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Be pure in deed, word and thought
One should guard against misdeeds (caused by) the body and one should be restrained in body. Giving up evil conduct in body, one should be of good bodily conduct. (Kodha Vagga - The Dhammapada)

Sri Lanka, my country is proud of its tradition as the repository of the original teachings of the Buddha. Indeed, it is not unreasonable to say that Theravada Buddhism only exists in the world today because it was preserved uninterruptedly in Sri Lanka since the time of the Arhant Mahinda. Other Theravada Buddhist countries, east and west, owe a debt of gratitude to our country.

by Ven. Dr. Walpola Piyananda,President, Sri Lanka-American Buddhist Sangha Council.

But now, friends, I'm afraid that while we remember our importance as an historical repository of Buddhism, we have forgotten one thing: that is, to practice the teachings which have been in our country for thousands of years. As a Sri Lankan who is at the same time an American, living in the U.S., a country where Buddhism is still quite young, I can say that my native land is acting less Buddhist than my adapted country, the U.S.A.

At the beginning of the Mahaparibbana Sutta of the Digha Nikaya, the Buddha tells Ven. Ananda that Vajjians, under threat from their enemies, will not be destroyed because they maintain a civil society of respect which itself is a form of protection. The Buddha tells Ananda that the Vajjians "hold regular and frequent assemblies....that they meet in harmony...that they (...) proceed according to that which has been authorized by their ancient tradition...that they honor and respect (...) the elders among them and consider them worth listening to...that they do not forcibly abduct others' wives and daughters and compel them to live with them....that they honor and respect (...) the Vajjian shrines (...) not withdrawing the proper support.... (and) that proper provision is made for the safety of Arhants...", and that "so long as such proper provision is made, the Vajjians may be expected to prosper and not decline."

Who are the successors to the Vajiians today? I'm sorry to say they are not my fellow Sri Lankans. Harmony, tradition, honor, respect, worship, religious observance are not uppermost in the minds of those in this country. In our land, it seems political parties come first, and the country comes second. This is not the way to peace, nor to solving the myriad problems we have which were only compounded by the tragic event of the last December 26.

As an example of following the Buddha's teachings, of caring for the country above oneself, above one's party, we need only look at a country that we have often criticized: the United States of America. Certainly we cannot claim that the U.S. is a Buddhist country; perhaps one or two percent of the population is Buddhist. Yet we see the Buddha's teachings in action, and in fact we can on the occasion of the visit of former presidents George H. Bush and Bill Clinton.

These two men are political opposites: they represent the two major opposing parties in the U.S. Mr. Clinton defeated Mr. Bush's candidacy for re-election. Their vision differs on many things. Yet now in the face of the Southeast Asian tragedy which is really a world tragedy, they are together, hand in hand, putting country above party. These men, so different in many of their ideas, are alike in being compassionate, intelligent men who love their country and have dedicated their lives to public service. The elder Mr. Bush could be relaxing at home, enjoying his retirement at an advanced age. Mr. Clinton is just a few months past serious heart surgery. No one could blame him for taking a couple of years off, or even retiring after having led the U.S. for eight years. Yet both of them are serving their country and the world now. Men like them are today's Vajjians.

Where are the Vajjians in Sri Lanka? In Sri Lanka it is common to hear a lot of criticism of the U.S. While I am a proud American citizen, I have also criticized the U.S. both when I was a young monk in Sri Lanka and even now as a member of a democratic yet respectful society. So the U.S. isn't a perfect country, and its leaders are not perfect people.

Yet they have succeeded where we in Sri Lanka have yet to succeed: in putting the needs of our country above our petty, parochial, party faction interests.

I hope that on the occasion of the visit of these two great statesmen, all of my brothers and sisters in our embattled land can take inspiration from the American example and come together for the greater good of our land and our people.

Buddhism is a teaching oriented way of noble thought, the sole objective of which is the eradication of kilesas loosely translated a 'mental defilements'. Panna perceptive wisdom/clear vision and Karuana 'compassion' are the main pillars on which the great edifice of Buddhist thought rests. The pre-requirement for one to gain knowledge into this system of thought is saddha mental serenity?

As attested in the suttas, Saddha is the 'confidence' that one develops both towards the teacher and the teaching after fully realising for oneself the intellectual propensity and the testability of the latter which automatically trigger oneself to be a Savaka 'careful listener' and this gain personal experience of the Dhamma.

Buddhism for the Layman authored by Mr. K. S. Tilakadasa brings in relief the main tenets of Theravada Buddhist thought within the aforesaid theoretical framework.

Content-wise, this treatise is divided into eleven chapters each of which is well-organised, thus enabling one to read through it with continued interest.

Chapter one, entitled 'Buddha' gives in a nutshell, the life-story of sattha the teacher who promulgated this teaching. Buddha's uniqueness as a teacher and his unparalleled virtue as a great human being from the content so chapter two entitled 'The Buddha's Greatness'.

A senior Thai Buddhist monk performs religious rites at the famous Marble Temple to mark the Makha Pucha Day, Buddhist festival, in Bangkok, 23 February 2005. The day marks the occasion when the Buddha was presiding over a special assembly at a Bamboo Grove (Veluvana). AFP

Here the author has occasion to quote from such indisputable authorities like Jawaharlal Nehru, S. Radhakrishnan, Albert Einstein, Albert Schweitzer, Bertrand Russel, Aldous Huxley and Max Muller .....all of whom were not adherents of Buddhism but admirers of that great system of thought.

