Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Information about Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Theravada
   
Countries
  Sri Lanka
Cambodia • Laos
Myanmar • Thailand		 
Texts
  Pali Canon
Commentaries
Subcommentaries 		 
History
  Pre-sectarian Buddhism
Early schools • Sthavira
Asoka • Third Council
Vibhajjavada
Mahinda • Sanghamitta
Dipavamsa • Mahavamsa
Buddhaghosa 		 
Doctrine
  Saṃsāra • Nibbāṇa
Middle Way
Noble Eightfold Path
Four Noble Truths
Enlightenment Stages
Precepts • 3 Jewels 		 
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Enlarge picture
An ancient Buddha statue from Aukana Sri Lanka

General

Buddhism in Sri Lanka is primarily of the Theravada school, and constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the population[1] According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (such as the Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BC by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiyatissa. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king. The Pali Canon, having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BC.

Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any Buddhist nation, with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 2nd century. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Myanmar and Thailand. Periods of Mahayana influence, as well as official neglect under colonial rule, created great challenges for Theravada Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka, but repeated revivals and resurgences- most recently in the 19th century- have kept the Theravada tradition alive for over 2000 years.

Divisions in the Buddhist clergy

The different sects of the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy are referred to as Nikayas, and three main Nikayas are: Within these three main divisions there are numerous other divisions, some of which are caste based. There are no doctrinal differences among any of them.

Notes

1. ^ [ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html The World Factbook: Sri Lanka]. CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on 2006-08-12..

See also

Enlarge picture
Distribution of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Based on 2001 census data except for districts with numbers given in italics; these are from 1981 census

External links

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Buddhism
Concepts • Topics • History • Timeline • Schools • Texts • People • Places • Culture • Temples
Theravada (Pāli: theravāda; Sanskrit: स्थविरवाद sthaviravāda; literally, "the Way of the Elders") is the oldest surviving Buddhist school, and for many centuries has been the predominant
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General

Buddhism in Sri Lanka is primarily of the Theravada school, and constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the population[1] According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (such as the Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century
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Buddhism has existed in Cambodia since at least the 5th century CE, with some sources placing its origin as early as the 3rd century BCE. Theravada Buddhism has been the Cambodian state religion since the 13th century CE (excepting the Khmer Rouge period), and is
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Buddhism is the primary religion of Laos. The Buddhism practiced in Laos is of the Theravada tradition. Lao Buddhism is a unique version of Theravada Buddhism and is at the basis of Lao culture.
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Buddhism in Burma (or Myanmar) is predominantly of the Theravada tradition or the southern school. About 89% of Burmese practices Buddhism.[1] Adherents are most likely found among the dominant ethnic Bamar (or Burmans), Shan, Rakhine (Arakanese), Mon, Karen, and
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Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 95% of Thailand's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs such as ancestor worship as well as Chinese religions from the large
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Pali literature is concerned mainly with Theravada Buddhism, of which Pali is the traditional language.

India

Main article: Pali Canon

The earliest and most important Pali literature constitutes the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada.
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The Pali Canon is the standard scripture collection of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pali language.[1] The Canon was written down from oral tradition at the occasion of the Fourth Buddhist Council(in the usual Theravada numbering), 1st century
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Atthakatha (Pali for explanation, commentary)[1] refers to Pali-language Theravadin Buddhist commentaries to the canonical Theravadin Tipitaka. These commentaries give the traditional interpretations of the scriptures.
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The subcommentaries (tika, ṭīkā) are commentaries on the commentaries on the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. They continue the commentaries' development of the traditional interpretation of the scriptures.
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The term pre-sectarian Buddhism is used by some scholars[1] to refer to the Buddhism that existed before the various subsects of Buddhism came into being[2].
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The Early Buddhist schools are those schools into which the Buddhist monastic Sangha initially split, due to both doctrinal differences of opinion, and geographical separateness of groups of monks.
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Sthaviravāda (Sanskrit; Chinese 上座部) literally means "Teaching Of The Elders". It was one of the two main movements in early Buddhism, the other being that of the
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Ashoka the Great
Mauryan emperor

Modern reconstruction of Ashoka's portrait.
Reign 273 BC-232 BC
Full name Ashoka Maurya
Predecessor Bindusara
Emperor Mahindra
Successor Dasaratha Maurya
Consort
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The Third Buddhist council was convened in about 250 BCE at Asokarama in Patiliputta, under the patronage of Emperor Asoka. The reason for convening the Third Buddhist Council is reported to have been to rid the Sangha of corruption and bogus monks who held heretical views.
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Vibhajjavāda (Pāli) or Vibhajyavāda (Sanskrit), is an umbrella classification for Buddhist denominations that promote analysis as a primary tool for developing insight. The Vibhajjavadins are claimed to have seen themselves as orthodox Sthaviras.
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Mahinda (Sanskrit: महिन्द्र; Mahindra) (born 3rd century BCE in Magadha, now in Bihar, India) was a Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
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Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra in Sanskrit) was the daughter of Emperor Ashoka and his Buddhist queen Devi. Together with Venerable Mahinda, her twin brother, she entered an order of Buddhist monks. The two siblings later went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Buddha.
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The Dipavamsa (Island Chronicle in Pali) is the oldest historical record of Sri Lanka, believed to be compiled in the 4th century. The chronicle is believe to be compiled from Atthakatha around the 4th century.
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The Mahavamsa, also Mahawansha, (Pāli: "Great Chronicle") is a historical poem written in the Pāli language, of the kings of Sri Lanka. It covers the period from the coming of King Vijaya in 543 BCE to the reign of King Mahasena (334 – 361).
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Bhadantācariya Buddhaghosa was a 5th century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar. Buddhaghosa means "Voice of the Buddha" in the Pāli language.

Writings and translations


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Saṃsāra
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Nirvāṇa ( Sanskrit:
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Middle Way or Middle Path (Skt.: madhyamā-pratipad; Pali: majjhimā patipadā)[1] is the Buddhist practice of non-extremism.[2]
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Noble Eightfold Path (Pāli: Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; Sanskrit: Ārya 'ṣṭāṅga mārgaḥ; Chinese: 八正道, Bāzhèngdào; Japanese: 八正道,
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The Four Noble Truths (Pali: Cattāri ariyasaccāni, Sanskrit: Catvāri āryasatyāni, Chinese: Sìshèngdì, Thai: อริยสัจสี่, Ariyasaj Sii
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The four stages of enlightenment in Buddhism are the four degrees of approach to full enlightenment as an Arahant which a person can attain in this life. The four stages are Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami and Arahant.
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Śīla (Sanskrit) or sīla (Pāli) is usually rendered into English as "behavioral discipline", "morality", or ethics. It is often translated as "precept". It is an action that is an intentional effort.
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Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists give themselves to, and in return look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.
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Buddhism is often described as a religion[1] and a collection of various philosophies, based initially on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha.
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