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| Friday, 20 December 2002 |
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Book Review : The empirical basis of Buddhism Nature and Buddhism by Madawala Hemananda This work by a London-based Lankan scholar in Buddhism, derives its impressiveness from the author's ability to establish the concordance between the teachings of the Buddha and the empirical truths of modern science. The book could, therefore, be considered as breaking new ground in contemporary research into the Buddhist doctrine and its scientific or empirical basis.
Therefore, besides providing insights into the Dhamma, this book would serve to enhance and expand the knowledge base of the average reader. The author consistently backs his views by quoting contemporary authorities in science - thus is the veracity of his theses established. An important area of concern in 'Nature and Buddhism' is environmental degradation, which the author quite rightly traces to an increasing, widespread irreverence for life. For instance, rampant deforestation in even as distant a region as the Amazon in South America, has disastrous environmental consequences for mankind. Buddhism, on the other hand, preaches reverence for all forms of life. This absorbing exploration of the little known, finer dimensions in Buddhism is, however, occasionally marred by the author's excursions into Comparative Religion, where he does not give the impression of having sufficiently grasped the fundamental standpoints of particularly theistic religions. However, Hindu religionists should find Hemananda's conception of the "Infinite Consciousness", as opposed to the individual consciousness interesting, on account of its invocation of the Brahma concept.'Nature and Buddhism' will be launched today at 3 p.m. at the BMICH, Colombo, (Conference Room F), with Ven. Dr. Bellana Shri Gnanawimala Mahanayake Thera in the Chair. Justice Minister W. J. M. Lokubandara will be the Chief Guest. L.O. |
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A predominant feature of this work by Madawala Hemananda, a Fellow of
the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Great Britain and a
Founder Member of the Thames Meditation Society, is his considerable and
up to date knowledge of most branches of modern science, besides his
secure grasp of the Buddha Dhamma. Through this broad approach to his
subject, the author enables the lay reader to entrancingly explore areas
in cosmology, psychology, neurology, medicine, sociology, geology, ecology
and many other branches of knowledge, to which he has been hitherto little
exposed.
