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The Role of Buddhism in the Changing Life of Rural Women in Sri Lanka Since Independence

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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. THE ROLE OF BUDDHISM IN THE CHANGING LIFE OF RURAL WOMEN IN SRI LANKA SINCE INDEPENDENCE BY LALANI WEDDIKKARA A THESIS IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTSFOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS (RELIGIOUS STUDIES) At the Faculty of CommunityServices, Education and Social Sciences Edith CowanUniversity EDITHCOWAN UNIVERSITY 30th June 2002 UBRARV USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. DEDICATION To my mother, my grandmothers, daughters, daughter in law, sisters, sisters in law, women friends and especially the women of Athale 11 -- TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract VI Declaration Vll Acknowledgement vm Glossary X INTRODUCTION 1 Background to Study 3 CHAPTER I BUDDHISM: ITS GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION IN SRI LANKA Introduction 7 EarlyBuddhism 9 Traditional Sinhalese Theravada Buddhism 14 Teaching and Practice of Buddhism 16 ProtestantBuddhism 19 Contemporary Buddhism 21 New Changes 24 Sarvodaya 26 Religious Organisation: Ritual 27 Role of the Sangha 32 The Sangha andPolitics 36 Vanavasi (forestdwellers) 37 Self Ordained bhikkhus 38 Female Renunciants 41 Conclusion 41 CHAPTER2 RESEARCHING RURAL WOMEN IN A SRI LANKAN VILLAGE Introduction 44 Methodology 46 First Visit to Athale 51 Research in 2000 52 Daily Lifewith the Villagers 54 Theoretical Foundations: Liberal Feminism 63 111 Locating struggles in Women's lives 66 Researching Women in a Village 67 Research Issues 70 Changesin the Village 86 Community 90 Economic Downturn 92 The Political Awarenessof Women 95 Marriage andLand 99 Conclusion 104 CHAPTER3 WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BUDDHIST WOMAN IN ATHALE Introduction 107 Impact of Teachings of the Buddha on Everyday life Of the Women of Athale 111 Changes 116 Buddhist Practices 118 Conclusion 130 CHAPTER4 SRI LANKAN SIL ATTHO, "PIOUS WOMEN" Introduction 132 Protestant Buddhism andSil Attho/ Dasa Sil Matas 134 History of Renunciation 136 Self appointed Dasa Sil Matas 144 Dasa Sil Mata/ Sil Attho/ bhikkhuni in Modem Sri Lanka 149 New Developments 157 Conclusion 159 CHAPTERS CONCLUSION 162 BIBLIOGRAPHY 166 lV APPENDICES Appendix A Map ofSri Lanka 179 Appendix B Athale Village 180 Appendix C Map of Provincial Di vis ions 181 Appendix D Letter to NGO and Women of Athale 182 Appendix E Tables Table l Demographic and Geographical Data forAthale 183 Table 2 Demographic Data forReside nts of Athale 185 Table 3 Level of Education of Women of Athale 188 Table 4 Unemployment levels forProvince of Uva 189 Appendix F 1 Sample Copy ofQuestionnaire English 190 Appendix F 2 Sample Copy ofQuestionnaire 1 English and Sinhala 193 Appendix G Sample Copy of Questionnaire 2 English and Sinhala 200 Appendix H Sample Copy of Questionnaire 3 Sil Attho (Pious Women) 204 Appendix I Plates Plate 1 Weheragoda Aramaya 206 Plate 2.1 Herbs and Plants 207 Plate 2.2 Suneela's Plot ofland 207 Plate 3 Vanavasi bhikku 208 Plate 4 Athale Village Home 209 Plate 5.1 Interview Hall 210 Plate 5.2 Women at Aramaya 210 Plate 5.3 Meeting at Badalkurnbura 210 Plate 6 Hostess's Home 211 Plate 7 Punsisigama Homes 212 Plate 8.1 Bhikku at Village Aramaya 213 Plate 8.2 Sameneraand Friend 213 Plate 8.3 ShramadanaWork at Aramaya 213 Plate 9 Athale Village Home Kitchen 214 Plate 10 Lady Blake Aramayaat Kandy 215 Plate 11 Navalapitiye Anuradha sil maniyo and dasa sil mathas 216 Plate 12 Ven. Susantha bhikkhuni 217 Plate 13.1 Budu Pilimaya(statue of Buddha) 218 Plate 13.2 Pre-School Children 218 Appendix J Oral LifeStories 219 Appendix K History of Renuncients V ABSTRACT This research focuses on the role of Buddhism in the changing lives of rural women in Sri Lanka since Independence from the British in 1948 up to the present time. In this thesis I pose two questions: firstly, how important is Buddhism in the everyday lives of rural women and secondly, what impact has changes in Buddhism since Independence had upon laywomen and renunciants. I have chosen the rural