Pisma s pustinjačkog otoka: Sri Lanka 1966-7.
Letters from a Hermit Island: Sri Lanka 1966-7 is a work by Croatian philosopher and Buddhist monk Čedomil Veljačić (Bhikkhu Ñāṇajīvako), written during his stay in Sri Lanka.
The book is a collection of letters in which Veljačić describes life in a hermit monastery on an island near Kandy, where he devoted himself to meditation and the study of Buddhism after his ordination in 1966. The texts combine personal reflections, philosophical insights, and descriptions of the natural environment, providing a deep insight into hermit life and Buddhist practice.
Veljačić describes the daily life of a hermit, including the silence of the island, nature (tropical gardens, monkeys, bats), and encounters with other monks, such as a German muni and an elder surrounded by animals. He emphasizes spiritual discipline, meditation, and renunciation of worldly desires, inspired by the teachings of the Buddha and the tradition of the monastery's founder, Nyanatiloka Mahathera. The book also reflects Veljačić's critique of materialism and his search for inner peace.
The collection, published partly in magazines (Kolo, Telegram, Praxis), stands out for its poetic language and philosophical depth, connecting Eastern spirituality with existentialist themes. Veljačić's stay on the island (1966–1968) resulted in a work that is significant for the understanding of Buddhism in the Croatian context.
One copy is available
