Buddhism and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka

Patrick Grant

Description

Patrick Grant explores the relationship between Buddhism and violent ethnic conflict in modern Sri Lanka using the concept of "regressive inversion." Regressive inversion occurs when universal teaching, such as that of the Buddha, is redeployed to supercharge passions associated with the kinds of group loyalty that the universal teaching itself intends to transcend. The book begins with an account of the main teachings of Theravada Buddhism and looks at how these inform, or fail to inform, modern interpreters. Grant considers the writings of three key figures—Anagarika Dharmapala, Walpola Rahula, and J. R. Jayewardene—who addressed Buddhism and politics in the years leading up to Sri Lanka's political independence from Britain, and subsequently, in postcolonial Sri Lanka. This book makes the Sri Lankan conflict accessible to readers interested in the modern global phenomenon of ethnic violence involving religion and also illuminates similar conflicts around the world.
Preface

PART I. READING BUDDHISM

1. Vedic Tradition and the Buddha: How to Say the Unsayable

2. Buddhism: The Art of the Detached Agonist

PART II READING SRI LANKA

3. Sri Lanka: Buddhist Self-Representation and the Genesis of the Modern Conflict

4. Anagarika Dharmapala: Buddhism, Science, and the Crisis of Historical Imagination

5. Walpola Rahula and Gamini Salgado: Buddhism, Dialogue, and the Political Imaginary

6. J. R. Jayewardene: Playing with Fire

7. Conclusion

Notes
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index

Sujets

• Buddhism
• History of Asia
• Asia

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 05 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791493670
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

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B uddhism and E thnic C onflict in S ri L anka

SUNY series in Religious Studies Harold Coward, editor

B uddhism and E thnic C onflict in S ri L anka

Patrick Grant

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2009 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Production by Ryan Morris Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Grant, Patrick, 1941– Buddhism and ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka / Patrick Grant. p. cm. — (SUNY series in religious studies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 9780791493533 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Buddhist renewal— Sri Lanka. 2. Nationalism—Religious aspects—Buddhism. 3. Ethnic conflict— Sri Lanka. I. Title. BQ374.G73 2009 294.3095493—dc22 2008017375 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Henry Summerfield

And we, alone again under an oblivious sky, were quick to learn how our best construals of divinity, ourDo unto,Love,Don’t kill, could be easily garbled to canticles of vengeance and battleprayers. C. K. Williams,War

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6 Chapter 7

C ontents

PART I

READING BUDDHISM

Vedic Tradition and the Buddha: How to Say the Unsayable Buddhism: The Art of the Detached Agonist

PART II

READING SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka: Buddhist SelfRepresentation and the Genesis of the Modern Conflict

Anagarika Dharmapala: Buddhism, Science, and the Crisis of Historical Imagination

Walpola Rahula and Gamini Salgado: Buddhism, Dialogue, and the Political Imaginary J. R. Jayewardene: Playing with Fire Conclusion

Notes Suggestions for Further Reading Index

vii

ix

3 17

45

67

81 97 113

117 135 141

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