Buddhism and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka by Patrick Grant - 9780791493540

Buddhism and Ethnic Conflict in Sri LankaAuthor(s): Patrick Grant\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: State University of New York Press, United States\nImprint: State University of New York Press\nISBN-13: 9780791493540, 978-0791493540\nSynopsis\nLooks at how a spiritual tradition can be appropriated by those involved in ethno-nationalist conflict.\n\nPatrick Grant explores the relationship between Buddhism and violent ethnic conflict in modern Sri Lanka using the concept of \""regressive inversion.\"" Regressive inversion occurs when universal teaching, such as that of the Buddha, is redeployed to supercharge passions associated with the kinds of group loyalty that the universal teaching itself intends to transcend. The book begins with an account of the main teachings of Theravada Buddhism and looks at how these inform, or fail to inform, modern interpreters. Grant considers the writings of three key figures-Anagarika Dharmapala, Walpola Rahula, and J. R. Jayewardene-who addressed Buddhi.