Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Legacy

by GlobalCitizen01

Article by Jude Limburn Turner

It's been called 'The Pearl of the Indian Ocean', and splendour of both manmade and natural varieties certainly abound in Sri Lanka. Holidays to this culturally rich island offer the lucky visitor a chance to explore its rolling plains, lush forests and verdant mountains, and to meet its diverse people.

What makes Sri Lanka so fascinating is its mix of ethnicities and religions, and those visitors who remember that the modern face of the country has many roots will be able to appreciate it best. To discuss all of them in the detail they deserve would take volumes, so this is just an introduction to the most prominent religion in the country: Buddhism. Travellers on Sri Lanka holidays will encounter Buddhism in daily life as well as at Buddhist monuments, and learning a little about what makes Sri Lankan Buddhism unique will help them to appreciate local life all the better.

Origins of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Buddhism developed in the Indian subcontinent in the second half of the first millennium BCE, and became widespread in the centuries after the Buddha's death. Compassion, an acceptance of impermanence and a rejection of materialism were some of the foremost values of the Dhamma, or Buddhist law. Sri Lanka was an important point in trade routes between India and Southeast Asia, and with trade came cultural and religious influences. Buddhism was officially introduced here in the second century BCE, by the son of the then-Emperor Ashoka - the Venerable Mahinda. A cutting of the tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment is said to have been brought to Sri Lanka at that time, and the Buddhist scriptures (which had been passed down via oral tradition) were put down in writing in Sri Lanka circa 30 BCE. The island thus became an important Buddhist centre, and remains so to this day.

Theravada Buddhism

While Buddhism continued to spread through Southeast and East Asia, evolving as it went, in Sri Lanka it has remained relatively unchanged since ancient times. The ! form of Buddhism practised there is Theravada, one of the oldest schools of the religion. Theravada is also practised in Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, though in each country it has adapted to fit local culture and indigenous beliefs. What makes Sri Lankan Buddhism unique is that has existed continuously in the country for longer than in any other - the lineage of the Sangha, or monkhood, can be traced back to the second century BCE. The legacy of these early times is apparent to those who visit on Sri Lanka holidays, from the temples where devotees flock to the streets where monks walk.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth

One of the most important Buddhist monuments in the region is the Sri Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Located in the royal palace grounds at Kandy, it is thought to house a tooth of the Buddha, which was brought to the country by Princess Hemamali and given to the reigning king, Kirthi Sri Meghavarna, who built the first of several successive temples to houses, always near to the seat of power. It is believed that whoever holds the relic also has the right to rule the country, and also that water used to ritually cleanse the relic contains healing powers. Many visitors participating in Sri Lanka holidays see this as a beautiful and intriguing attraction; but remember that it is a sacred place for Buddhists, and still used for daily worship. Spending some time at this temple might present the opportunity to learn more about Buddhism as it is practised today.

About the Author

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run several <ahref="http://www.mountainkingdoms.com/itinerary_info.ihtml?schedid=948">Silk Road tours. Operating in Asia for over 20 years, they now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.