The Buddhist Revival in Sri Lanka

The 2500th anniversary of Buddha’s entrance into Nirvana was celebrated by Theravada Buddhists throughout Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia in 1956. This book explores the revival of Theravada Buddhistism among Sri Lankan laity, analysing its roots and growth to the present. The book examines the range of reinterpretations that has led to the revival and focuses on four key patterns or types of reinterpretation. The book examines Anagarika Dharmapala’s rational reformism and Jayanti’s conservative neotraditionalism. Two of the most dynamic reforms are particularly highlighted. The insight meditation movement, which broke with tradition and opened the path to meditation to laypeople, allowing them to find Nirvana without abandoning the world, is a particular focus. The sarvodaya shramadana movement addresses the social context by interpreting Buddhist heritage to provide authentic forms of Buddhist social growth. This Buddhist revival, which includes a variety of interpretations and options available to lay Buddhists, represents a new progressive path to Nirvana.