Political Buddhism elevates ethnonationalist politics above Buddhist doctrinal values

Evidence

Scholar monk Walpola Rahula best articulated the bases of political Buddhism in a 1946 book entitled Bhiksuvage Urumaya (later translated as The Heritage of the Bhikkhu), which argued that given their mandate to perform social service, monks could participate in politics and had done so since the time of Buddha. Although historically monks did advise kings, legitimize rulers, and thereby influence policy, H. L. Seneviratne (1999) has vigorously challenged Rahula’s claim. However, many Rahulite bhikkhus have resorted to radical politics and have espoused positions antithetical to Buddhist teachings. Significantly, political Buddhism emphasizes politics over Buddhist values (Schalk 2007) because it disregards Sri Lanka’s polyethnic heritage and seeks to institutionalize a Buddhist ethos for the entire country. — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 51

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines ‘political Buddhism’ as distinct from the Buddhist religion proper — a key concept distinction for the reader.
• XREF: connects to: Ethnonationalism frames politics as ingroup versus outgroup needing exclusion. — Erin K. Jenne and Promise Frank Ejiofor, Ethnopopulism and genocidal…, 11; Buddhist ritual displays in Sri Lanka function as political signaling rather than belief — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist…, 147; Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism rests on a foundational belief in Buddhist sufferance toward minorities (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Buddhist ritual displays in Sri Lanka function as political signaling rather than belief #exemplifies (0.75) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 147
• Buddhist tradition has a consistent anti-coercive pedagogical ethic #contradicts (0.75) — , The Rod and the Child, 4006
• Buddhist monks entered national politics only very gradually over decades #qualifies (0.75) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 170
• Ethnonationalism frames politics as ingroup versus outgroup needing exclusion. #qualifies (0.72) — Erin K. Jenne and Promise Frank Ejiofor, Ethnopopulism and genocidal…, 11
• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism rests on a foundational belief in Buddhist sufferance toward minorities #qualifies (0.72)
• Buddhism’s doctrine-dependent-on-patronage structure justifies its state favoritism #qualifies (0.70) — Neil DeVotta, Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalist Ideology, 148