Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-07T14:58:57.369Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Magical-animism and Buddhism: A Structural Analysis of the Sinhalese Religious System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2011

Michael M. Ames
Get access

Extract

This paper is intended to present in outline form a structural analysis of the total religious system of the Sinhalese of Ceylon.

The Sinhalese, excluding those few who are Hindu, Christian, or Muslim, are Theravada Buddhists who also indulge in a rich array of magical-animistic and other “non-Buddhist” practices. Descriptive accounts of these various practices are readily available in the literature. But until now no one has examined the various beliefs and rituals to see whether and how they are related to one another, to what extent they combine to form an integrated system of “Sinhalese religion,” and how this system actually functions. I will attempt such an examination by focusing on the primary religious ideals, their practical implementation, and the problems involved in this implementation. Perhaps the most crucial problem facing Sinhalese religion is that the central ideal, salvation, which legitimates all religious action, is itself practically unattainable. This fact must have far-reaching implications for the total religious system.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 23 , supplement S1: Aspects of Religion in South Asia , June 1964 , pp. 21 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © Association for Asian Studies, Inc. 1964

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Adikaram, E. W. 1953 Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon. Colombo: Gunasena.Google Scholar
Ames, Michael M. 1962a Religious Syncretism in Buddhist Ceylon. Unpubl. Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard University.Google Scholar
Ames, Michael M. 1962b Popular Ideology and Village Rites of the Sinhalese Buddhists. In: Laity and Buddhism, ed. by Miller, R. J. and Wayman, A. (in press).Google Scholar
Ames, Michael M. 1962c Ritual Prestations and the Structure of the Sinhalese Pantheon. In: Proceedings of the Chicago Conference on Theravada Buddhism, ed. by Nash, M. (in press).Google Scholar
Ames, Michael M. 1962d The Buddha and the Dancing Goblins: a Theory of Magic and Religion. Ms.Google Scholar
Ames, Michael M. 1963 Ideological and Social Change in Ceylon. Human Organization. 22:45–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anonymous 1951 Notes and Comments on Some Aspects of the Buddhist Revival (editorial). Ceylon Historical Journal. 1:7–12.Google Scholar
Ariyapala, M. B. 1956 Society in Mediaeval Ceylon. Colombo: K. V. G. de Silva.Google Scholar
Bareau, André 1957 La vie et l'organisation des communautés bouddhiques modernes de Ceylan, Publ. de L'Institut Français D'Indologies No. 10, Pondichéry (India).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bell, H. C. P. 1916–1917 Mahā Saman Dēvālē and its Sannasa. Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register. 2:36–46.Google Scholar
Bell, H. C. P. 1889 Paddy Cultivation Ceremonies in the Four Kōralōs, Kegalla District. Journal (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society. 11:167–171.Google Scholar
Buddhist Committee of Inquiry 1956 The Betrayal of Buddhism. Balangoda (Ceylon): Dharmavijaya Press.Google Scholar
Callaway, John (trans.) 1829 Yakkun nattannavā and kolan nattannavā, Cingalese poems (descriptive of Ceylon system of demonology and masks). London: Oriental Translation Fund.Google Scholar
Ceylon Government 1938 Buddhist Temporalities, an Ordinance to Amend and Consolidate the Law Relating to Buddhist Temporalities. Ordinance No. 19 of 1931, 1938 revision. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
Codrington, H. W. 1938 Ancient hand Tenure and Revenue in Ceylon. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
Codrington, H. W. 1947 A Short History of Ceylon. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Copleston, R. S. 1908 Buddhism Primitive and Present in Magadha and in Ceylon. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar
Crawford, H. L. 1910 Papers on the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance of 1905. Sessional Papers 23 of 1910. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
Davy, John 1821 An Account of the Interior of Ceylon and of Its Inhabitants. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown.Google Scholar
Devendra, D. T. 1960 A Mirror of Ancient Ceylon. The Buddhist, Vesak number. 31:31–36.Google Scholar
Dickson, J. F. 1870 Report of the Service Tenures Commissioner for 1870. Administration Reports, pp. 277–287. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
Dickson, J. F. 1886 Notes Illustrative of Buddhism as the Daily Religion of the Buddhists of Ceylon, and Some Account of Their Ceremonies Before and After Death. Journal (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society. 8:297–330.Google Scholar
Durkheim, Emile 1915 The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. London: Allen and Unwin.Google Scholar
Geiger, Wm. 1938 A Grammar of the Sinhalese Language. Colombo: (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society.Google Scholar
Geiger, Wm. 1950 The Mahāvamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Trans, by Geiger, Wm.. Colombo: Ceylon Government Information Department.Google Scholar
Geiger, Wm. 1953 Cūlavamsa, Being the More Recent Part of the Mahāvamsa, Parts I & II. Trans, by Geiger, Wm.. Colombo: Ceylon Government Information Department.Google Scholar
