Blog 4: India – Birthplace of Buddhism
- Kerry Paul
- Jun 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 30
JOURNEY 4 - SERIES 1 - BLOG 4 - A PART OF 8 BLOGS IN SERIES 1 - Reading time: 4 Mins 30 Secs
My journey through India was driven by a desire to understand how this extraordinary country evolved and what continues to shape its identity today. While visiting Varanasi, the spiritual heart of Hinduism, I discovered another remarkable story—one that would eventually influence hundreds of millions of people across Asia and beyond.
Just a short distance from Varanasi lies Sarnath, one of the most important religious sites in the world. It was here that Buddhism began.
As I explored Sarnath, I came to appreciate that Buddhism was not simply another religion that emerged in India. It represented a profound philosophical response to many of the social and religious practices of its time, particularly the rigid caste system and the dominant role of Brahmin priests within Hindu society.
More than 2,500 years later, the teachings that began here continue to guide people across Asia and around the world. Religion is yet another powerful example of how India shaped global civilization.
Buddha Was a Real Person
One of the most striking aspects of Buddhism is that its founder was not regarded as a god.
Siddhartha Gautama was a real historical figure who lived in northern India around the sixth century BCE. Born into a wealthy ruling family, he enjoyed privilege and comfort during his early life. Yet despite his material advantages, he became increasingly troubled by the realities of human suffering, ageing, illness, and death.
Determined to find answers, Siddhartha abandoned his privileged lifestyle and embarked on a spiritual quest.
After years of study, meditation, and self-discipline, he eventually attained enlightenment while meditating beneath a Bodhi tree. From that moment, he became known as the Buddha, meaning "The Enlightened One."
What impressed me most was the simplicity of his message. Rather than asking followers to worship him, Buddha taught that every individual had the capacity to achieve enlightenment through wisdom, ethical living, and self-awareness.
His teachings focused on understanding suffering, its causes, and the path to overcoming it.
The First Sermon at Sarnath
After attaining enlightenment, Buddha travelled to Sarnath to meet five former companions.
It was here that he delivered his first sermon, an event known in Buddhist tradition as "Turning the Wheel of Dharma."
Standing in Sarnath today, I found it remarkable to think that one of the world's great religions effectively began with a small gathering of six men.
During this first teaching, Buddha introduced what became the foundation of Buddhist philosophy:
The Four Noble Truths
Life contains suffering.
Suffering is caused by attachment and desire.
Suffering can be overcome.
There is a path that leads to the end of suffering.
The Noble Eightfold Path
Buddha outlined a practical path for achieving enlightenment through right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
These teachings would eventually spread far beyond India, influencing the cultures, philosophies, and political systems of numerous nations.
A New Way of Thinking
As I learned more about Buddhism, I began to understand why it gained followers so rapidly.
Unlike the caste-based hierarchy that dominated much of Indian society at the time, Buddha taught that spiritual progress was available to everyone regardless of birth, wealth, or social status.
This was a revolutionary idea.
Buddhism emphasised personal responsibility, compassion, meditation, and self-improvement rather than ritual sacrifice or inherited privilege.
Its appeal crossed social boundaries and attracted people from all walks of life.
Over the following decades, Buddha travelled extensively throughout northern India, teaching, debating, and establishing communities of followers. By the time of his death, Buddhism had become a significant spiritual movement.
Emperor Ashoka and the Global Expansion of Buddhism
Perhaps the most important figure in spreading Buddhism beyond India was Emperor Ashoka.
Ashoka ruled the Mauryan Empire approximately 300 years after Buddha's death and governed one of the largest empires ever seen in the Indian subcontinent.
Initially known as a powerful military ruler, Ashoka experienced a profound personal transformation following the bloody Kalinga War. Horrified by the suffering caused by the conflict, he embraced Buddhism and dedicated much of his reign to promoting peace, ethical governance, and Buddhist teachings.
As I walked through Sarnath, I was constantly reminded of Ashoka's influence.
