An aura of Buddhist ethical and philosophical teachings

Vesak Sirisara - Buddhist Annual

Editor - Rajah Kuruppu

REVIEWED BY SITA Arunthavanathan

VESAK SIRISARA, a publication of the Government Services Buddhist Association, for the 70th consecutive year is a trilingual journal providing delightful reading because of the variety of Buddhist teachings it contains.

The journal begins with a message issued by the President, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, expressing her pleasure in issuing it for the 70th edition of the 'Vesak Sirisara' in connection with Vesak, which is very appropriate to reflect on the Dhamma.

She recalls the tsunami and the disaster it wrought and the prompt and generous assistance extended to the victims by all within and without, irrespective of ethnic and religious distinctions.

This is followed by P.B. Weragoda's (Hon. Secretary, Vesak Sirisara Publication) publishers' note wherein an account of the 14 years progress of the journal after the association took over.

As for the cover picture, I wish Deepal Jayawardena selected another Buddhist picture from the Ajanta Wall paintings or even from elsewhere.

The lead article is by none other than Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne, one of the most outstanding exponents of Thervada Buddhism and the Director of the Post-graduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, Kelaniya University, who needs no further introduction.

This is the memorial oration delivered by him at Maitri Hall to commemorate another erudite Theravada Scholar, Alec Robertson. The professor had paid a tribute in a very befitting manner.

Anyone who had the occasion to listen to Alec Robertson would know that his erudition as a propagator of Theravada Buddhism had been summed up most convincingly by saying, "He had all the doctrinal points at the tip of his tongue. He had an enviable memory and a flowing style which was almost unstoppable once it was released".

This article is of immense importance because there is an exposition on Theravada Buddhism in the course of which the unique position held by the Pali Canon and how when different Nikayas had established themselves they shared the same texts with minor variations and interpretations according to their own ways are explained at a professional level.

Buddhaghosa and several other compilers of commentaries and sub-commentaries represent the interpretations of the Theravada tradition. The Professor has beautifully pointed out the difference between a text and its interpretation.

"Buddhaghosa had to write Visuddhi Maga to establish his credentials as an interpreter ... All these evidence support the view that Buddhagosa was more a compiler of the interpretative tradition that Mahavihara maintained and not really an author".

Another noteworthy point is that with the complication of the Pali Commentaries, the interpretative style in Sinhala language went into oblivion and finally disappeared; a folk tradition has that after Buddhaghosa complied the Pali Commentaries, there was a huge bonfire of commentaries.

Prof. Asanga Tilakaratne says, "The Theravada tradition has unanimously accepted that the right way to understand the word of the Buddha is to understand it the way Buddhaghosa and other commentators did".

'Noticing Space' by Ajahn Sumedho is meant to teach a meditator how to develop concentration. To me of course, the whole article was so puzzling - may be my ignorance or lack of experience in advanced meditation.

The next article 'Words and the Dhamma' by a Practitioner of Vipassana too did not impress me also due to my weakness just expressed.

'The Buddhist Way of Managing Pain and Stress of the Ill' by Dr. P.N. Rajakrishna though short, tells precisely the unique methodology in Buddhism to relieve pain and stress in patients without resorting to analgesics and tranquilizers.

He explains how this method makes the patient self-dependent for stress relief by correcting the incorrect views of themselves and meditating on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness.

Ven. Prof. Dhammavihari Thera's 'Success - The Key to it Via Buddhism', illustrates the concept of success as depicted in the Mangala Sutta which could and should be followed by even non-Buddhists who want to achieve social and spiritual advancement.

The 38 success generating factors in the Sutta are elucidated to build an inner strength to withstand the challenges of life instead of resorting to talismans, chanted oils, deva poojas in devalas and kovils etc.

The Ven. Prof. has illustrated very well that "Mangala Sutta very comprehensively details out what one should consistently do in order to achieve success here and now".

Prof. Laksiri Jayasuriya's contribution on 'Buddhism and 'Science vs. Religion' debate is a very knowledgeable exposition as it were in the 'cold war' in Western intellectual circles between science and religion.

He has presented the views of many scholars, right from Galileo to those of modern times so precisely and meticulously that one has to read this article to know the validity of the arguments adduced and how effective they are.

A review is not a fair judgement. Referring to Buddhism, the Professor says, "It is above all a form of scientific humanism which presents a cosmic view of man's total relationship to the human condition in a manner capable of rational analysis".

