Bhikkhu Gyanabodhi (Sajal Barua)

PhD Candidate, Mahidol University.

Presented at an International Seminar on Buddhism organized by MCU,
Wangnoi on Sept. 12th 2014.

Introduction:
Since the Islamic invasion in the 13th century C.E.

Bangladesh has become an Islamic country.

0.7% of the total population is Buddhist, most of them live
in Chittagong and Chittagong hill District.
The present day Buddhism in Bangladesh is just about 150
years old,
But Buddhism prevailed in the country since the Buddha's
time.
The pala-dynasty (8th to 12th C.E.) was the golden period of
Buddhism.
my presentation will focus on the Buddhist education of
the present day Bangladesh, but I will also briefly discuss
the education system of the Pala-dynasty.

Geographical location:
It is bordered by India
to its west, north and
east; Burma to its
southeast and Bay of
Bengal to its south.
Before its separation in
1971, it was part of
Pakistan, and until 1947
part of greater India

Chittagong and Chittagong hill District

Since when there was Buddhism in Bangladesh?:

During the Pala-dynasty Buddhism was a
predominant religious force.
Some opines, Buddhism was prevalent in
Bangladesh even during Buddha's time.
Vangisa-thera is from vanga (bengal) Ap II 497
Vanga is very close to magadha and rajagaha
AN I 213: mentions vanga as one of 16 janapadas

King vijaya (5th BCE), the buddhist ancestor of

srilankans is from vanga

 After about a thousand years, in the 7th CE Buddhism

completely fade away from India.

But it shone brightly in the Pala-Kingdom which includes
Bengal in it:

Education in Pala-dynasty: (8th to 12th C.E.)

Tantrayana and Mahayana Buddhism prevailed.
Built fifty Buddhist temples and universities in Bengal,

35 of them were centers for Prajnaparamita (perfection

of wisdom) texts.

five disciplines (paca-vidya): 1) grammar, 2) science of

arts and crafts, 3) medical science, 4) logic, and 5)

philosophy.

Images of ruins:

Schools, and masters:

Schools: Mantrayana, Vajrayana, Kalacakrayana,

Sahajayana etc. Also the Madhyamika was quite popular.

Masters:
Pandit Shilabhadra of 7th century (Principal of Nalanda),
Shantarakshita (8th century)
Atisha Dipankara Srijnana (10th century)
Ram Candra Kabi Bharati (12th/ 13th century)
Naropa,
Tilopa
Advayavajra,
Atulyapda
Etc.

The first Bengali text: Caryapada

Charyapada also called Charyagti the text that became

the source of Assamese, Bangla, Hindi, and Orissa language
and literature, was the first text ever produced in this period.
This was discovered by a great scholar Haraprasad Shastri from
the National Library of Nepal in 1907. The text is a collection of
mystic songs by various Siddhcaryas recording the religious
and socio-political situations of the Pla dynasty.

Little bit about the dark period -13th to 18th CE:

The decline of buddhism began with

the establishment of Sena-dynasty in

12th CE.
The final blow is made by the
Islamic invasion in 13th CE.
Temples and universities and
libraries had been destroyed, monks
were killed, those survived either
converted or escaped to neighboring
states Tibet, Nepal, Urissa, Arakan,
Pegu or Pagan.
Ram Candra Kabi Bharati is an
example

Revival of Buddhism 18th CE:

British rule established in 1757 defeating Sirajuddaula.
In 1784: Asiatic Society was established.
In 1857: Arakanese monk Saramedha Mathera visited

Chittagong.
Candramohan, a monk from chittagong, went to
Arakan and re-ordained under Saramedha, then went
to Sri Lanka and studied buddism, returned to Bengal
in 1963 and established a sangha.
In 1964: Saramedha came to Chittagong and
established Sangharaj Nikaya.

Buddhist education in modern Bangladesh

Establishment of pali tol (school) in 1885 and 1902 in

Pahartali, Chittagong.
Two organizations established:
Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha in 1892 (Kripasharan)
Bouddha Mission Press in 1928 (Pragyalok)

Two Buddhist journals:

Jagajjyoti (1908)
Snghashakti (1928)
First two texts in mid-19th: 1) Pdimukh (Ptimokkha),

and 2) Magh-khamuj, a text of Apdna literature.

These Buddhist centers produced many Buddhist scholars

who have contributed greatly in Buddhism in Bangladesh.
Among the texts that they have contributed are:
1) Translations of important Pali texts: Dhammapada,
Patimokkha, Udana, Visuddhimagga, Dighanikaya,
Majjhimanikaya, Abhidhammatthasangaha etc.
2) Texts explaining the teachings of other buddhist schools:
Sarvastivada, Mahayana, Yogacara, Madhyamika etc.
3) Texts containing ethical teachings for common people

Great masters contributed to Buddhist studies:

Kripasharan Mahasthavir
(1865-1926)

Prof. Dr. BM Barua

(1888-1948)

Pragyalok Mahasthavir
(1879-1971)

Challenges & possibilities:

The challenges may be identified as social, political

and economic.
Struggle for survival..
Lack of job possibility: disinterest of young people
towards buddhist education, political partiality in
getting jobs, social view toward the priority of other
professions,
Lack of patronization: no support from the
government let alone any individual, and thus it is very
difficult for the potential students and researchers to
carry out their educational practice and research

Challenges & possibilities continued:

Lack of proper research: Buddhism is a vast field of study

and research. It requires very intensive and extensive endeavor

to make the research activities. Otherwise it will be
impossible to teach and convey the proper message of the
dhamma. But among the students in the existing institutions
there is a propensity only to passing the exam. This inclination
is linked with total situation of the education system. One of
the probable reasons behind this tendency could be the
prevalent deficiencies in the system. An absence of research
mentality is also conspicuous among the religious teachers,
preachers and practitioners as well as the lay followers.
Besides, there is no independent Buddhist institute that is
totally devoted to the study of Buddhism.

Challenges & possibilities continued:

Impact of the ritualistic practices: in most

buddhist countries temples became a kind of cultural

centers
Lack of sufficient research resources:
Most of the texts that have been produced since mid-19th

century are not available now. Some of them that are

still extant need to be re-published. But due to lack of
enough financial support it is not being possible.
Due to not having any independent buddhist institute,
there is no proper connection to other international
buddhist institutes and research centers.thus no
proper access to buddhist sources

Challenges & possibilities continued:

Possibilities:
Like in the mid 19th century and early 20th century:

carya Punnacar Mahasthavir, and subsequently

Pragyalok, Bangsadip, Gyanisvar, Dharmaratna and
Dharmananda etc. went to study in Saddhammodaya
Pirivena in Sri Lanka, some went to Arakan in
Burma
Now also many young Buddhist monks from
Bangladesh went abroad to pursue their Buddhist
studies
They have been doing some significant reserach
studies

Challenges & possibilities continued:

If there are supports from the neighboring Buddhist

countries following possibilities are there:

Establishing independent buddhist institutes
Establishing libraries and research centers
Establishing buddhist publication centers
Helping organizing buddhist seminars and
conferences
Educating young buddhists in the ethical,
psychological, and philosophical teachings of the
buddha etc.

Thank you for your attention