Sarath Amunugama
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- May 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780199489060
- eISBN:
- 9780199096169
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780199489060.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, History of Religion, Asian History
Anagarika Dharmapala was one of the most prominent public figures in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon). This book goes into a detailed exploration of ...
More
Anagarika Dharmapala was one of the most prominent public figures in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon). This book goes into a detailed exploration of Dharmapala’s multifaceted personal and public life. This analytical narration of the ethos in which he lived and worked provides an essential background. The author makes extensive use of Dharmapala’s assiduously kept diaries to weave his story. In its initial chapters, the book relates the confrontation and resistance of a nascent nationalist movement in the form of a renaissance of the country’s main traditional religion, Buddhism, against the all-pervading colonial ethos. Dharmapala, with all the enthusiasm of his youth, plunged into this movement, which received the support of American theosophists led by Col Henry Steel Olcott. He became the live wire of the Buddhist Theosophical Society, formed on the advice of the theosophists, and went around the country hectoring his compatriots to join a movement of national resurgence. Dharmapala eventually broadened the arena of his interests and action. The restoration of the prominent sacred places of Buddhism in India, while bringing them back to Buddhist custody, became his life’s mission. In this endeavour, he sought and received the support of the intellectual and professional nationalist elite of Bengali society. In pursuit of his cause, Dharmapala was single minded. But he had an even a wider interest—that of propagating Buddhism throughout the world. He devoted much of his energy in later life to establish Buddhist centres in Europe, and ended his life as a Buddhist monk.Less
Anagarika Dharmapala was one of the most prominent public figures in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon). This book goes into a detailed exploration of Dharmapala’s multifaceted personal and public life. This analytical narration of the ethos in which he lived and worked provides an essential background. The author makes extensive use of Dharmapala’s assiduously kept diaries to weave his story. In its initial chapters, the book relates the confrontation and resistance of a nascent nationalist movement in the form of a renaissance of the country’s main traditional religion, Buddhism, against the all-pervading colonial ethos. Dharmapala, with all the enthusiasm of his youth, plunged into this movement, which received the support of American theosophists led by Col Henry Steel Olcott. He became the live wire of the Buddhist Theosophical Society, formed on the advice of the theosophists, and went around the country hectoring his compatriots to join a movement of national resurgence. Dharmapala eventually broadened the arena of his interests and action. The restoration of the prominent sacred places of Buddhism in India, while bringing them back to Buddhist custody, became his life’s mission. In this endeavour, he sought and received the support of the intellectual and professional nationalist elite of Bengali society. In pursuit of his cause, Dharmapala was single minded. But he had an even a wider interest—that of propagating Buddhism throughout the world. He devoted much of his energy in later life to establish Buddhist centres in Europe, and ended his life as a Buddhist monk.
Sarath Amunugama
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- May 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780199489060
- eISBN:
- 9780199096169
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780199489060.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, History of Religion, Asian History
This chapter provides a synopsis of Dharmapala’s early career. He perceived his mission to be the restoration of Buddhism in its place of birth, India, and the refashioning of its practice in Sri ...
More
This chapter provides a synopsis of Dharmapala’s early career. He perceived his mission to be the restoration of Buddhism in its place of birth, India, and the refashioning of its practice in Sri Lanka. His predominant aim was to reclaim for the Buddhists the custody of Buddhagaya. He also had an interest in propagating a modern philosophy and practice of Buddhism and forging links among Buddhists world-wide. Dharmapala was also an early enthusiast of the American theosophists led by Col Olcott who took a keen interest in the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka. However, Dharmapala soon became disillusioned with them and parted company, forming his own organization, the Mahabodhi Society, to spearhead the Buddhagaya campaign. The chapter concludes with a description of the economic and social transformations that took place under the aegis of colonialism around the turn of the twentieth century and the beginning of the Buddhist revival as a reaction to it.Less
This chapter provides a synopsis of Dharmapala’s early career. He perceived his mission to be the restoration of Buddhism in its place of birth, India, and the refashioning of its practice in Sri Lanka. His predominant aim was to reclaim for the Buddhists the custody of Buddhagaya. He also had an interest in propagating a modern philosophy and practice of Buddhism and forging links among Buddhists world-wide. Dharmapala was also an early enthusiast of the American theosophists led by Col Olcott who took a keen interest in the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka. However, Dharmapala soon became disillusioned with them and parted company, forming his own organization, the Mahabodhi Society, to spearhead the Buddhagaya campaign. The chapter concludes with a description of the economic and social transformations that took place under the aegis of colonialism around the turn of the twentieth century and the beginning of the Buddhist revival as a reaction to it.
