Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka 1st Edition

by Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0226789507

ISBN-10: 0226789500

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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.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

S. J. Tambiah is professor of anthropology at Harvard University.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; 1st edition (July 15, 1992)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0226789500
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226789507
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.64 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #311,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #42 in Buddhism (Books)
- #3,255 in Political Science (Books)

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Lotus

A recommended read!

Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2013

First, let me say that I have high admiration for Buddhism. What this book has done is look at one of the ROOT causes of the ethnic conflict that sizzled after 1948, when the British left. Many people may have heard about Sri Lanka after the Genocide of 2009. But to truly understand, this book is recommended read as it looks at how a religion, taken to an extreme, loses Spirituality.

For anyone genuinely interested, here are other suggestions:
1. In reference to Linguistic Nationalism...another book from Amazon.com:
Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka (Contemporary Issues in Asia and Pacific)

a review by ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS states:
"Neil DeVotta's devastating indictment of Sinhala linguistic nationalism offers a well-researched historical narrative and theoretical discussion of the origins of the conflict."

2. what happened during and after 2009, even if main Media was not allowed in 2009, another Amazon book by former BBC correspondent Frances Harrison:
Still Counting the Dead

If you this review was helpful, please click the appropriate button below.

5 people found this helpful

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Uccai Siravas

Chosen people myth prevents rational solution to the ethnic problem

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2008

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 contributed much to the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and world-wide. He also was successful in taking steps to preserve Buddhist sites in India, which were being neglected by the Hindu rulers and people. He, however, also planted the seed of hatred of Tamils in the Sinhalese mind. This hatred led to discriminative policies, which in turn, led to 30 years of blood-letting in the island.

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

11 people found this helpful

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Gadget Freak

Buddhism Betrayed

Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2006

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.

17 people found this helpful

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T. Wildebeest

some basic laws of reviewing

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2010

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.

13 people found this helpful

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Buddhism Betrayed?: Religion, Politics, and Violence in Sri Lanka 1st Edition

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