village Athale, in the dry zone of southeast Sri Lanka as my area of investigation. The history of the village dates back to the times of the great hero King Dutugemunu (161-137BCE) and it is part of a complex of villages that form a socio­ economic unit. This research investigates the lives of the rural women who belong to this village and whose religious background is Sinhalese Theravada Buddhism, a way of life embedded in their culture. The thesis examines cultural, political, educational and religious changes since Independence, especially changes in Buddhism. The socio­ economic problems of contemporary Sri Lanka resulted in the changes adapted to the spirit religion. The meditative tradition of Buddhism still flourishes under lay as well as the renunciants, in Sri Lanka. Fieldwork in Sri Lanka took place in December 1997- February 1998 andin July 2000- September 2000. The Non Government Organisations have been active in the village since 1988. The data collection method used for this research was qualitative: personal interviews, participant observation, direct observation, informal conversations and surveys were used to gather personal and demographic details and how women practise Buddhism. The findings indicate that women have incorporated different methods of practising Buddhism to suit their needs at a particulartime of their lives. VI DECLARATION I certifythat this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: (i) incorporate without acknowledgment any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; (ii) contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due referenceis made in the text; or (iii) contain any defamatory material. LALANIWEDDIKKARA 30th June 2002 Vll ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis and the research from which it has been derived would not have been possible without the support, encouragement and guidance of several key people to whom I wish to extend my sincere thanks. First, I must thank my two wonderful supervisors, Anne Harris, and Ines Tyson, who offered supportive and scholarly advice, criticisms and read numerous drafts, particularly this year. Anne, I know I gave you some very difficult moments. I thank you very sincerely for your patience and support at all times. To Ines, I'm very grateful to you for your offer to supervise me, as a supervisor from Curtin University. Thank you for all the help and the valuable articles you provided and for your encouragement, at every moment of this long journey, giving me inspiration to go on writing forthe women of Athale. To all the women of Athale village, "bohoma isthuthi."(thank you very much). I thank you very humbly for welcoming me into your homes, your village and your hearts. I cannot sufficiently thank you, women of Athale and Punsisigama, forthe valuable time spent talking with me, sharing your stories and sharing your food at the aramaya. Suneela and Ratna, my hostess and host, duwa (daughter) and putha (son), I will never forget the warm welcome to your home and the hospitality I enjoyed. The special breakfast of "porridge," made with leaves gathered on our way back frombathing at the river, or the berries we picked on our many walks to all the homes, are moments I will not forget. Thankyou foryour great hospitality. My very sincere thanks to Dr. Kanthi Vitarana, of the University of Colombo, for helping me locate the village of Athale, and fortravelling with me to the village on both occasions to settle me in and to find out about the village; also for your patience with me during the many telephone calls I made to get vital information quickly. To Seeliya, Khandawa and Kamalsiri, the NGO representatives for the Badulla district, I say a big thankyou forall your help and support. I am grateful to Edith Cowan University, Faculty of Community Services, Education and Social Sciences, for the generous postgraduate funds for travel to Sri Lanka; to Martin Wiltshire, Department of Religious Studies, for my undergraduate and Post vm -- Graduate studies in Buddhism which led me to write this thesis; to Danielle Brady, of the Graduate School, for giving me the confidence to finish writing and for reading partsof the thesis.
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