Buddhism Transformed: Religious Change in Sri Lanka

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 of religion focuses on worldly welfare, it describes and analyzes the changes that have altered the character of Sinhala religion in both areas.