Abstract Through a detailed reading of recent study medieval Buddhism and politics in Sri Lanka conjunction with number other works, this article explores the troubling legacy translating historical questions subjectivity into modern language ‘agency’, ‘autonomy’, ‘innovation’, ‘creativity’. This cannot easily be separated from white privilege post-colonial studies South Asian religion. The pro...

In the UK many popular misconceptions concerning Buddhist thought, practice, and material culture endure based on colonial-era understanding of ‘Buddhism’ originating from long 19th century. While academic Studies has taken a more critical stance since 1960s, nuanced not, by large, percolated out academia dislodged earlier simplistic ideas. Decolonising exercises such as those undertaken nation...

Francisco Varela was an innovative thinker and researcher as well as a pioneer in the present dialog between science and Buddhism. In this essay, I will first speak briefly about some of Francisco's contributions to the world at large and then relate a few vivid moments from my own interactions with him.

Tattoos play an important role in many religions. Tattoos have been used for thousands of years as important tools in ritual and tradition. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been hostile to the use of tattoos, but many religions, in particular Buddhism and Hinduism, make extensive use of them. This article examines their use as tools for protection and devotion.

Abstract Globalising “Buddhism” beyond its pre-colonial homelands was a complex practical challenge. Actors seeking to bring Buddhism new audiences in very different cultures met with failure far more often than success until recent decades. Modern-era Buddhist missionaries Europe had experiment, selecting elements of Asian that could theoretically be transmitted – ordinations, preaching, textu...

Adaptations, modifications, and realignments of religious doctrine and practice can be found in any period of social history. It can be official and highly orchestrated (as in Vatican II) but more often it takes a subjective and reactionary form (as in the Hindutva movement). This paper promotes the idea of “experimental religion” as both an analytical concept and an observable set of behaviors...