Myths & Samsara

010 - How Buddhist Cosmology Inspired the Pawn of Samsara Duology

After a hiatus to publish The Pawn of Samsara duology, D.M. De Alwis returns to the mic to pull back the curtain on the cosmology of his fictional universe. How does Buddhist philosophy shape a fantasy world? In this episode, we explore the "One Rule" that governs every being in this multiverse—from the lowest human to the highest deity—and how the law of Karma-Vipaka (Action and Consequence) replaces traditional "magic" with cosmic weight. D.M. discusses the character arcs of Sinha and Isha, the role of divine manipulation, and why there is no "hero’s journey" when you are trapped in the cycle of Samsara. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The Rules of the Universe: Why fixed laws are essential for high-stakes fantasy world-building. * Sinha vs. Isha: How two righteous characters can end up on opposite sides of the god/demon divide. * The Greater Gods: Why the "silence of gods" is actually a calculated part of the cosmic balance. * Future Worlds: A sneak peek at the upcoming project, A Monkey’s Mask, and the introduction of Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshas. Links & Resources Mentioned: * Official Website: dmdealwis.com [http://dmdealwis.com] * Buy the Books: The Pawn of Samsara Duology [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://dmdealwis.com/books] * Social Media: Find D.M. De Alwis on most platforms @dmdealwis Featured Books: 1. A Lion's Head (Sinha's Story) 2. A Lion's Pride (The continuation of the duology) About the Host: D.M. De Alwis is the author of the Pawn of Samsara duology and host of the Myths and Samsara podcast. She explores mythology, folklore, and storytelling through the lens of Buddhist cosmology. Love the show? If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star review.

009 | Witchcraft or Religion?

Misconceptions about Demons & Witchcraft in Sri Lanka | An Explainer Sri Lanka is strange. For one, three persistent sub-religions are practiced by most Sri Lankans, although they may not be aware of it. These are Demonism, Capuism, and Grahaism. Anthropologists have widely documented all three. Europeans recorded these religions under the terms of Witchcraft and Demonology. I don't blame them. How could they possibly understand? Even modern Sri Lankans are unaware of why or how these three sub-religions have become so deeply embedded in the culture. Chapters: * An overview of historical relations between Sinhala and Tamil people, contributing to the growth of these sub-religions. * Colonial misinterpretations & how sub-religions persist alongside Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. * Demonology as a means of maintaining wellness. * Capuism to broker a relationship with vengeful deities. * Grahaism, to neutralize planetary influence. For more on this episode, https://www.dmdealwis.com/009-misconceptions-of-sri-lankan-demon-worship/ [https://www.dmdealwis.com/009-misconceptions-of-sri-lankan-demon-worship/]

008 | The Demons of Disease | Illness, myths, and the Spirit World

This episode focuses on Maha Kola Sanni Yaksha, often described as the chief of the eighteen disease demons in Sri Lankan folklore. Drawing on an 1866 journal entry from the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, we explore accounts of his origin and how he and his Yaksha retinue came to be associated with specific illnesses. We look at how the Sanni Yakuma ritual serves as both a cultural performance and a form of healing, blending satire, community, and sensory immersion. What happens when illness is anthropomorphized? And how do ritual, belief, and medicine intersect? Topics in this episode: * Origin stories for the Maha Kola Sanni Yaksha * The 18 Sanni Yaksha and their disease associations * Changes in the yaksha list over time * The Sanni Yakuma ritual as a healing practice * How Christian colonialism confused our perception of “demon” and “spirit” If the podcast resonates with you, consider following the show and sharing it with others who are interested in folklore, history, and belief systems that are shaped outside the Western canon. For more about this podcast and its narrator, visit https://dmdealwis.com/about/. Show notes can be found here: https://www.dmdealwis.com/008-the-yaksha-maha-kola-sanni/ [https://www.dmdealwis.com/008-the-yaksha-maha-kola-sanni/]

007 | The Hat Seller | The Thoppi Karaya

What do you do when half a dozen monkeys steal all of the hats you sell? Here is the story of the hat seller. This is a Sri Lankan story often told to young children at bedtime. The moral of the story is to keep your cool and observe the situation before taking the time to outsmart your adversary. To find out more about me and why this podcast at https://www.dmdealwis.com/ [https://www.dmdealwis.com/]. Intro and exit music clip is from Cinder and Smoke by Music for Makers.

006 | The Consecrating of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VII of the Mahavamsa

This episode is a reading of The Consecrating of Vijaya from Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa, the second-earliest chronicle of Sri Lanka. This version talks about how his people wished him to declare himself King. He rejects his then-wife in favour of a royal wife from the subcontinent. The first version of this story can be found in Myths & Samsara, Episode 2 | Vijaya's Story | Reading of Book IX of the Dipavamsa. The first part of this version of the story can be found as Episode 5 | The Coming of Vijaya | Reading of Chapter VI of the Mahavamsa. This version was translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger, PhD, with assistance from Mabel Haynes Bode. Comissioned by the Pali Text Society in 1912 and titled The Mahavamsa or The Great Chronicle of Ceylon. The digitized copy can be found online. The Dipavamsa is the earliest attempt to write a Chronicle of the Sāsana and the Kings of Sri Lanka, from earliest times up to the 5th c. A.D (1000 years after the events). The Mahavamsa is believed to have been recorded between 1000 and 1250 A.D (1500 years after the events). This is an English reading. The language is cumbersome. My bias is to suspect both the translator of Western bias and the priesthood authors of the Mahavamsa of bias towards the reigning monarchs of the time, who wished their rule to be mandated by the existing Buddhist chronicles and their 'long-standing' relationship with the Indian mainland. To find out more about me and why this podcast, visit https://www.dmdealwis.com/006-the-consecrating-of-vijaya/ [https://www.dmdealwis.com/006-the-consecrating-of-vijaya/]