DOCSLIB.ORG

Gender, Lineage, and Localization in Sri Lanka's

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gender, Lineage, and Localization in Sri Lanka's GLOBAL NETWORKS, LOCAL ASPIRATIONS: GENDER, LINEAGE, AND LOCALIZATION IN SRI LANKA’S BHIKKHUNĪ ORDINATION DISPUTE by TYLER A. LEHRER B.A., California State University, Sacramento, 2013 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Religious Studies 2016 This thesis entitled: Global Networks, Local Aspirations: Gender, Lineage, and Localization in Sri Lanka’s Bhikkhunī Ordination Dispute written by Tyler A. Lehrer has been approved for the Department of Religious Studies ________________________________________________________ Dr. Holly Gayley, Committee Chair Assistant Professor, Religious Studies ________________________________________________________ Dr. Deborah Whitehead Associate Professor, Religious Studies ________________________________________________________ Dr. Carla Jones Associate Professor, Anthropology Date _____________________ The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in religious studies. IRB protocol #: 15-0563 iii Lehrer, Tyler A. (M.A., Religious Studies) Global Networks, Local Aspirations: Gender, Lineage, and Localization in Sri Lanka’s Bhikkhunī Ordination Dispute Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Dr. Holly Gayley This thesis investigates many of the figures and events that have made full ordinations of Buddhist nuns (bhikkhunīs) both possible and contested in contemporary Sri Lanka. I draw on interviews and materials collected during the winter of 2015–16 to show how local actors cooperate across distinctions of nationality and Buddhist practice tradition to revive a defunct lineage. I argue that some of the previous scholarship on women’s renunciation in contemporary Sri Lanka conflates ‘international’ with ‘western,’ and privileges the local while forestalling a more nuanced analysis of the local-translocal exchange of speech and activism which constitutes one of the defining characteristics of the revival. I argue that these studies, while championing the voices of ten precept nuns and their everyday practices of renunciation, problematically assert that the current bhikkhunī ordination initiative represents the foreign incursion of western feminist speech which is at odds with the self-conception of Lankan renunciant women. In addition, I cast light on an emerging dimension of the bhikkhunī ordination mobilization not yet articulated in previous studies: the interrelationship between an already- gendered Islamophobic Buddhist nationalist discourse and support for nuns’ ordination as an integral step toward rescuing a Buddhist sāsana in decline. Although my findings here are still preliminary, I reveal a complex entanglement between geopolitical ethnic antagonism and the visibility of gender and gender roles in contemporary Sri Lanka through which the bhikkhunī ordination dispute is brought into visibility in a new way. Rather than as subjects to be rescued by western feminism, in this new discourse, Sri Lanka’s bhikkhunīs become agents of social service and moral restoration in local villages. Taken together, the central characteristics of these overlapping projects which enable and support bhikkhunī ordination suggest new ways of conceptualizing the enterprise with global implications and local sites of engagement, activism, and contestation. Through this, the themes of transnational cooperation, strategies of localization, and ethno-religious antagonism update our view of the contemporary revival and open up new questions for further analysis. Dedicated to my parents, Sharon and Rich. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and thank the many figures, named and unnamed, whose voices and stories appear in these pages. Their generosity of time and patience with my incessant curiosity have made the present study possible. Second, I would like to thank my thesis advisor Dr. Holly Gayley, and my committee members Dr. Deborah Whitehead and Dr. Carla Jones for the stimulating coursework, conversations, and mentoring that have helped shape my research trajectory and budding academic career in productive and fruitful ways. I hope the conversation does not end here. I would also like to thank the Department of Religious Studies and the Graduate School at the University of Colorado Boulder for providing me with a research grant to conduct the short period of fieldwork in Sri Lanka from which much of this thesis draws. I want to thank Professor Bandara Herath and Ramya for being such excellent Sinhala teachers and for their friendship over the past two years. From both classroom and home, they have given me the tremendous gift of a strong foundation in the Sinhala language which has opened up innumerable opportunities and horizons for study and cultural immersion. Finally, I wish to thank Dr. Anne M. Blackburn, Dr. Anne Hansen, Dr. Susanne Mrozik, and Dr. Emma Tomalin, with whom I have shared my ideas and research over the past months, and whose insights, feedback, and mentorship have helped to shape the present investigation. Any errors and omissions are my own. vi CONTENTS Chapter I: The Race to be First: An Introduction to Nuns’ Ordination in Contemporary Sri Lanka .......................................1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1 Theoretical Approach ...............................................................................................................6 Source Materials ......................................................................................................................9 Structure and Guiding Questions ............................................................................................14 Note on Language ...................................................................................................................16 Chapter II: A Lineage Interrupted: Following the Global History of Gendered Buddhist Renunciation ......................................18 Introduction .............................................................................................................................18 From Vesali to Dambulla: A Global History of Buddhist Women’s Renunciation in Sri Lanka ..........................................................................................................................20 Prior Scholarship on Buddhist Women’s Renunciation in Theravāda Practice .....................35 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................50 Chapter III: “I Am the First Bhikkhunī:” Kolonnawe Kusuma and the Sakyadhītā International Association of Buddhist Women ......................................52 Introduction .............................................................................................................................52 Kolonnawe Kusuma, the First Bhikkhunī ...............................................................................57 The 1996 Sarnath Ordination ..................................................................................................61 Sakyadhītā and Global Feminist Discourse ............................................................................67 Inamaluwe Sumangala and the Dambulla-Bodh Gaya Bhikkhunīs ........................................76 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................80 Chapter IV: Purity, Politics, and the Sāsana: Kirama Wimalajōthi and the Dekanduwela Bhikkhunī Training Center .............................82 Introduction .............................................................................................................................82 Kirama Wimalajōthi and the Bodu Bala Sena ........................................................................87 The BCC and the Dekanduwela Bhikkhunī Training Center ..................................................90 Wimalajōthi, Sumangala, and Islamophobia ..........................................................................97 International Training for Bhikkhunīs ....................................................................................101 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................106 Chapter V: Concluding Remarks .............................................................................................109 Overview ................................................................................................................................109 Limitations .............................................................................................................................111 Future Directions ...................................................................................................................113 Bibliography of Primary Sources .............................................................................................114 Bibliography of Secondary Sources .........................................................................................117 vii FIGURES, PHOTOS, AND MAPS 1. Bhikkhunīs paying respect to their teacher (author photo: Horana, December 2015) ..............9 2. Cave temple painting of Saṇghamittā giving
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Cullavagga on Bhikkhunī Ordination
    Journal of Buddhist Ethics ISSN 1076-9005 http://blogs.dickinson.edu/buddhistethics/ Volume 22, 2015 The Cullavagga on Bhikkhunī Ordination Bhikkhu Anālayo University of Hamburg Copyright Notice: Digital copies of this work may be made and distributed provided no change is made and no alteration is made to the content. Reproduction in any other format, with the exception of a single copy for private study, requires the written permission of the author. All en- quiries to: [email protected]. The Cullavagga on Bhikkhunī Ordination Bhikkhu Anālayo1 Abstract With this paper I examine the narrative that in the Cullavagga of the Theravāda Vinaya forms the background to the different rules on bhikkhunī ordination, alternating between translations of the respective portions from the original Pāli and discussions of their implications. An appendix to the paper briefly discusses the term paṇḍaka. Introduction In what follows I continue exploring the legal situation of bhikkhunī or- dination, a topic already broached in two previous publications. In “The Legality of Bhikkhunī Ordination” I concentrated in particular on the legal dimension of the ordinations carried out in Bodhgayā in 1998.2 Based on an appreciation of basic Theravāda legal principles, I discussed the nature of the garudhammas and the need for a probationary training 1 Numata Center for Buddhist Studies, University of Hamburg, and Dharma Drum Insti- tute of Liberal Arts, Taiwan. I am indebted to bhikkhu Ariyadhammika, bhikkhu Bodhi, bhikkhu Brahmāli, bhikkhunī Dhammadinnā, and Petra Kieffer-Pülz for commenting on a draft version of this article. 2 Anālayo (“The Legality”). Anālayo, The Cullavagga on Bhikkhunī Ordination 402 as a sikkhamānā, showing that this is preferable but not indispensable for a successful bhikkhunī ordination.
