The Sarvōdaya Śramadāna movement is one of the most significant examples of applied Buddhist ethics in the modern world. Born in post-colonial Sri Lanka, it combines Gandhian nonviolence with Theravāda Buddhist values, creating a grassroots social development network that transcends religion, ethnicity, and politics.
Founded by Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, the movement’s name means “the awakening of all through the sharing of labor.” It reframes the traditional Buddhist virtue of dāna (giving) into śrama-dāna — the donation of one’s time, labor, and energy for the welfare of the community .
Sarvōdaya was a response to the spiritual and social fragmentation caused by colonialism and modern consumerism. Ariyaratne envisioned a decentralized Sri Lanka in which self-sufficient rural communities could flourish through cooperation and ethical living. His inspiration came not only from the Buddha but also from Mahatma Gandhi, particularly the Gandhian ideal of Sarvodaya — upliftment for all .
Rejecting both capitalism and socialism, Sarvōdaya criticizes the former for promoting greed and the latter for being too top-down. Instead, it champions a people-centered model of development rooted in Buddhist teachings. Its vision of economics places people — not profit — at the heart of progress, and sees material development as a means, not an end .
The movement has had significant social and political impact. It has worked in thousands of villages, organized large-scale peace marches during times of ethnic violence, and provided humanitarian aid to those affected by war. Sarvōdaya’s peace-building efforts include interfaith rituals, refugee relief, and workshops on conflict resolution. Its 1995–98 plan emphasized “National Re-integration,” tackling poverty, unrealistic lifestyle expectations, and ethnic tension through dialogue and community empowerment .
Despite its successes, the movement has faced criticism. Scholars like Richard Gombrich and Gananath Obeyesekere argue that Sarvōdaya’s romanticized vision of village life glosses over the darker realities of rural existence, such as caste discrimination or gender inequality. They see its goals as idealistic and overly dependent on foreign aid . However, supporters contend that even if the vision is idealistic, it offers a powerful counter-narrative to materialism and moral apathy.
Sarvōdaya doesn’t seek to escape the world — it aims to heal it. Drawing from the Buddha’s call to “go forth for the blessing of the manyfolk,” it represents a living, breathing effort to root Buddhist ethics in daily life. In doing so, it shows that Buddhism is not only a path of personal liberation but also a force for collective transformation.