This major new work explores the British encounter with Buddhism in nineteenth century Sri Lanka, examining the way Buddhism was represented and constructed in the eyes of the British scholars, officials, travellers and religious seekers who first encountered it. Tracing the three main historical phases of the encounter from 1796 to 1900, the book provides a sensitive and nuanced exegesis of the cultural and political influences that shaped the early British understanding of Buddhism and that would condition its subsequent transmission to the West. Expanding our understanding of inter-religious relations between Christians and Buddhists, the book fills a significant gap in the scholarship on Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka by concentrating on missionary writings and presenting a thorough exploration of original materials of several important pioneers in Buddhist studies and mission studies.
Author(s): Elizabeth Harris
Series: Routledge critical studies in Buddhism
Edition: 1
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 274
Book Cover......Page 1
Half-Title......Page 2
Series-Title......Page 3
Title......Page 6
Copyright......Page 7
Dedication......Page 8
Contents......Page 10
Acknowledgements......Page 12
Abbreviations......Page 14
Introduction......Page 16
Part I 1796-1830......Page 24
1 Introduction......Page 26
2 The early British visitors......Page 35
Part II 1830-1870......Page 50
3 Introduction......Page 52
4 The arrogance of power......Page 59
5 Christian exclusivism......Page 68
6 Missionary scholars......Page 77
7 Buddhism's glorious core......Page 91
Part III 1870-1900......Page 102
8 Introduction......Page 104
9 The Buddha as hero......Page 111
10 Buddhism as nihilsm......Page 116
11 Romantic other, negative spin......Page 125
12 Buddhism as Life-Affirming......Page 132
13 Contrasting scholars......Page 140
14 Balancing the exoteric and the esoteric......Page 154
15 Convert to compassion......Page 163
Part IV Remodelling Buddhist belief and practice......Page 176
16 The British as witnesses to the tradition......Page 178
17 The roots of Buddhist modernism......Page 183
18 One tradition, differing voices......Page 196
19 Threat to the Dhamma, a dhamma reewed......Page 201
Part V Discourses of contempt......Page 204
20 Co-existence and dual belonging......Page 206
21 World views in collision......Page 210
22 Betrayal and retaliation......Page 213
23 The twentieth century......Page 220
Epilogue......Page 228
Glossary......Page 234
Notes......Page 238
Bibliography......Page 261
Index......Page 277
