Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka [Paperback]

Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226789500 | ISBN-13: 978-0226789507 | Publication Date: July 15, 1992 | Edition: 1

This volume seeks to answer the question of how the Buddhist monks in today's Sri Lanka—given Buddhism's traditionally nonviolent philosophy—are able to participate in the fierce political violence of the Sinhalese against the Tamils.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (July 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226789500
• ISBN-13: 978-0226789507
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars some basic laws of reviewing, November 25, 2010

By 

Nathan Zuckerman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka (Paperback)

This book provides a useful overview of the recent history of politicized Buddhism and its role in the Sri Lankan conflict, but it seems two of the reviewers don't agree with this. One of them complains of balance but, unless I am very much mistaken, doesn't seem to have ever read the book itself. So the first rule for reviewers: always read the book before you write a review. The other grumpy reviewer claims to have "red" [sic] the book, and finds it "compleatly mislead people" [sic]. We must take the reviewer at his or her word about "reding", but at risk of sounding elitist, the review does seem a little weak in spelling and grammar. So, the second rule of reviewing: make sure you are literate in the language of the book before attempting a review. Simple advice.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chosen people myth prevents rational solution to the ethnic problem, December 2, 2008

By 

Uccai Siravas - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka (Paperback)

During the 19th century, alarmed by the success of the Anglican mission in converting a large number of Sinhala Buddhists to Christianity, an America named Olcott went to Sri Lanka. He hired a Sinhala Christian convert to publish pamphlets in Sinhala to discourage the Sinhala people from converting to Christianity. The christian covert reconverted to Buddhism and renamed himself as Anagarika Dharmapala and became a key Buddhist revivalist.

Anagarika Dharmapala created a myth that the Sinhala people and the island of Sri Lanka were chosen by Lord Buddha to preserve the true form of Buddhism (Theravada Buddhism). At the present time, this myth is deeply rooted among the Sinhalese who now view the minorities as a stumbling block to their holy mission of preserving Buddhism.

They overlook the historical fact that the island has been multi-ethnic for thousands of years and the Tamils had their own kingdom in the north and east of the island until 1833, when their kingdom was joined with the Sinhala kingdoms to the south and west by the British for their administrative convenience.

This book describes the history and effects of Sinhala-Buddhist chauvanism in the island. Note that this book is banned in Sri Lanka.

11 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism Betrayed, June 1, 2006

By 

Gadget Freak - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka (Paperback)

All religions are perverted by some of its followers, be it the Islamic extremists in the mid-east, or the Christian and Hindu Fundamentalists in other places. This is indeed regrettable, because Religions in general provide a moral anchor for the majority of people on this earth, to live good lives.

Buddhism, one of the greatest philosophies of all times, has stayed clear of this type of fundamentalist extremism, except in Sri Lanka. This book describes in clear detail how this great religion has been perverted in Sri Lanka.

Buddhists in Sri Lanka believe that the entire island nation belongs to the Buddhists (divinely ordained, according to some) and that people of other persuasions have no place there. This has led to a `Buddhist-Action' movement, supported by a Buddhist dominated parliament to enact laws to this end.

Buddhism is enshrined in the Sri Lanka Constitution as the State Religion. Although other religions are allowed religious `freedom', this is in practice marginal at best.

According to the Sri Lankan government's own published data, more than 64,000 Hindus, Muslims and Christians have been killed by the government forces controlled by the Buddhists, for seeking religious equality. Thousands of Churches, Hindu Temples and Muslim Mosques have been burnt, bombed or otherwise destroyed by the Sri Lankan armed forces.

All this is contrary to the worldwide perception of Buddhism as a tolerant and pacifist religion. Indeed Buddhism, as practiced in other countries such as Thailand, Myanmar and in parts of China, is 'Tolerant' and 'Pacifist'. I have personally experienced this in many places and love the way Buddhism is practiced in most places.

In Sri Lanka, however, mobs instigated by Buddhist fanatics kill non-Buddhists in the name of Buddhism. This book provides an accurate description of Buddhism as practiced in Sri Lanka.

Dalai Lama, the greatest and most recognized Buddhist of our times, is a persona-non-grata in Sri Lanka, and is refused entry to the country. Buddhist leaders in other countries have refused to be associated with Buddhist associations in Sri Lanka.

This is a must read for all interested in Buddhism.