    [Show full text]
  • Discourses of Ethno-Nationalism and Religious Fundamentalism
    DISCOURSES OF ETHNO-NATIONALISM AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM SRI LANKAN DISCOURSES OF ETHNO-NATIONALISM AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM By MYRA SIVALOGANATHAN, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University © Copyright by Myra Sivaloganathan, June 2017 M.A. Thesis – Myra Sivaloganathan; McMaster University – Religious Studies. McMaster University MASTER OF ARTS (2017) Hamilton, Ontario (Religious Studies) TITLE: Sri Lankan Discourses of Ethno-Nationalism and Religious Fundamentalism AUTHOR: Myra Sivaloganathan, B.A. (McGill University) SUPERVISOR: Dr. Mark Rowe NUMBER OF PAGES: v, 91 ii M.A. Thesis – Myra Sivaloganathan; McMaster University – Religious Studies. Abstract In this thesis, I argue that discourses of victimhood, victory, and xenophobia underpin both Sinhalese and Tamil nationalist and religious fundamentalist movements. Ethnic discourse has allowed citizens to affirm collective ideals in the face of disparate experiences, reclaim power and autonomy in contexts of fundamental instability, but has also deepened ethnic divides in the post-war era. In the first chapter, I argue that mutually exclusive narratives of victimhood lie at the root of ethnic solitudes, and provide barriers to mechanisms of transitional justice and memorialization. The second chapter includes an analysis of the politicization of mythic figures and events from the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahāvaṃsa in nationalist discourses of victory, supremacy, and legacy. Finally, in the third chapter, I explore the Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) rhetoric and symbolism, and contend that a xenophobic discourse of terrorism has been imposed and transferred from Tamil to Muslim minorities. Ultimately, these discourses prevent Sri Lankans from embracing a multi-ethnic and multi- religious nationality, and hinder efforts at transitional justice.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Plan 2017-2020 Election Commission of Sri Lanka 2017-2020
    STRATEGIC PLAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2020 ELECTION COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA 2017-2020 Department of Government Printing STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2020 Election Commission of Sri Lanka Participatory Strategic Plan (PSP) of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka for 2017-2020 “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives... The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will, shall be expressed in periodic ndenineeetinieniendeend shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.” Article 21, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 Participatory Strategic Plan (PSP) Election Commission of Sri Lanka 2017-2020 I Foreword By the Chairman and the Members of the Commission Mahinda Deshapriya N. J. Abeysekere, PC Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Chairman Member Member The Soulbury Commission was appointed in 1944 by the British Government in response to strong inteeneeinetefittetetenteineentte population in the governance of the Island, to make recommendations for constitutional reform. The Soulbury Commission recommended, interalia, legislation to provide for the registration of voters and for the conduct of Parliamentary elections, and the Ceylon (Parliamentary Election) Order of the Council, 1946 was enacted on 26th September 1946. The Local Authorities Elections Ordinance was introduced in 1946 to provide for the conduct of elections to Local bodies. The Department of Parliamentary Elections functioned under a Commissioner to register voters and to conduct Parliamentary elections and the Department of Local Government Elections functioned under a Commissioner to conduct Local Government elections. The “Department of Elections” was established on 01st of October 1955 amalgamating the Department of Parliamentary Elections and the Department of Local Government Elections.
