LIVING ON BORROWED IDENTITY: CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY SRI LANKAN BUDDHIST MONKS IN THEIR PIRIVENA EDUCATION

Abstract

The Buddhist education tradition is pedagogically sound and well organised as many other education systems in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist education system facilitates both Buddhist monks and male-laities to become well-educated citizens. Traditionally, the education of Buddhist monks had been a matter of studying under older, intelligent, and well-disciplined monks (Sthavira) within monasteries. The Sri Lankan Buddhist education system was well integrated into Sri Lankan intelligence tradition, even though its importance was declined soon after the lay-focus missionary education system was established during the British colonisation period. Because the government of Sri Lanka mainstreamed and facilitated a lay-focused education system as a priority welfare concern, the Pirivena education system has been neglected and under-facilitated. However, the contribution of Pirivena is still important for student- Buddhist monks as the education of Buddhist monks often relies on the Pirivena education system, even though it faces several challenges. Therefore, identifying the challenges of Pirivena education of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka was the main objective of this study. A qualitative case study design was employed for this research, and thematic analysis was applied. The analysis indicates that the internal culture of the Pirivena education institution has important implications for Bhikkhus’ education. The influence of hierarchical organisation of power and authority with educational institutions has been recognised as critical for education among student-Buddhist monks. Conscious behavioural changes undergone during the transition from laity to monkhood is another important determinant that causes challenges in Pirivena education. Overall, it is argued that there is an urgent need of revising the existing Pirivena education system whilst reflecting the dynamics of changing Sri Lankan society.