This study investigates the discrepancy between formal religious doctrine and the actual lived practices of rural Sinhalese Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Richard F. Gombrich, a scholar of Indology and Buddhism, utilizes an empirical framework to analyze how religious beliefs evolve within a specific cultural context. By contrasting stated beliefs with observable behaviors, the author seeks to refine existing hypotheses regarding religious change and the nature of traditional belief systems.

Scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the practical application of Buddhism in South Asian village life. Experts note the rigor of the author's methodology in bridging the gap between textual tradition and ethnographic reality.