1751 under King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe) and Myanmar to re-establish the order of ordination.
Buddhist Revival in Modern Times
π£οΈ Brilliant monk Anagarika Dharmapala and American Colonel Henry Steele Olcott spearheaded a major revival following open debates against Christian missionaries in the late 19th century.
π Olcott established several Buddhist schools across the island, while Dharmapala co-founded the Mahabodhi Society in Bodh Gaya, India.
π Today, 70% of Sri Lanka's population follows Buddhism, supported by approximately 6,000 monasteries and over 15,000 monks.
Key Points & Insights
β‘οΈ Sri Lanka holds the distinction of being the location where the Pali Canon was first committed to writing due to a severe famine threatening oral tradition survival.
β‘οΈ The survival of Buddhism often depended on external intervention, notably missions from Thailand and Myanmar to restore the monastic order after periods of intense persecution.
β‘οΈ The 1873 Panadura Debate involving the monk Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera against Christian missionaries gained international attention, attracting H.S. Olcott and catalyzing the modern revival movement.
πΈ Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 23, 2025, 09:58 UTC
Related Products
Find relevant products on Amazon related to this video
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases
Loading Similar Videos...
Recently Summarized Videos
Get the Chrome Extension
Summarize youtube video with AI directly from any YouTube video page. Save Time.
Install our free Chrome extension. Get expert level summaries with one click.