Dr. Rienzil Piyasena's article on 'Virtue, The Basis of Happiness" amply illustrates that virtue (Sila) is the first step in the process of mental development and he has quoted many examples to show that mental purity is the basis of moral purity.

The three factors - Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood, that fall under the category of Virtue in the Noble Eight-fold Path are expounded with great dexterity in support of his view.

'Buddhist Way to Peace and Prosperity' by Olcott Gunasekera gives a number of references inclusive of the story in Kutadanta Sutta (Digha Nikaya) to illustrate how the Buddha instructed his followers to achieve peace and prosperity through righteous means.

'Creating a Refuge on Every Occasion' by Ajahn Liam Thitadhammo is a valuable bit of instruction for beginners of meditation to learn how mindfulness helps to view the world as something which is problem free.

'The Ignorance - Craving Cycle' by Aloka Devendra is a scholarly discourse, as it were, on Ego-concept (Sakkayaditthi) which invariably leads to selfishness, jealousy and so on due to Ignorance (Avijja). He has quoted from Anguttara Nikaya to illustrate the cyclic wheel of Ignorance which keeps a being "shackled in samara".

Prof. Arjuna de Zoysa's, 'Causes and Conditions - A Buddhist Understanding' based on Salistamba Sutta, a Mahayana Sutta is beyond my understanding. I have never heard of it and as such I am not in a position to review it.

According to the Professor, this Mahayana Sutta had been written circa 100 B.C. in Sanskrit and given as a dialogue between Ven. Sariputa and Mitriya Buddha. This makes me more confused as to how and where they met.

'A Critical Look at Light of Asia by Tilak A. Gunawardhana' shows how and why this book became popular as an introduction to the life and teachings of the Buddha.

I have left out my article on 'Buddhist Concept of War and Peace'. 'Nibbana and the Arhat' by D. Saddhasena brings out in a very methodical manner emancipation from the Bondages, by eradicating ignorance. This theme is beautifully threaded through the article till the attainment of Arahathood.

Dr. Susunaga Weeraperuma's 'Monk Must Lead Pure Lives' should be read by all under the present turbulent conditions prevailing in the country on account of Bhikkhus dabbling in politics.

He has shown several instances of bhikkhus violating Vinaya Precepts and dealt at length on them entering politics, stressing that if what they want is to play advisory roles they could do so from the monasteries.

He has rightly highlighted "that the Dhamma can never be defeated or destroyed by enemies. The Dhamma has it own inherent strength. The Dhamma is capable of successfully defending itself against all dangers".

'We Are Our Own Saviours' by Ven. Visuddhacara should be read by all who are dubious about offering merit to the dead - a question that perplexes so many as to whether merit will go or not the person concerned.

The last article in the collection is by the Editor himself, Rajah Kuruppu, on Anapana Sati Meditation. Anyone interested in this mediation need not refer any more books on the topic.

Just like a meditation master, he has included all the 'know-how' - what it is according to Sutta Pitaka, the recommended places to engage in the meditation, the posture and so on upto the point where the meditator develops the 'jhanas'.

The journal has a few poems - Anicca by DW; Seclusion by U. Karunatilaka, Words and Words by Chandra Wickremasinghe; Bhumisparsha-Mudra by Dr. Claudia Weeraperuma and Decree by Kamal Premadasa.

All these tend to break the monotony of the prose articles and inspire faith and devotion. At the end of the journal is an account of the Golden Jubilee of the Government Services Buddhist Association celebrated on October 5th, 2004 inserted by Wijayananda de Abrew.

I just had a cursory glance over the articles contributed in Sinhala. Two articles drew my interest. The first is Ven. Aswatta Revata Thera's contribution based on Metta Suta, in which he had explained the first two Pali stanzas word by word in Sinhala.

Very many people think that the entire Sutta is on the Metta Meditation; but actually these are the pre-requisites for the mediation.

The Second is Dr. Siri Nissanka Perera's 'Pin ha Kusal' (Merit and Wholesome Action), which should clear misconstrued ideas people have on these.

May the members of the Vesak Sirisara Publication Committee, the Editorial Board, all those who contributed articles in Sinhala, Tamil and English and all those who helped in numerous ways, be blessed by the Triple Gem.

