Travels in Sri Lanka, the Holy Land of BuddhismAfter visiting the site of Yukio Mishima's suicide at the Ichigaya Memorial Museum, I headed directly to the Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Cemetery.
The purpose is, of course, to visit the grave of Yukio Mishima.
Yukio Mishima has become a huge presence in my life. I wanted to leave for India after greeting Yukio Mishima, who had died a spectacular death.
Diary of a MonkNice to meet you. My name is Takahiro Ueda, the administrator of this blog. This blog started as my attempt to look at various things in my daily life and write words with the motto of asking myself questions, as you can see in the title of the blog.
This article will give you a general guide within our blog. If you are new to our blog or wondering what to read, please read this article first.
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.
Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast AsiaThis book provides an insight into Sri Lanka as told from an unexpected angle as the title of this article suggests. At a glance, you may wonder, "What is this about Sri Lanka? But I can only say that it is a brilliant book because it gives you a clue to the world of Sri Lanka. It is extremely interesting.
Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast AsiaRobert Knox (1641-1720), the author of this work, was a sailor on a trading ship of the British East India Company. His ship was caught in a storm during a voyage in the Indian Ocean and made a port call in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1660. From there, they lived as prisoners of war in the Kingdom of Kandy in central Sri Lanka for almost 20 years.
The area around Kandy was not only highland, but also covered with deep jungle, making it extremely difficult to move around. In other words, it is an isolated island on land. This book, "Ceylon Island Journal," describes Knox's experience of escaping from such a difficult situation over a period of 20 years.
Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast AsiaSugar was not always consumed by people as it is today.
When it first began to be distributed in Europe, it was used as a perfume and medicine, and only a very few people with overwhelming power, such as royalty, could own it.
This is a very stimulating work that considers the origins of the world through sugar, which is so commonplace in our daily lives. There was a tremendous transition for sugar to become commonplace. It is a wonderful work that questions what we take for granted. It is also very understandable that the book was introduced as "a world-famous book that pioneered the story of world history through objects.
Why not pick one up?
Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast AsiaThe book is unique in that it does not merely look at each spice, but relates it to the flow of world history.
It is exactly the book I was looking for.
It is very exciting to learn not only the basic information about where each spice originated and when it was first cultivated, but also the relationship between the spice and humans.
This work is especially recommended for those interested in history and culture, as well as for those who love spices.
Even I, who am not a fan of spices, was intrigued by this work, so I think that if you like spices, you will enjoy it even more.
Vermeer, the Painter of Light and the Scientific RevolutionThe author, Mr. Yoshida's narrative is very easy to understand and relate to. Reading it is like listening to an interesting class.
Spinoza may have a difficult image, but this book does not preach anything that complicated. What he was trying to say and what he was fighting against are explained in an easy-to-understand manner through the background of his life and times.
This is a great book that I would highly recommend. This book helped me a lot. I highly recommend you to pick up a copy.
Welcome to our website. For those of you who are visiting our blog for the first time. First of all, please click here.
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
(93) Varanasi, early morning on the Ganges River - Like an impressionist painting! The Ganges at sunrise from the boat
(92) Enjoy the Saharnath Museum's supreme treasure, the Ashoka Lion Pillar Head, and the "First Turning Wheel," the greatest masterpiece of Indian Buddhist sculpture!
(91) To the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath (Kanoen) - The holy place of Buddha's first turning of the wheel! This is where the Buddhist Order began!
(90) Am I a disqualified monk if I am not impressed by the Buddhist holy places in India? Sinking in Bodh Gaya...
(89) Who owns Bodhgaya? History of the Movement to Retake Bodhgaya and Dharmapala's Maha Bodhi Society
(88) Visiting Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the Holy Land of Buddha's Enlightenment
(87) Experience the fervor of Hinduism at the Vishnu Temple in Gaya, a major sacred site for ancestral offerings!
(86) To the place associated with Sujata and the Neelanjara River - The place of the milk porridge offering that saved the dying Buddha
