The new Buddhist groups explored in this study have emerged during the final phase of the war or in post-war Sri Lanka. These groups diverge from the expected forms of Buddhism based on various factors, including space, authority, and the monk–laity relationship. Since these groups are nascent and have yet to be thoroughly examined in scholarship, this study not only analyses how they deviate from popular expectations of Buddhism but also elaborates on their nature and characteristics.
These groups challenge traditional forms of Buddhist authority by introducing new forms of meditation, contesting established Buddhist fraternities, and questioning authoritative lineages. They are transforming Buddhist spaces by introducing virtual monasteries, converting physical monasteries into living villages with farmlands, markets, and production houses, and, at times, omitting key elements traditionally associated with Buddhist spaces, such as sacred trees, pagodas, and image houses.In addition to redefining authority and space, these groups are reshaping the roles of monks and laity, thereby altering their relationship.
These developments are emerging within a specific socio-political landscape in Sri Lanka. This study explores how the post-war context has significantly influenced the shaping of these Buddhist groups, shedding light on the complexities and dynamics at play.
Anushka Kahandagamage completed her PhD in Religion at the University of Otago. She holds an MPhil in Sociology from South Asian University in New Delhi and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Colombo. In her PhD thesis, titled New Buddhist Movements in Sri Lanka: Negotiating Power and Authority, she explored the new Buddhist movements that emerged in the post-war period in Sri Lanka and how they diverge from imagined forms of Buddhism.
Her research interests include new Buddhist movements, the evolution of Buddhism, and Buddhist nationalism, which she broadly connects to reconciliation. She also served as a researcher for the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms in Sri Lanka. She is fascinated by knowledge systems, philosophies, and how they interact with society, and is committed to bridging the gap between scholarly knowledge, the dharma, and popular understandings of the world.
This event is co-sponsored by the Harvard Divinity School, the Department of South Asian Studies, and the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute.
LOCATION:Barker Center, Room 133 STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTART:20251001T210000Z DTEND:20251001T223000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR