Historically, most Sri Lankans respected the religious traditions
of their neighbors; for many citizens that continues
today. However, religion’s role in the contemporary Sri
Lankan conflict is rooted in Buddhist nationalism that began
in the nineteenth century when Sinhalese Buddhist revivalist
Anagarika Dharmapala popularized the link between
Buddhism and Sinhalese nationalism rooted in the ancient
history of the island and reflected in the national chronicle
Mahavamsa, written 1,500 years ago. Over time, the institutionalized
body of Buddhist monks—the sangha—became
a crucial power center, but one with ambivalent attitudes
toward political participation. On the one hand, Buddhism
often preaches nonviolence and withdrawal from social life;
many Buddhist monks attempt to transcend this world and
are apolitical. On the other hand, however, there has often
been a close association between Buddhism and royal or
political power in Asia. In the case of Sri Lanka, Buddhist-
Sinhalese nationalism was an anticolonial voice against Great
Britain.
Historically, most Sri Lankans respected the religious traditionsof their neighbors; for many citizens that continuestoday. However, religion’s role in the contemporary SriLankan conflict is rooted in Buddhist nationalism that beganin the nineteenth century when Sinhalese Buddhist revivalistAnagarika Dharmapala popularized the link betweenBuddhism and Sinhalese nationalism rooted in the ancienthistory of the island and reflected in the national chronicleMahavamsa, written 1,500 years ago. Over time, the institutionalizedbody of Buddhist monks—the sangha—becamea crucial power center, but one with ambivalent attitudestoward political participation. On the one hand, Buddhismoften preaches nonviolence and withdrawal from social life;many Buddhist monks attempt to transcend this world andare apolitical. On the other hand, however, there has oftenbeen a close association between Buddhism and royal orpolitical power in Asia. In the case of Sri Lanka, Buddhist-Sinhalese nationalism was an anticolonial voice against GreatBritain.
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