By Gananath Obeysekera -Prof. Gananath ObeysekeraIn an article in the Sunday Island of June 2 entitled “Political Watch” there is reference to Buddhist fanatics on the streets. I have no sympathy whatsoever towards fanatic monks as well as religious fanatics of whatever brand. Nor do I want to justify the suicidal response of the monk Bohowatte Indraratana who in committing ...
The post-millennium behavior of ‘Sinhalese Buddhists’ is not guided by rationale. Buddhism has nothing against war, they said once, if directed to safeguard Sinhalese and Buddhist interests. Then fighting became an act of merit, as if Jihad – the holy war – was declared by Ayatollah Khomeini. Buddhist monks shredded their robes to take AK-47s and earn more respect. More ...