Geiger, Wm. 1960 Culture of Ceylon in Mediaeval Times. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Gogerly, D. J. 1908 Ceylon Buddhism. Colombo.Google Scholar
Gooneratne, D. de S. 1865–1866 On Demonology and Witchcraft in Ceylon. Journal (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society. 4:1–117. (Reprinted, 1954.)Google Scholar
Green, A. L. 1961 Sangha and King: The Structure of Authority in Medieval Ceylon.Paper presented at the symposium on Theravada Buddhism, Tenth Pacific Science Congress,Honolulu,August 1961.Google Scholar
Guneratne, V. F. 1959 Malpractices of Trustees: Report of the Public Trustee. In: Buddhist Sasana Commission Report (draft of English language translation), ed. by Pannasekere, K., et al. Colombo.Google Scholar
Hardy, R. S. 1860 Eastern Monachism. London: Williams and Norgate.Google Scholar
Hocart, A. M. 1931 Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Memoir of Archaeological Survey of Ceylon IV. London: Luzac.Google Scholar
Ivers, R. W. 1880 Customs and Ceremonies Connected with Rice Cultivation. Journal (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society. 6:46–52.Google Scholar
Layard, C. P., et al. 1876 Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into the Administration of the Buddhist Temporalities. Sessional Paper 17 of 1876. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
Leach, E. R. 1962 Pulleyar and the Lord Buddha: An Aspect of Religious Syncretism in Ceylon. Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Review. 49:80–102.Google ScholarPubMed
Le Mesurier, C. J. R. 1884 An-keliya. Journal (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society. 8:368–394.Google Scholar
Liyanage, K. C. 1958 Popular Elements in Buddhism Today. University of Ceylon Buddhist Annual, pp. 34–39.Google Scholar
Madsen, W. 1957 Christo-paganism: A Study of Mexican Religious Syncretism. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University. (Reprinted, 1960.)Google Scholar
Meerwarth-Levina, Ludmila 1915–1916 The Hindu Goddess Pattini in the Buddhist Popular Beliefs of Ceylon. Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register. 1:29–37.Google Scholar
Mendis, G. C. 1957 Ceylon Today and Yesterday. Colombo: Associated Newspapers.Google Scholar
Obeyesekere, G. 1958 The Structure of Sinhalese Ritual. Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies. 1:192–202.Google Scholar
Obeyesekere, G. 1962 The Sinhalese Pantheon and Its Extension. In: Proceedings of the Chicago Conference on Theravada Buddhism, ed. by Nash, M. (in press).Google Scholar
Pannasekere, K., et al. (eds.) 1959 Buddhist Sasana Commission Report. (Draft of English language translation.) Colombo.Google Scholar
Parsons, T. and Smelser, N. J. 1958 Economy and Society. Glencoe: Free Press.Google Scholar
Perera, G. K. W. 1952 A Constitution for Buddhists. Negombo (Ceylon), pamphlet.Google Scholar
Pertold, O. 1930 The Ceremonial Dances of the Sinhalese. Archiv Orientalni 2, Parts I, II, III, IV.Google Scholar
Pieris, Ralph 1956 Sinhalese Social Organization: The Kandyan Period. Colombo: Ceylon University Press.Google Scholar
Rahula, Walpola 1956 History of Buddhism in Ceylon. Colombo: Gunasena.Google Scholar
Ripley, Rev. F. J. 1960 This is the Faith. New York: Guild Press.Google Scholar
Ryan, Bryce 1953 Caste in Modern Ceylon. New Brunswick, N. Y.: Rutgers University Press.Google Scholar
Seligman, B. 1908 A Devil Ceremony of the Peasant Sinhalese. Journal Royal Anthropological Institute. 38:368–379.Google Scholar
Sessional Papers 1904 Relating to the Proposed Amendment of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance, No. 3 of 1899. Sessional Paper 23 of 1904. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
de Silva, W. A. 1911 Note on the Bali Ceremonies of the Sinhalese. Journal (Ceylon Branch) Royal Asiatic Society. 22:140–160.Google Scholar
Siriwarden, C. D. S. 1960 The Proposed Incorporation of the Sangha. The Buddhist, Vesak number. Vol. 31, No. 1, 3:83–84.Google Scholar
Thompson, D. E. 1954 Maya Paganism and Christianity: A History of the Fusion of Two Religions. Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University. (Reprinted, 1960.)Google Scholar
Tillich, P. 1962 The Courage to Be. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Upham, E. 1829 History and Doctrine of Buddhism, with Notices of the Kappooism or Demon Worship and Bali, or Planetary Incantations of Ceylon. London: Ackermann.Google Scholar
Weber, Max 1958 The Religion of India. Glencoe: Free Press.Google Scholar
Wijeyewardene, E. A. L., et al. 1956 Report of the Commission on Tenure of Lands of Viharagam, Dewalagam and Nindagam. Sessional Paper 1–1956. Colombo: Ceylon Government Press.Google Scholar
Wirz, Paul 1954 Exorcism and the Art of Healing in Ceylon. Leyden: Brill.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wriggens, W. Howard 1960 Ceylon, Dilemmas of a New Nation. Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yalman, Nur 1962a On Some Binary Categories in Sinhalese Religious Thought. Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences (Ser. 2, 24).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yalman, Nur 1962b The Ascetic Buddhist Monks of Ceylon. Bulletin London School of Oriental and African Studies (in press).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yalman, Nur 1962c The Structure of Sinhalese Healing Rituals. Proceedings of the Berkeley Conference on Indian Religions.Google Scholar
Yalman, Nur 1962d An Keliya. In: Proceedings of the Chicago Conference on Theravada Buddhism, ed. by Nash, M. (in press).Google Scholar
de Zoysa, A. P. 1948–1949 Sinhala sabda kosaya. Colombo: Dharma Samaya Yantralaya. Vols. I, III.Google Scholar