A picture in perspective

Yapanaya Thavamath Aethai

Author: Gunaratne Ekanayake

GUNARATNE EKANAYAKE'S novel, "Yapanaya Thavamath Aethai" (Jaffna is still far away) reminded me of John Stainbeck's novel, "Grapes of Wrath", which I had read some time ago.

The scorching heat in the states mentioned in it is similar to the sizzling one in Jaffna as appearing in Ekanayake's novel.

Moreover, the heroes of both novels leave their homes for good seeking better pastures. The opening paragraph of this novel is as stunning as that of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities", describing the famous "Period", and it sums up symbolically the theme of the whole tale of woe caused by the young rebels there.

The placid life pattern of the people in the Peninsula is plucked asunder. The drying up of wells in Jaffna is surely a sign of degeneration of a once peace-loving, hard working and conservative type of a people's existence in harmony with other fellow beings.

From my own sweet experiences of having associated with Tamil friends, both men and women at our office in Colombo, I know how familiar and affectionate they were. I hope one example would suffice to realize their industrious nature.

Most of the Tamil officers particularly bachelors used to follow professional courses like Accountancy at the Ceylon Technical College at Maradana or Law at the Law College at Hulftsdorp whilst my Sinhala colleagues haunted the cinemas with a girl friend at a matinee show! This is how they strove to rise to the key posts in Govt. Service then. Our friends envied them!

Trips to Jaffna

I have made three trips to Jaffna two in 1970, the first being a pleasure flight in a chartered Avro - 4 from Ratmalana to Palali; the second, to attend the funeral of a Tamil brother officer at Chunnakam, and the third in 1976, a pilgrimage - cum tour to Nagadeepa or Nainativu and the Point Pedro harbour. So this novel revived in me some nostalgic memories of the lovable folk and the exotic environment there.

The novelist, Gunaratne Ekanayake, weaves his plot as a study of the tormenting effects of a deep rooted racial conflict in play with many sided aspects of love in the form of marital bliss, parental benefaction, filial attachment, adolescent impulse and romantic transport of carnal passion.

The problem of unemployment ran into a crisis in the seventies not only in the North but in the South as well, as a result of the politicians who plundered the people of their dues.

Not like in our big neighbour India, our rulers adopted a hide-and-seek attitude and they have never got together even in framing national policies up-to-date.

This deceptive deal of cunning politicians is clearly seen through and detested by the learned youth of today turning themselves as a result into riotous youths carrying arms.

In this novel, the writer points out objectively the industry of the Northerners in cultivating every possible inch of land. This is not so in other parts of our country except Nuwara Eliya where the cultivators are gleefully bound to their crops.

The economic principle of the optimum use is followed earnestly in Jaffna and Nuwara Eliya most probably due to the limited land space. And the ample availability of land elsewhere under-cultivated or uncultivated at all is a pointer to the lethargy of the majority of the population, the Sinhalese.

This fact is skilfully presented by the novelist. The familiar feelings and pleasing manners of the older generation who live in harmony with other communities are well depicted in this work of art.

The freedom of Tamils to visit any place outside Jaffna is quite a contrast to the much advertised harassment of Tamils by the Sinhala citizens.

It seems to lay bare the parochial mentality of the Tamil segregationists in Jaffna. And the evil effects of this infuriated isolation thrust on the innocent folk are beginning to show off!

If there are any statesmen among the politicians of today, it is high time they got together to devise ways and means of bringing the divided into harmony and co-existence just as the national leaders - Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim - who stood together in the thirties and forties in their struggle to gain Independence from the colonial masters who had purposely divided our communities to make it easy for them to rule the country.

Here, it is worthwhile to quote Abraham Lincoln, a past President of the US: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

The theme of the persistent terrorist action undermining the quiet life of the Tamils in the Peninsula spreading to other parts of the country flows freely upto the end of the book while the rash destruction caused to the innocent young ones is touching.

The growing sentiments of love are battered from two fronts, namely, the terrorist activities and the despicable caste-system ravaging the North. In fact, if I remember right, I saw in the papers in the late sixties how a "well-educated" Tamil politician of a high caste prevented his low-caste brethren from entering a certain famous, sacred Kovil in the North.

So the foundations of a long standing peace in the North had been slowly but steadily starting to show cracks of irritation. Invariably, those reasons, too were instrumental in igniting the vengeance of members of their own community to turn against their own political perpetrators.

