oa The anagārika Dharmapāla (1864-1933) and the Puritan Pattern

In this article the ideas of anagārika Dharmapāla, the leading so-called Buddhist modernist in Sri Lanka at the turn of the century, are discussed and placed in their historical perspective of the modernizing movements within Sri Lankan Theravāda Buddhism. A special interest is given to the puritan ideals in Dharmapāla’s publications and campaigns. These may be considered a result of his discourse with Western, esp. Christian values and with the glorified ideal past of Sri Lankan Buddhist civilization. Thereby Dharmapāla’s influence on present day religious, social and political developments in Sri Lanka becomes evident.