    [Show full text]
  • From the Living Fountains of Buddhism
    the INTRODUCTION to FROM THE LIVING FOUNTAINS OF BUDDHISM Sri Lankan Support to Pioneering Western Orientalists by ANANDA W. P. GURUGE originally published by The Ministry of Cultural Affairs Colombo 7, Sri Lanka cover photograph: Ven Hikkaḍuwe Śrī Sumaṅgala holding a class at Vidyodaya College circa 1900s 2 “We Europeans must, of course, stand in need of such help as we are so far from the living fountains of Buddhism and so scantily furnished with materials.” – Viggo Fausböll in his letter to Ven. Waskaḍuwe Subhūti Nāyaka Thera on 14th March 1877. 3 “The Western World discovered Pali, and the Buddhist scriptures barely a hundred years ago; Sri Lanka again provided the most material. It was George Turnour’s discovery and translation of the Mahā Vansa, in 1837, which helped scholars working in India to identify King Piyadassi of the inscriptions, which they were trying to decipher, with King Asoka of history. Subsequent advance was made comparatively easy. ‘Vincent Fausböll translated the Dhammapada in 1855 and Robert Caesar Childers, a member of the Ceylon Civil Service as was Turnour, published a Pali-English Dictionary in 1870. They were given considerable help by the Sinhalese Bhikkhus, especially Subhūti and Dhammarama. Dr. Rhys Davids, another member of the Ceylon Civil Service, founded the Pali Text Society in 1881, and with the help of his wife, gradually unveiled to the Western World, the unique and original literature contained in the Buddhist scriptures.” His Excellency J. R. Jayewardene – President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: BUDDHIST ESSAYS (First Edition 1942) Fifth Revised Edition 1983: Chapter VI.
    [Show full text]
  • 1066 1562924295465.Pdf
    When it comes to our raring dare to do attitude, we are boundless... Expolanka experienced a journey this year in which the company made leaps and bounds in the industry. Most notably, the freight arm of the conglomerate performed admirably in the year under review as we not only expanded our geographical presence through 4PL services but also through product diversification and explored new avenues in digitalisation. With so many novel ventures highlighted during the past year, we felt it apt to look ahead and take stock of our options; a vast horizon that lies ahead. From the depths of our solid foundation to the seemingly impossible heights of opportunity, we are limitless.. CONTENTS About this Report 04 Group Milestones 05 Financial Highlights 06 Highlights of the Year 07 Chairman’s Message 10 Group CEO’s Review 13 Sustainability Strategy 29 Financial Indicators 17 Material Topics and Topic Boundaries 30 Board of Directors 18 Stakeholder Engagement 35 Organizational Structure 71 Senior Management Team 20 Stakeholder Value Creation 38 Our Footprint 72 Group Performance 23 Capital Management Reports 39 Business Reports 74 Group Strategy 24 Financial Capital 39 Logistics Sector 74 OVERVIEW Manufactured Capital 40 Leisure Sector 81 Intellectual Capital 41 Investments Sector 85 Human Capital 44 OPERATIONAL REVIEW Natural Capital 51 Social and Relationship Capital 60 GRI Index 64 Independent assurance Report 67 INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 02 EXPOLANKA HOLDINGS PLC - ANNUAL REPORT 2018 | 2019 Group Real Estate Portfolio
    [Show full text]
  • Facets-Of-Modern-Ceylon-History-Through-The-Letters-Of-Jeronis-Pieris.Pdf
    FACETS OF MODERN CEYLON HISTORY THROUGH THE LETTERS OF JERONIS PIERIS BY MICHAEL ROBERT Hannadige Jeronis Pieris (1829-1894) was educated at the Colombo Academy and thereafter joined his in-laws, the brothers Jeronis and Susew de Soysa, as a manager of their ventures in the Kandyan highlands. Arrack-renter, trader, plantation owner, philanthro- pist and man of letters, his career pro- vides fascinating sidelights on the social and economic history of British Ceylon. Using Jeronis Pieris's letters as a point of departure and assisted by the stock of knowledge he has gather- ed during his researches into the is- land's history, the author analyses several facets of colonial history: the foundations of social dominance within indigenous society in pre-British times; the processes of elite formation in the nineteenth century; the process of Wes- ternisation and the role of indigenous elites as auxiliaries and supporters of the colonial rulers; the events leading to the Kandyan Marriage Ordinance no. 13 of 1859; entrepreneurship; the question of the conflict for land bet- ween coffee planters and villagers in the Kandyan hill-country; and the question whether the expansion of plantations had disastrous effects on the stock of cattle in the Kandyan dis- tricts. This analysis is threaded by in- formation on the Hannadige- Pieris and Warusahannadige de Soysa families and by attention to the various sources available to the historians of nineteenth century Ceylon. FACETS OF MODERN CEYLON HISTORY THROUGH THE LETTERS OF JERONIS PIERIS MICHAEL ROBERTS HANSA PUBLISHERS LIMITED COLOMBO - 3, SKI LANKA (CEYLON) 4975 FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1975 This book is copyright.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of Buddhist-Muslim Conflict in Asia and Possibilities for Transformation by Iselin Frydenlund
