Shelter for You Nirvana for Our Sons Buddhist Belief and Practice in the Sri Lankan Army

ShelterForYou,NirvanaForOurSons:BuddhistBeliefandPracticeintheSriLankan ArmyexploresthedecisionsandethicalevaluationsmadebySriLankanBuddhists participatinginthecountry'stwenty-five-yearcivilwar.Ratherthansearchingfor Buddhistjustificationsorauthorizationsofwarfare,thisdissertationfocusesonthe experiencesofindividualBuddhistswhoparticipatedirectlyorindirectlyinthewar eort.Thisdissertationisorganizedaroundthreebasicquestions:1)Domonksand soldiersbelievethatnegativekarmaiscreatedwhenindividualsfiretheirweaponsat theenemy?2)Howdomonkspreachtosoldierswhoareheadingotothe battlefield?3)Howdoparentsmourntheirsonswhohavediedincombat?By questioninghowcontemporarySriLankanBuddhistsevaluatethesedicultethical decisions,thisworkdemonstrateshowthedoctrineofkarmaisusedasan interpretivedeviceforunderstandingactionsonthebattlefieldaswellastheir consequencesforbothsoldiersandtheirfamilies.

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