These quotations give vivid expression to the multifaceted personality of the Buddha and the lasting value of the Dhamma-vinaya 'Law and Order' he founded. The Quote from Albert Einstein is especially relevant in the modern context: "If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism".

The central Teachings of the Buddha as presented in the Dhammacakkapawattana Sutta, his first sermon to the group of five monks constitute the subject - matter of chapter IV.

The following chapter entitled 'Buddha's Teaching's for the Layman' is a very clear and inspiring discussion on the relevance of the Buddhist way of thinking for the betterment of the individual and society as preached in the Sigalovada, Vyaggapajja, Parabhava and Vasala Suttas.

Quoting very selectively from the discourses occurring in different canonical texts the author makes a very clear exposition on the Uniqueness of the Dhamma in Chapter V. The next chapter which is in two parts is devoted to a very useful discussion of Buddhist moral philosophy and psychology based on the Dhammpada.

Saddha 'confidence' in the teacher Buddha, the Teachings, Dhamma and the disciples Sangha who perpetuate the teachings thus leading to one's conviction constitutes the main theme of Chapter VII where the author recounting his own experience points out how saddha in the triple gems enables one to overcome all mental disturbances and anguishes.

The following chapter presents a very clear and thorough-going discussion on Buddhist meditation.

Here the author points out that suppression of one's emotions will never lead to mental peace. It would rather erupt in the form of physical or mental diseases. Meditation trains one to develop 'a sense of awareness' with regard to each and every activity one is engaged in one's daily life.

This 'awareness' leads one to 'realisation' that would bring mental peace and serenity. Chapter X is a detailed and highly illuminating discussion of the importance of pancasila for the good of the individual and society.

The author has also focussed his attention on the legal implication of the pancasila and has thus enhanced the educative value of his work. Chapter ten is devoted to a discussion on the dhammaduta mission initiated by Buddha and the advent of Buddhism into Sri Lanka as a result of arrival of Arhat Mahinda.

How the introduction of Buddhism paved the way for 'a great cultural renaissance and a sustainable economic development' in the island constitute the main theme of this chapter.

The author brings to light the philosophy underlying the great irrigation system that ensued and points out most convincingly how economic development can be achieved without causing the least damage to the environment. The last chapter deals with the explanation of some of the more important technical terms that one is likely to encounter in reading texts on Theravada Buddhism.

This work though small in size covers many areas of Theravada Buddhism - its basic tenets, its spread as a world religion and its relevance for the present scientific age.

It is written essentially from the perspective of a practising Buddhist and the author has been very careful to support his views with authoritative evidence. Written in a lucid style, it is a commendable piece of work, which would prove immensely beneficial not only to the layman but also to those research scholars engaged in the study of Theravada Buddhism.

With the International Buddhist Centre, Siyambalagoda, Yatiyana in Minuvangoda (in the Gampaha district) as the nucleus, the Venerable Paravahera Candaratana Nayaka Thera of Le Bourget, France has launched a program to build one hundred houses for the devastated areas of the tsunami that ravaged Sri Lanka on December 26, 2004.

Venerable Candaratana Nayaka Thera on a fact finding visit to many affected places has presented a report to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga offering ten houses in a village in any ten areas.

The one hundred houses project is organised jointly by the Sri Lanka Educational, Cultural and Social Organisation, France-Sri Lanka Institute of Computer Technology and the Sri Dhammavasa Dhamma School in France.

Every year, these organisations provide scholarships to needy children living in remote areas in all parts of the country.

The scholarships include, clothing, school children stationary, shoes, schools bags and a substantial savings deposit that would provide a handsome financial facility to the student - both boys and girls up to the end of the higher school education in universities, medical colleges and institutions of technology.

Students will be selected by an eminent team of erudite scholars and educationists - both Bhikkhu Sangha and the laity.

Apart from helping the victims of a natural calamity, the Nayaka Thera said, those needy, helpless, non-English educated people living in villages and towns as well will be benefitted to their hearts content. While the schoolchildren are provided with their needs, the elders will be benefitted with different aspects of training in skills, technical and technological knowledge that would help them to advance their ways of economic and social life.

The elders will be taught Sinhala, Pali, Tamil, English and French and Asian languages such as Hindi and Chinese.

With the knowledge and proficiency in any two languages, our people will advance themselves as world citizens. They will be able to travel to any country and lead a profitable life as any other citizen in that country without being called a foreigner or an illegal immigrant.

Besides all these provisions in this multi-faceted package, the Nayaka Thera explained the work program at the Nucleus - at Yatiyana, Minuvangoda where - the inmates mostly boys and girls will be given, etiquette training. The same facilities will be provided for the girls too.

Reading room with daily, weekly and monthly journals, A library equipped with books on religion - mostly on Buddha Dhamma and other holy books, like the Vedas, the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran. Spiritual exercises is compulsory.

Every morning and evening mal-pahan Buddha Puja be held with the Bhikkhu Sangha and teachers leading the congregation. Children are trained in gardening: to plant flowers, trees and creepers so that they will not be required to go elsewhere to pick flowers.

Everybody will become home gardeners in the shortest possible time. With due publicity and adequate information to relevant people, our trained boys and girls will be posted as instructors to schools and social service enterprises.