Buddhist Extremism in South Asia

Sonia Faleiro's book, The Robe and the Sword, talks about how some Buddhist monks in South Asia are using violence and getting involved in politics.

This is surprising because Buddhism is usually known for being peaceful.

The book explains how monks in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand have led movements that harm minority groups like Muslims and Christians.

It also talks about how these monks have become powerful and how this goes against the usual ideas of Buddhism.

The book is a mix of journalism and analysis, and it makes us think about why people who promise peace can sometimes support violence.