This Article First Appeared In The Print On Feb 9, 2023
When we think of the expansion and spread of Buddhism, the first image that comes to mind is of brave Indians crossing deserts and mountains to bring their religion to willing disciples across Asia. We might imagine them being sent out by noble Indian kings, and we might like to imagine that “Indian” culture was so compelling that it was inevitable that the rest of Asia would adopt elements of it. But neither of those cozy assumptions is borne out by historical evidence…