Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 236
Being a good statesman, Kanishka longed for a common moral bond for the many nations ruled by him. He sought therefore information from Buddhist monks. But he did not like the differences of views of the many monks he invited to him. On the advice of the philosopher Parshwa he invited fifteen hundred Buddhist scholars to a council in Kashmir. It was the fourth one by the Mahayanan counting. The king was so pleased with the outcome of its discussions that he paid great homage to the participants on its conclusion and then performed an unusual political deed: He handed over the complete administration of the kingdom of Kashmir to the co- operative sangha of Buddhist monks whose leader was the wise philosopher Nagardjuna. What made him act like this? He might have been impressed by such a tolerant and democratic managing of the council and of its prompt solution of the problem how to unify the teaching of so many Buddhist sects. But whence came the idea to hand over even the civil administration i. e. the political one, to a religious order? In this respect Buddha's view was quite apposite: He left his throne and family to be able to meditate in solitude. In Kosala he pondered on the question whether it was possible for a king to perform his duties with absolute justice. His solution is apparent from the fact, that, invited to take once more his own throne, he declined. No wish for power or dominance. His direction for his monks was also clear: When you enter a community to beg for your food, behave like a bee: Take your nectar from the bloom but do not harm its shape. colour or scent! Well, do not mingle with politics. If not the Buddhist monks who then brought the idea of an ecclesiastical ruling of a kingdom to king Kanishka? 228