Donnerstag
26
JAN

17.15 Uhr

Asapu Monastic Tradition: an Attempt to Mirror the Forest Dwelling Tradition within Sri Lankan Buddhism

Dr. Dhammika Herath, University of Peradenia (Sri Lanka), Humboldt Fellow, Heidelberg University, South Asia Institute, Department of Anthropology

The emergence of a new monastic tradition called the Asapu monasteries in Sri Lanka is an important anthropological development. The roots of the term go back the historical beginnings of Buddhism, especially, around the forest monasteries in the early periods. The new monastic tradition, which is a 21st century invention, has borrowed this term from forest monasteries in order to give the tradition an authentic identity. The Asapu tradition involves a conspicuous attempt to mirror the age-old Forest Dwelling tradition, which emphasized on staying away from the mundane life of the Buddhist laity and medication and reading scriptures in forest monasteries. Some anthropologists have tended to regard the forest dwelling tradition as ‘genuine’ Buddhism. The Apasu tradition claims to represent this ‘genuine’ Buddhism without the possibility for corruption. However, the Asapu tradition differs from the forest dwelling tradition in significant ways and its claim to authenticity can be critically examined. Although Asapu monks claim to practice meditation and study the scriptures, yet, their pragmatic life is a far cry from the forest monastery life. It is noted that the Asapu monasteries place extraordinary emphasis on the performance of attractive and mass- scale rituals rather than meditation or deep study of scriptures. The monasteries have been able to accumulate significant wealth and have built luxurious palace-like temples. Further some of the Asapu monasteries own TV channels, houses for rent and other commercial assets. Of late, there have also been open and damaging conflicts between different Asapu monasteries. Therefore, Asapu tradition and its claims to authenticity and mirroring forest monastery life can be critically examined.

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Südasien-Institut, Abteilung Ethnologie

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