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Buddhism

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Addressing Buddhist priests in tourist-pidgen Sinhala, can cause offence. There is a scholarly form of Sinhala used for speaking to bhikku’s so it is considered impolite to use common or garden Sinhala. Greetings are both hands together at forehead or chest. No handshakes. If a Bhikku should come to visit and you offer him a seat, make sure you disguise an ordinary chair with a white cloth, a suitable seat for a monk needs to be dressed in white.

Ladies don't take a seat on public transport that places you next to or opposite a Buddhist priest. It is also rude to point your toes towards him. If men sit in the presence of a bhikku they should take a seat below his level. Today's Sri Lankan youth spend a remarkable amount of time devoted to devotion – whether Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist. Full-moon Poya days are spent visiting temples for special Sil (observance of the Buddhist precepts) while sermons aimed at the young gather packed audiences.

Metta - friendliness, pure love
Tanha - craving, including greed, hate and delusion
Dukka - discontent, suffering, hardship
Avijja - Ignorance in the form of blind un-knowing
Upadana - Attachment, clinging
Anicca - Impermanence
Samatha - calm
Nibbana - The ultimate goal of Buddhist training, Lit: 'extinguished'

Buddhism