    Policy Brief December 2015 The rise of Buddhist-Muslim conflict in Asia and possibilities for transformation By Iselin Frydenlund Executive summary Violence against Muslim minorities in Buddhist societies has increased in recent years. The Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar are disenfranchised, and many of their candidates were rejected by the official Union Election Commission prior to the 2015 elections. Furthermore laws about religious conversion, missionary activities, and interfaith marriage are being pro- moted to control relations between religions and prevent conflict. The danger, however, is that increased control will lead to more, not fewer, conflicts. Discrimination against religious minorities may lead to radicalisation. In addition minority-majority relations in a single state may have regional consequences because a minority in one state can be the majority in another, and there is an increasing trend for co-religionists in different countries to support each other. Thus protection of religious minorities is not only a question of freedom of religion and basic human rights; it also affects security and peacebuilding in the whole region. Anti- Muslim violence and political exclusion of Muslim minorities take place in the wake of in- creased Buddhist nationalism. This policy brief identifies local as well as global drivers for Buddhist-Muslim conflict and the rise of Buddhist nationalism. It then shows how Buddhist- Muslim conflict can be addressed, most importantly through the engagement of local religious leaders. Introduction Buddhist countries are generally at risk of persecution. But Attacks on Muslim minorities in Buddhist countries have weak state protection of Muslim communities leaves these escalated in recent years (OHCHR, 2014).
    [Show full text]
  • Myanmar Buddhism of the Pagan Period
    MYANMAR BUDDHISM OF THE PAGAN PERIOD (AD 1000-1300) BY WIN THAN TUN (MA, Mandalay University) A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAMME NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE 2002 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to the people who have contributed to the successful completion of this thesis. First of all, I wish to express my gratitude to the National University of Singapore which offered me a 3-year scholarship for this study. I wish to express my indebtedness to Professor Than Tun. Although I have never been his student, I was taught with his book on Old Myanmar (Khet-hoà: Mranmâ Râjawaà), and I learnt a lot from my discussions with him; and, therefore, I regard him as one of my teachers. I am also greatly indebted to my Sayas Dr. Myo Myint and Professor Han Tint, and friends U Ni Tut, U Yaw Han Tun and U Soe Kyaw Thu of Mandalay University for helping me with the sources I needed. I also owe my gratitude to U Win Maung (Tampavatî) (who let me use his collection of photos and negatives), U Zin Moe (who assisted me in making a raw map of Pagan), Bob Hudson (who provided me with some unpublished data on the monuments of Pagan), and David Kyle Latinis for his kind suggestions on writing my early chapters. I’m greatly indebted to Cho Cho (Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture, NUS) for providing me with some of the drawings: figures 2, 22, 25, 26 and 38.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Buddhism in the Changing Life of Rural Women in Sri Lanka Since Independence
    Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2002 The role of Buddhism in the changing life of rural women in Sri Lanka since independence Lalani Weddikkara Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Weddikkara, L. (2002). The role of Buddhism in the changing life of rural women in Sri Lanka since independence. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/746 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/746 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bhikkhunī-Ordination Controversy in Thailand
    JIABS Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies Volume 29 Number 1 2006 (2008) The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies (ISSN 0193-600XX) is the organ of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Inc. It welcomes scholarly contributions pertaining to all facets of Buddhist Studies. EDITORIAL BOARD JIABS is published twice yearly, in the summer and winter. KELLNER Birgit Manuscripts should preferably be sub- KRASSER Helmut mitted as e-mail attachments to: Joint Editors [email protected] as one single file, complete with footnotes and references, BUSWELL Robert in two different formats: in PDF-format, and in Rich-Text-Format (RTF) or Open- CHEN Jinhua Document-Format (created e.g. by Open COLLINS Steven Office). COX Collet GÓMEZ Luis O. Address books for review to: HARRISON Paul JIABS Editors, Institut für Kultur - und Geistesgeschichte Asiens, Prinz-Eugen- VON HINÜBER Oskar Strasse 8-10, AT-1040 Wien, AUSTRIA JACKSON Roger JAINI Padmanabh S. Address subscription orders and dues, KATSURA Shōryū changes of address, and UO business correspondence K Li-ying (including advertising orders) to: LOPEZ, Jr. Donald S. Dr Jérôme Ducor, IABS Treasurer MACDONALD Alexander Dept of Oriental Languages and Cultures SCHERRER-SCHAUB Cristina Anthropole SEYFORT RUEGG David University of Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland SHARF Robert email: [email protected] STEINKELLNER Ernst Web: www.iabsinfo.net TILLEMANS Tom Fax: +41 21 692 30 45 ZÜRCHER Erik Subscriptions to JIABS are USD 40 per year for individuals and USD 70 per year for libraries and other institutions. For informations on membership in IABS, see back cover.
