Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismThe most famous mural painting in Sigiriya is the Sigiriya Lady, a 5th-century nymph whose work has been compared to that of the Ajanta Grottoes in India.
And this mural was still amazing! This is another must-see spot in Sri Lanka.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismThis place is truly amazing. It is the highlight of my visit to the Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka. You can't miss this place when you come to Sri Lanka. The contrast with Dambulla makes Polonnaruwa even more fascinating. In this sense, I would like to encourage you to visit both Buddhist sites. I can assure you that it will be an interesting experience.
It's getting fun, Sri Lanka!
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismOur destination for the day was Dambulla. This is another World Heritage Site, and I will never forget it. I am sure that I will never forget this place in my life, and I am even sure that I will never encounter another World Heritage site that surpasses it in my life. I would like to show you a shocking sight.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismAfter visiting Nagadeepa Island off the coast of Jaffna, my next stop was the beach where Sanghamitta, the nun who brought the Sree Maha Bodhi tree, had landed.
I was told that a temple called Dambakorapatuna Sangamisusa Temple is now standing there. Although ordinary tourists rarely visit this place, it is an indispensable place for me to go to visit a sacred Buddhist site.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismAfter touring the city of Jaffna, thinking about the civil war, I headed to my next destination, Naga Deepa Island.
The island of Nagadeepa is believed in Sri Lankan Buddhist lore to be a sacred site where Buddha came to the island. Although the historical facts are difficult to ascertain, it is still a sacred site of great importance in the Sinhalese context.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismIn this article, I will discuss the general trend toward civil war, Sinhala Buddhist nationalism and the restoration of the Holy Land. I am sure that the last few articles have been full of surprises for you. I myself have been astonished by what I have learned about Sri Lanka. I am sure that you have found Sri Lanka to be a very interesting country.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismIn this article I will talk about a very important figure in Sri Lanka, Dharmapala. This Dharmapala is the one who advocated "Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism" that led to the Sri Lankan Civil War.
In Sri Lanka, Buddhism is integrated with nationalism and becomes the spark for ethnic conflict. We will also look at that Sinhala Buddhist nationalism.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismDharmapala had a decisive impact on the Sri Lankan Civil War.
He did not suddenly appear out of thin air either. He came into existence because of the historical background of Sri Lanka at that time.
In this article, I will briefly discuss the colonial period in Sri Lanka, which is also important for the history of Dharmapala and Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismSri Lanka's civil war lasted 26 years, from 1983 to 2009.
This was a civil war between Sinhala Buddhists, the majority of the population, and Tamil Hindus, the minority. Of course, religion was not the only major factor, but I was shocked that Buddhism became involved in the civil war.
Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismSri Lankans have their own context, just as Japanese people have their own context. And the differences in context will always affect the differences in religion and culture.
In this article, I will take a break from my travelogue and talk about the kind of Buddhism in Sri Lanka to begin with. It is very interesting to consider the differences between Sri Lanka and Japan.
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The best of our blog! The "Dostoevsky's Journey" trilogy - my full-length European travelogue!
Travels to Buddhist Sacred Sites in India and Sri Lanka: What I felt there when I was called to India
(1) The birth of Prince Siddhartha in Lumbini, Nepal!
10 novels instead of business cards - I'm ashamed to say I'm such a person.
Why am I, a monk, reading Dostoevsky and world literature?" Articles - The Surprising Similarities Between Shinran and Dostoevsky
(70) To the place of Buddha's ascension near Gion Seisha - the hill where Buddha ascended to the heavenly realm to meet his deceased mother.
(69) Visit Gion Seisha, one of the eight great Buddhist sites in India - famous for the "Voice of the Bell at Gion Seisha" in the Tale of the Heike
(68) To Sankasha, one of the Eight Great Sacred Sites of Buddhism - the site of the legend of Buddha's descent from the heavens, "The Three Treasures of the Way".
(67) Visit to the Taj Mahal, a symbol of India: A tomb like a palace and the tragedy of a captive king who gazes upon it.
(66) The day I was convinced of Disney's religiosity at the Minakshi Temple, Madurai, South India
(65) To the ancient capital of South India, Thanjavur - It's so huge! This is not even Sri Lanka's fault!
(64) Departure for a tour of Buddhist sites in India - A trip to visit Buddha's footprints. To my last trip called by Mishima.
(63) Visiting the grave of Yukio Mishima at Tama Cemetery - Thoughts on Mishima, who continued to question life and death
