Extremist Buddhist leaders justify their attacks on the places of worship of minorities by arguing that Sri Lanka is the promised land of the Sinhalese Buddhists to safeguard Buddhism. These Buddhist nationalists have been opposed by the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement , a self-governance movement led by the Buddhist Dr. Ariyaratne and based in Buddhist ideals, who condemn the use of violence and the denial of Human rights to Tamils and other non-Buddhists.
He stated in one of his lectures, "When we work towards the welfare of all the means we use have to be based on Truth, Non-violence and Selflessness in conformity with Awakening of All". Ariyaratne has stated, "I cannot awaken myself unless I help awaken others". The beginning of "Buddhist violence" in Japan relates to a long history of feuds among Buddhists.
In Osaka they defended their temple with the slogan "The mercy of Buddha should be recompensed even by pounding flesh to pieces. One's obligation to the Teacher should be recompensed even by smashing bones to bits! During World War II , Japanese Buddhist literature from that time, as part of its support of the Japanese war effort, stated "In order to establish eternal peace in East Asia, arousing the great benevolence and compassion of Buddhism, we are sometimes accepting and sometimes forceful. This is something which Mahayana Buddhism approves of only with the greatest of seriousness The society re-examined more than 70 texts written by Nichiren and re-edited his writings, making changes in places, cutting all the statements that disagreed with the state Shinto.
During the s, "leaders of the Honmon Hokkeshu and Soka Kyoiku Gakkai were imprisoned for their defiance of wartime government religious policy, which mandated display of reverence for the state Shinto". In response to the book, several sects issued an apology for their wartime support of the government. In more modern times instances of Buddhist-inspired terrorism or militarism have occurred in Japan, such as the assassinations of the League of Blood Incident led by Nissho Inoue , a Nichirenist or fascist-nationalist who preached a self-styled Nichiren Buddhism.
Aum Shinrikyo , the Japanese new religion and doomsday cult that was the cause of the Tokyo subway sarin attack that killed thirteen people and injured more than a thousand, drew upon a syncretic view of idiosyncratic interpretations of elements of early Indian Buddhism , Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism , taking Shiva as the main image of worship, Christian millennialist ideas from the Book of Revelation , Yoga and the writings of Nostradamus. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. Learn how and when to remove these template messages. The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. December Learn how and when to remove this template message.
This article's lead section may not adequately summarize its contents. To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines , please consider modifying the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points in such a way that it can stand on its own as a concise version of the article. Ethnic violence Militia movement Resistance movement. Designated terrorist groups Charities accused of ties to terrorism. Counter-terrorism International conventions Anti-terrorism legislation Terrorism insurance. Even if thieves carve you limb from limb with a double-handed saw, if you make your mind hostile you are not following my teaching.
Human rights in Myanmar. Buddhism portal Terrorism portal.
- A Complement of Lovers.
- Painting the Souls of Men.
- Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia?
- Buddhism and violence.
- Lady in Green Goggles.
- Buddhism and Violence: Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia - PRIO.
Archived from the original on 22 November Retrieved 28 October Retrieved 27 October Retrieved 13 June Retrieved December 6, Retrieved 13 October The New York Times. Myanmar's Buddhist terrorism problem". Buddhist Terrorism — no longer a myth". Retrieved 31 March Retrieved 1 April Retrieved 23 June Retrieved 26 June Muslim Students Terrorized and Killed in Meiktila". Retrieved 24 June Retrieved 19 June Asian Buddhism's growing fundamentalist streak".
Retrieved 30 October Popular Controversies in World History: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions. Retrieved 23 May The Path to Salvation: Religious Violence from the Crusades to Jihad. It later became a tool for the creation of Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism and a document that determined the divine right of the Sinhalese to inhabit the island. The greatest importance of the Mahavamsa is not as history but as a symbol — and as a motivating force behind Sinhalese nationalism. Buddhism and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka.
Buddhism and Violence: Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia, 1st Edition (Hardback) - Routledge
As Heinz Bechert says, the key to modern Sinhala national identity lies in the linking of religion and the people in Sri Lanka's ancient chronicle tradition. As we see, according to the Mahavamsa, Sinhalas are specially chosen by the Buddha and their political unity guarantees the survival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, just as their political identity is guaranteed by their espousal of Buddhism.
Social Science Research Network: The Sinhala-Buddhist worldview has been shaped and reshaped by the myths and the monkish chronicles such as the Mahavamsa, Culavamsa which underscore two crucial issues, the rightful heir of the state Dhammadipa and Sri Lanka as the repository of Buddhist message. Both these two issues have shaped the popular psyche and political discourses. The Origins of Religious Violence: Buddhist nationalism has its roots in the Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, and Culavamsa, texts unique to Sinhalese Buddhism.
