Sri 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.

Why did I become so numb in Sri Lanka?"

This was actually directly related to the question, "What is religion for me?

It would fully reveal itself to me later when I visited the "Sree Maha Bodhi Tree," the holiest of the holy places in Anuradhapura.

I will talk about my "religious numbness" through this Bodhi Tree in this article. This is not only my problem. It is an unavoidable problem for human beings.

The day after immersing myself in the mythical world of Mihintale, I finally headed to Anuradhapura, the holiest of the holy places of Sri Lankan Buddhism. Anuradhapura is an ancient capital that flourished as the royal capital of Sri Lanka from around the 5th century BC to the 11th century AD.

Although I had visited such a sacred place, a certain uneasiness began to well up within me.

The holy city of Mihintale is believed to be the place where Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka. A rocky mountain stands alone in the jungle spreading out before your eyes. I was impressed by the presence of this rock! I was also impressed by this view. What a mythical world! There is no other place where the mythical scene of the beginning of Buddhism in Sri Lanka fits so well! Personally, this is one of the best spots in Sri Lanka.

I am now heading for the Sasserwa and Awkana Buddhas, masterpieces of Sri Lanka's Buddhist art known to those in the know.

These large Buddhas are located in the jungle, far from major sacred sites such as Mihintale and Anuradhapura, and are rarely seen by the average tourist. However, I was eager to see the Buddhist art of Sri Lanka with my own eyes.

In this article we will talk about the climate in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, a tropical tropical country, has two main climatic zones. The wet zone with high rainfall and the dry zone with low rainfall exist in this small island nation, and this has greatly influenced Sri Lanka's history. And the relationship between this climate and religion will also be considered in this article.

My trip to India, which began at the end of October, has come to a successful conclusion. After visiting Khajuraho, Saanchi, Mumbai, Ajanta, and Ellora, I headed to my next destination, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is of great significance to me in considering "my own Buddhism". Please look forward to my future articles.

Sculpture by Elora. The painting is Ajanta. That's it.

For a taste of the best of Indian Buddhist art, I highly recommend seeing these two together as a set.

Ajanta was also a truly wonderful place. I will never forget the fingertips of that lotus hand bodhisattva. That ultimate point where the fingertips touch each other...! That was a miracle. It was a miracle without a doubt.