Recognising the importance of the site where Buddha delivered his first sermon, Ashoka commissioned monuments, stupas, monasteries, and pillars throughout India to preserve and promote Buddhist teachings.
Most importantly, he sent missionaries and scholars far beyond India's borders.
Through Ashoka's efforts, Buddhism spread to:
Sri Lanka
Myanmar (Burma)
Thailand
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
China
Korea
Japan
Tibet
Few rulers in history have had such a lasting influence on the spiritual development of humanity.
Without Ashoka's support, Buddhism may have remained a regional movement. Instead, it became one of the world's great religions.
The Ashoka Pillar
One of the highlights of my visit was seeing the remains of the famous Ashoka Pillar.
Although the original pillar is now fragmented, its significance remains enormous.
The Lion Capital that once stood atop the pillar consists of four magnificent lions facing outward in four directions. It symbolised the spread of Buddha's teachings throughout the world.
Today, this Lion Capital serves as the national emblem of India and appears on Indian currency, passports, and government documents.
Standing before the pillar, I reflected on how a monument erected more than two thousand years ago continues to represent modern India.
Rediscovering Sarnath
After Buddhism declined in India during the medieval period, Sarnath gradually fell into ruin and was eventually abandoned.
For centuries, the site remained largely forgotten.
It was not until the nineteenth century that British archaeologists began excavating the area and uncovering its extraordinary history.
Their discoveries included monasteries, sculptures, inscriptions, stupas, and the remains of Ashoka's monuments.
These excavations transformed Sarnath into one of the most important archaeological sites in India and helped restore global awareness of Buddhism's origins.
Exploring the Sarnath Temple Complex
Walking through Sarnath today provides a fascinating glimpse into the birthplace of Buddhism.
Dhamek Stupa
The Dhamek Stupa marks the location where Buddha delivered his first sermon.
Rising dramatically above the surrounding landscape, it remains one of the most sacred monuments in Buddhism.
As I stood before it, I imagined the moment when Buddha first shared the teachings that would eventually influence entire civilizations.
Ashoka Pillar
Although only part of the original pillar remains on-site, it continues to symbolise Ashoka's commitment to spreading Buddhism.
The Lion Capital is preserved in the nearby museum and remains one of India's most recognisable national symbols.
Mulagandha Kuti Vihar
Built in 1931 by the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri Lanka, this beautiful temple reflects the enduring international significance of Sarnath.
Inside stands an impressive golden statue of Buddha surrounded by remarkable murals depicting key events from his life.
The atmosphere is peaceful, contemplative, and deeply spiritual.
Buddhism Today
One of the most surprising facts I learned was that although India is the birthplace of Buddhism, relatively few Indians identify as Buddhists today.
Modern India is predominantly Hindu, with substantial Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Jain communities.
Yet Buddhism's influence on Indian philosophy, ethics, art, architecture, and culture remains significant.
Meanwhile, the religion that originated in northern India has flourished across much of Asia.
Today, hundreds of millions of Buddhists live in countries such as China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Tibet.
Modern Sarnath
Today, Sarnath remains one of the world's most important pilgrimage destinations.
As I walked through the site, I encountered visitors from across Asia—Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and Tibet—all drawn to the place where Buddha first taught.
What impressed me most was the truly international character of the site. Although Buddhism began in India, it now belongs to the world.
Pilgrims arrive seeking inspiration, understanding, and a connection with teachings that have endured for more than twenty-five centuries.
Reflections on Sarnath
My visit to Sarnath revealed another dimension of India's remarkable contribution to world civilization.
Here, an ordinary man developed ideas that challenged existing social structures and offered a new way of understanding the human condition. Those ideas eventually crossed mountains, deserts, and oceans to shape the spiritual lives of millions of people.
Few places demonstrate India's global influence more clearly.
Standing in Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon, I gained a deeper appreciation of how one individual's search for truth evolved into a movement that transformed societies across Asia and continues to inspire people around the world today.
What a powerful example of how India shaped the world.
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