Ecumenics from the Rim: The ethnocentric character of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka, which provides the ideological basis for the present Sinhala Buddhist nationalism, has its roots in the construction of the identity of the Sinhala people as one chosen to safeguard Buddhism. Chosenness here is part of a historical consciousness, mainly supported by post-canonical Pali literature - especially, the Mahavamsa - which, in one of its clauses, justifies killing for the sake of religion.
Militant Buddhism there has its roots in an ancient narrative called the Mahavamsa Great Chronicle , which was composed by monks in the sixth century. Ancient Indian History and Civilization.
Special offers and product promotions
Only one and a half human beings have been slain here by thee, O lord of men. The one had come unto the three refuges, the other had taken on himself the five precepts Unbelievers and men of evil life were the rest, not more to be esteemed than beasts. But as for thee, thou wilt bring glory to the doctrine of the Buddha in manifold ways; therefore cast away care from thy heart, O ruler of men!
The campaign against Elara is described at some length in the Mahavamsa, and it is clear that Dutthagamini does not move against Elara because the Tamil king was unjust, cruel, or tyrannical. The Mahavamsa points out that Elara was a good ruler, and, when he is killed, Dutthagamini has him cremated honorably, and erects a monument in his memory. In constructing the "Dutthagamini epic" as he does, Mahanama wants to make clear that the heroic task in hand is not the defeat of injustice but the restoration of Buddhism.
Torkel Brekke
The overthrow of the Tamil king is required first and foremost because Sri Lanka cannot be united unless the monarch is Buddhist. Because the Mahavamsa was written in Pali, few Sinhalese could read it until its translation. It was the British who made the Mahavamsa a widely distributed work, publishing an English translation of the first part of the Mahavamsa in The British governor also commissioned the Sinhalese translation of the original and its updates. Retrieved 7 April Perhaps more than any other person, Dharmapala was responsible for popularizing the faulty impression that Tamils and Sinhalese had been deadly enemies in Sri Lanka for nearly 2, years.
He often quoted the Mahavamsa as if it were a completely factual account, and his favorite passages were those that made the Tamils sound like pagan invaders who were ruining the island. Much of his preaching and writing was racist. Dharmapala insisted that the Sinhalese were racially pure Aryans — by which he meant that they had racial ties with north Indians, Iranians, and Europeans.
He contrasted the Sinhalese racial line with that of the Dravidian Tamils, which he claimed was inferior. Dharmapala holds firm to the conviction that "the founders of monotheistic religions have been invariably bloodthirsty, despotic, and cruel" , and he is unremitting in his condemnation of the religious views of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Muslims are "alien to the Sinhalese by religion, race and language," and, consequently, "there will always be bad blood" between the two groups.
One result of Dharmapala's commitment to this all-too clear agenda is that he prepares the way for indignation and anger to be directed against any non-Sinhala group unwilling to accept a Sinhala Buddhist Sri Lanka. After independence, the Tamils were first in line among such groups, and the national hero, Dutthagamini, had already provided an example of how to deal with an earlier version of the same threat.
Account Options
Retrieved 20 February Potomac Books , Inc. Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology: Fundamentalisms and the State: Routledge studies in religion , Subjects Violence -- Asia -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism. Militarism -- Asia -- Religious aspects -- Buddhism. Militarism -- Asia -- History -- 20th century. View all subjects More like this User lists Similar Items. Allow this favorite library to be seen by others Keep this favorite library private. Find a copy in the library Finding libraries that hold this item Vladimir Tikhonov ; Torkel Brekke Find more information about: Vladimir Tikhonov Torkel Brekke.
Publisher Synopsis This well-researched volume will definitely raise awareness of academics, policy makers, and students. User-contributed reviews Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers. Add a review and share your thoughts with other readers. Similar Items Related Subjects: Militarism -- Asia -- History -- 21st century. User lists with this item 2 land grabs 30 items by cwork updated Linked Data More info about Linked Data.
Dialectics of violence and non-violence: Military temples and saffron-robed soldiers: Reconsidering the historiography of modern Korean Buddhism: A path to militant Buddhism: Canonical ambiguity and differential practices: Re-inventing Tradition in the Globalizing Modern World , s. Particularist Goals through Universalist Means: Buddhism and the Political Process , s. Army of Buddhist Power. World Religions and Spirituality Project. Studies in Interreligious Dialogue , 23 1 , s. Canonical Ambiguity and Differential Practices: Buddhism and Militarism in Contemporary Sri Lanka. Militarism and Buddhism in Modern Asia , s.
Du som er fra Norge.
- Edited Volume!
- Diet ill start on Monday.
- Navigation menu?
- The Testimony of Tradition;
- Eyes of Hope: Caring for Orphans and Widows in Africa;
- Stanford Libraries.
- LE RECOUVREMENT DE CREANCES AU MAROC (French Edition).