Ashoka Reflections_NOVEMBER 2023
Welcome to interactive presentation, created with Publuu. Enjoy the reading!
Professor Olivelle spoke on “Ashoka's Journey: From Devotee of Buddhism to Apostle of Ecumenism”. He
discussed Ashoka’s experience and innovations as ruler over a vast, multi-cultural and multi-religious empire.
He described how he pivoted from being an ardent Buddhist to becoming a proponent and propagator of a
broader, universal moral and political vision, referred to in his inscriptions as dhamma. Professor Olivelle
discussed the various aspects of the meanings of Ashoka’s dhamma. He especially focused on the term
pasanda, which referred to various religious groups. The Maurya emperor Ashoka embarked on a programme
of religious ecumenism, where members of different religions would meet to establish harmony and dialogue
and learn from each other. Ashoka’s message went beyond simple religious harmony. It called for active
inter-religious cooperation and mutual respect that would enhance the spiritual life of all religions. The
lecture delved into this aspect of Ashoka’s messages to the various religious organisations of his time,
especially the Buddhist, Brahmanical, Jain, and Ajivika—a message of harmony within diversity that is relevant
in modern times. He considered this an essential part of human goodness or virtue.
The conversation then switched to the understanding of two fundamental principles, ahimsa and dharma, as
seen through the prism of Ashoka's edicts. The inquiry addressed the topic of whether Ashoka's perspective
on ahimsa was more aligned with Jain or Buddhist principles, implying that Ashoka's stance was somewhat
unclear and did not provide a thorough philosophical grasp of the idea.
Concerning dharma, the speaker acknowledged the term's complex nature and the difficulties in adequately
conveying its broad meaning. The translation, whether as "law" or another phrase, was determined by the
context and audience. It was observed that dharma covered a wide range of connotations, including social
order and ethical values, and that its interpretation could differ among translations and historical contexts.
The discussion focused on what makes Ashoka appealing to modern readers, with a particular emphasis on
the individuality and consciousness conveyed in his edicts. Although Ashoka's promotion of an ethic of
tolerance and coexistence in the face of religious diversity was lauded, it was acknowledged that his approach
may not have extended to tribal communities. Furthermore, the debate delved into the complexities of
Ashoka's commitment to nonviolence, as represented by the lion capitals, which suggested a vision of
sovereignty with elements of ferocity and surveillance.
The lecture was followed by a question-answer session where students and faculty posed a variety of
questions to the speaker, leading to a lively discussion.
Ashoka Reflections | Page 06
Watch the lecture here
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104