This matured writer handles the terrorist problem effectively exposing the disastrous results from several angles.

Arul-Savithri romance rides high among them. And it throws light on the hazards of disappointing innocent love purely on grounds of caste difference particularly in a post-feudal society. What is the unpleasant outcome of it? Savithri joins the radicals and ultimately led to an untimely death.

Arul is inflicted with a life-long agony and he becomes a victim of the damning hatred of the terrorists partly as a consequence of his scolding them for the dilapidating economy threatening the reasonable livelihood of his father Ramasamy who is a timber dealer.

Ramasamy's wife, Pushparani, represents the typically conservative cultivators who help bring about the well-being of a peace-loving, unassuming people. Ramasamy's long-felt erotic attraction to Parvathi leads them to find solace in a distant surrounding.

And it seems to rouse the reader's interest and tends to persuade him to favour the clandestine affair rather than blame it out of moral taboos.

The fact that the terrorist movement has bounced past the precincts of Jaffna is evident in the pre-planned killing of the undergrad, Arul under the pretext of "ragging" engineered by unruly stooges of scheming politicians or rebels.

At last, the story comes to a close with the drying up of good human nature compared with the drying up of wells in physical nature as symbolised in the opening para of the novel.

Gunaratne Ekanayake's use of conversational tone and diction coupled with colloquial expressions is outstanding.

- Somapala Arandara.

Focus on aspects of Buddhism

Vesak Sirisara

Buddhist Annual 2005

Published by the Govt. Services Buddhist Association

Ragama Road, Kadawatha

Editor: Rajah Kuruppu

This is the 75th issue of this journal which is published for free distribution. This journal has been issued in two editions. One is a trilingual edition which contains articles in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

This review is confined to the overseas edition got up in English. It commences with a message from the President in which she stresses the need to reflect on the basic teachings of the Bauddha on the vesak Poya day.

This issue comprises 16 Dhamma articles and 5 verse contributions in English. The writers are well-known exponents of the Dhamma, and they have kept up to the high standards for which the magazine has won encomiums in the past.

The leading article is the text of the Alec Robertson Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof. Asanga Tillakaratne at the Maitriya Hall, Colombo 5. He recalls the hard-core Theravada dogmatism in defence of the Buddhaghosa brand of commentarial Buddhism championed by Mr. Robertson for 30 years at the Maitriya Hall, as President of the Servants of the Buddha Society.

This lecture can be considere a critique of Robertson's apology for the commentarial interpretation and presentation of Nirvana - as the highest happiness even though no one except an Arahant is competent or able to fully explain Nirvana which is a concept beyond the realm of conceptual thought, logic or reasoning. Theprofessor concludes.

"If Robertson were here he would have been the last to agree with me. It is a pity that he is not around anymore."

There are four articles on various aspects of Buddhist meditation. The writers are Achan Sumedha, an anonymous writer, Ven. Liam Thittadhamma and Rajah Kuruppu. All these writers treat Sattipattana Meditation" as a practice feasible by laymen.

But I fail to see any Sutra text wherein the Buddha has recommended Satipattana Meditation for laymen. He has never given Kamattana to laymen. And even in Sri Lanka our ancient Maha Theras have never given Kamattanas to laymen and asked them to do Vipassana.

Ven. Prof. Dharma Vihari has written on success. The key to it via Buddhism. Here the thera writes on the teachings of the Maha-Mangala Sutra.

"Buddhism, science and Religion" is a brilliant essay by Prof. Laksiri Jayasuriya of the Social Work and Policy School of Social and Cultural Studies, Crawley, Australia.

The porofessor concludes saying, "Buddhism ranks preeminent for its humanistic philosophy i.e. the ability to use one's mind historically and rationally for the purpose of reflective understanding.

It is a form of scientific humanism which presents a cosmic view of man's relationship to the human conditioning a manner capable of rational inquiry.

Buddhism presents a religions view capable of comprehension by modern man because it enthrones man's reason ...

Dr. Rienzie Piyasena in his article on Sila (Virtue) writes on the Sila aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path, Prof. Arjuna Zoysa waxes eloquent in an exposition of the Salistamba Sutra. This Sutra is not found in the Pali Canon.

It is an apocryphal Sutra got up by the Mahayana innovators. It is tuned to prop up their apostasy that the Bodhisatva ideal is noble and more complete than the Arahat ideal. It is a pity that a learned Buddhist doctor has fallen in for the Apocrypha of the Mahayana apostates.