    [Show full text]
  • The Revival of the Bhikkhunī Order and the Decline of the Sāsana
    Journal of Buddhist Ethics ISSN 1076-9005 http://blogs.dickinson.edu/buddhistethics/ Volume 20, 2013 The Revival of the Bhikkhunī Order and the Decline of the Sāsana Bhikkhu Anālayo Center for Buddhist Studies, University of Hamburg Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Taiwan Copyright Notice: Digital copies of this work may be made and distributed provided no change is made and no alteration is made to the content. Re- production in any other format, with the exception of a single copy for pri- vate study, requires the written permission of the author. All enquiries to: [email protected]. The Revival of the Bhikkhunī Order and the Decline of the Sāsana Bhikkhu Anālayo 1 Abstract In this article I study the revival of the bhikkhunī order in the Theravāda traditions and its supposed relation to a decline of the Buddha’s dispensation. Introduction My presentation begins with the contrast between the positive evalua- tion of the existence of an order of bhikkhunīs in early Buddhist discourse and the “prediction of decline,” according to which the establishing of this order would result in a decline of the Buddha’s dispensation (sāsana). Next I survey modern-day apprehensions that the revival of the bhik- khunī order constitutes a “Mahāyāna threat”; and then explore the “Theravāda sense of identity.” In an attempt to cover the legal issue of reviving bhikkhunī ordination in detail, I examine the alternatives of “dual ordination” and “single ordination.” Finally I turn to the current 1 I am indebted to Bhikhu Bodhi, Sāmaṇerī Dhammadinnā, Petra Kieffer-Pülz, Shi Kongmu, Kester Ratcliff and Martin Seeger for commenting on a draft version of the present paper and to Stefano Zacchetti for help in getting a needed publication.
    [Show full text]
  • Based on the Sri Lankan Experience of Registration of Title System.)
    South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, Vol. 19, Issue 4 (August) ISSN 2289-1560 2019 RETHINKING THE IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING THE CUSTOMARY LAWS IN THE CONTEXT OF LAND LAW MAKING PROCESS (BASED ON THE SRI LANKAN EXPERIENCE OF REGISTRATION OF TITLE SYSTEM.) Ms Buddhika Munasinghe INTRODUCTION The land is an integral part of every state. Especially land has sacred and cultural value in most of the Asian traditions apart from its social and economic value. Sri Lanka is an island state which has 25,330 sq. Mi for 21,670,000 ("Department of Census and Statistics-Sri Lanka," 2019) of population and a country which inherent legal pluralism as a result of multi-cultural ethnicity and imperialism. Further, Lands play a major and vital role in Sri Lanka, and as a country based on the agricultural economy, vast human rights such as the right to work, right to food are inseparably linked with the lands. Therefore the concept of ownership and protection of ownership of lands have crucial importance. Sri Lanka has two kinds of ownership for the lands. The first one is the ownership of state lands, and the other one is ownership of private lands. When it comes to private lands, the laws relating to private lands in Sri Lanka are governed by the General Law or the Roman-Dutch law and the personal or special laws existing in the country. All these legal systems have their own features and inherent. Derived from many different systems, Roman-Dutch Law, English law, Sinhala Law, Thesawalamei Law and Muslim Law, the law of Ceylon is rich in its source.(Tambiah, 1972, p.
    [Show full text]