Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Buddha discovered the Four Noble Truths: existence itself is suffering; suffering is caused
by craving for sensual and material pleasures as well as existence itself; the way out of
suffering is through eliminating craving; and craving can be eliminated by following a
path of morality and the cultivation of wisdom through meditation. After many states of
spiritual development - and, probably, many lifetimes - nirvana (enlightenment, or
nib-
bana
in Pali) is achieved, bringing freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
In Hindu mythology elephants are seen as symbols of water, life and fortune. They also
signify nobility and gentleness, the qualities achieved when one lives a good life. In Sri
Lanka, only the elephant parades with sacred Buddhist relics and Hindu statues.
Historical Buddhism
King Devanampiya Tissa's acceptance of the Buddha's teaching in the 3rd century BC
firmly implanted Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and a strong relationship developed between Sri
Lanka's kings and the Buddhist clergy.
Worldwide there are two major schools of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana.
Theravada ('way of the elders') scriptures are in Pali, one of the languages spoken in
North India in the Buddha's time, while Mahayana ('greater vehicle') scriptures are in
Sanskrit. Theravada is regarded as more orthodox, and Mahayana more inclusive of later
traditions.
Mahayana Buddhism is practised in Sri Lanka, but the Theravada tradition is more
widely adopted. Several factors have consolidated Buddhism, especially the Theravada
stream, in Sri Lanka. Sinhalese Buddhists attach vital meaning to the words of the Ma-
havamsa (Great Chronicle; one of their sacred texts), in which the Buddha designates them
protectors of the Buddhist teachings. This commitment was fuelled by centuries of conflict
between the Sinhalese (mainly Buddhist) and Tamils (mainly Hindu). For some Sinhalese,
Mahayana Buddhism resembled Hinduism - and indeed was followed by many Tamils in
early times - and therefore defence of the Theravada stream was considered crucial. Many
Buddhist sites in India were destroyed in the 10th century AD, around the time of a Hindu
resurgence (and a popular Hindu text that described the Buddha as a wayward incarnation
of Vishnu), further reinforcing the Sinhalese commitment to protect the tradition.