Has not the Buddha warned us that in future monks who degenerate in Sila and meditation will cook up Sutras in his name. He has asked us to reject such Sutras if inconsistent with his original teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to Nirvana.

The Bodhisatva path of postponing Nirvana and plunging into Samsara is a detestable apostasy cooked up by Mahayanist apostates - vide Anagata Bhaya Sutra. Critique of Light of Asia. Tilak A. Gunawardana writes on some Christian detractors who tried to denigrate Edwin' Arnold's classic "The Light of Asia."

Sita Aruntava Nathan in "War and Peace" has shown her proficiency and skill in collecting material from the Canonical texts to show the correct Buddhist attitude to war and peace.

Dr. Susunaga Weeraperuma lives and works in a village called Les-Acrsur-Argens in France. He has written some 20 books on religion, philosophy and pacifism. His latest publication is a collection - 18 of his essays. The book is entitled Nirvana - the highest happiness.

In the article under review he writes on Buddhist monks and the observance of the Vinaya rules. He stresses the need to conform to the Vinaya rules which they undertake to observe at Senior Ordination.

He speaks of the innumerable lapses and violations he has observed. He is particularly hard on the Sinhala monks who have taken to politics and even entered parliament.

There are two beautiful colour photographs, one is that of the Mirisaveti Dagaba, Anuradhapura and the other depicts the Dambadeniya Viharaya, a historical monument built on massive stone stilts. The cover page depicts the Buddha surrounded by the hosts of Mara a favourite fantasy of ancient artists.

- D. Amarasiri Weeratne.

Historical information and miracles of Sri Pada

Sri Padasthanaya Pilibanda Aithihasika Thorathuru Saha Sri Pada Adaviye Haskam

Author: Dr. Kanti M. Vitarana

S. Godage and brothers, Colombo 10

Price Rs. 300

Sri Padasthanaya Pilibanda Aithihasika Thorathuru Saha Sri Pada Adaviye Haskam is presented in a simple, readable language. It consists of five chapters of which the third and fourth reveal extremely important details of an event pertaining to the history of Sripadasthana which had been buried so far under historical records.

That is the illuminating story of the Siripa Maluwa and the path from there to Mahagiri Dambaya with electricity for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka.

The society under the name of Sri Samanthakuta Viduli Pahan Aloka Sahodara Samithiya which had been formed by a group of devotees from Wellawatte had illuminated the Maluwa and the path to Mahagiri Dambaya for the first time with electricity on the full-moon day of 28 February, 1934.

From this day onwards it is this society which had illuminated the Maluwa during every season of worship until the Government of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) supplied hydro electricity to Sri Padasthana from the Laxapana power station on 30 October, 1950.

This book contains not only details of the origin of the society, the workload completed and its plans for the future, but also details of the extremely difficult and dangerous lives spent by members of the society who spent the entire season on the Maluwa attending to this noble deed, their breath-taking, astonishing experiences and the miracles witnessed by them.

The importance of the book is increased because of the inclusion of certified copies of letters through which the society and then prevailing British Government communicated.

These historically important documents bear testimony to facts presented in the book. It can be stated that this book is full of historical facts obtained from numerous sources.

- K. G. L. Chandrasena, Chief Librarian, ANCL Media Library

Practical strategies for counselling

The Text Book of Psychological Counselling and Psychotherapy

Written and compiled by Dr. Ruwan M. Jayatunge M.D.

A Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha Publication

529pp price Rs. 1300

HUMAN psychological experiences are determined by the constitutional characteristic of the individual and the social and cultural aspects of his environment.

Such complex interactions are likely to bring about complex problems when they occur, needing a humanistic and skilful approach to management. Hence, understanding treatment methods such as counselling.

The ultimate objective is to empower the individual to become more personal matters. There is an acceptance that counselling is helpful when one feels despondent about personal matters.

There is an understanding by the authorities on the need to set up counselling services in healthcare and educational institutions.

This book would make useful reading to many who are interested in the need to set up counselling through the last century, and the practice of it.

Dr. Ruwan M. Jayatunge should be congratulated on writing this book, which offers from his own experience a wide range of practical strategies for counselling.

- Dr. Hemamali Perera MBBS MD MRCPsych, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Colombo.