In his research — and in this book which reflects it — Dr. David Blundell has gone a step further than other sociocultural anthropologists in the quest for understanding and rendering the Sinhalese belief system. His innovative approach is based on sharing the investigative process with those who are usually considered to be objects of the research. The three parts of the Sinhalese belief system — Theravada Buddhism, cult of deities, and exorcism — are concretely approached through the life histories of three men. Each plays a key role in one of the three subsystems: headmonk of a village temple, chief official of a shrine, and exorcist.
Download for PDF: MASK: Anthropology on the Sinhalese Belief System — Dr. David Blundell
