Buddhism Transformed:
Religious Change in Sri Lanka
Richard Gombrich and Gananath Obeyesekere

Paper | 1990 | $30.95 / £21.95
504 pp.

Shopping Cart | Reviews

In this study a social and cultural anthropologist and a specialist in the study of religion pool their talents to examine recent changes in popular religion in Sri Lanka. As the Sinhalas themselves perceive it, Buddhism proper has always shared the religious arena with a spirit religion. While Buddhism concerns salvation, the spirit religion focuses on worldly welfare. Buddhism Transformed describes and analyzes the changes that have profoundly altered the character of Sinhala religion in both areas.

Review:

"A collection of brilliant ethnographic studies of religious innovation and change among Sinhala Buddhists."--Martin Southwold, The [London] Times Literary Supplement

Endorsements:

"A highly readable and immensely important book. . . . One of the most interesting marriages of analyses of religion and society (and, at times, history and politics) to emerge in South Asian studies (and, I suspect, beyond) for many years."--James Manor, University of Sussex

"This is beyond doubt one of the most important books on contemporary Buddhism to have appeared during this decade."--Per Kvaerne, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (Copenhagen) / University of Oslo

Another Princeton book by Gananath Obeyesekere:

• The Apotheosis of Captain Cook: European Mythmaking in the Pacific.

Subject Areas:

• Asian and Asian American Studies
• Religion
• Anthropology

Paper: Not for sale in India

Shopping Cart:

For customers in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Asia, and Australia
Paper: $30.95 ISBN13: 978-0-691-01901-7

For customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India
Paper: £21.95 ISBN13: 978-0-691-01901-7

Prices subject to change without notice

File created: 11/4/2009

Questions and comments to: webmaster@press.princeton.edu
Princeton University Press