To the dismay of Buddhist around the world, extreme Islamophobia has emerged in a few predominantly Buddhist countries — most notably Myanmar (also called Burma) and Sri Lanka.
In Myanmar, the Buddhist population is largely callous to genocidal abuses against fellow residents in the Rohingya Muslim ethnic group. In Sri Lanka, rumors that Muslims are sterilizing Buddhists run rampant, leading to violence. In both countries, Theravada Buddhism is the most dominant religion. Theravada is the oldest living school of Buddhism and focuses strongly on the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha.
In media coverage of violence that is perpetrated or condoned by extremist Theravada Buddhists, the perspectives of moderate and progressive Theravada practitioners from countries where extremism is surging are almost invisible. To better understand their varying views, I asked six Theravada Buddhists for their thoughts on Theravada extremism. Some agreed to be identified by name, while others asked to remain anonymous.
Read Full Article »