Buddhist spectrum

Arhath Sariputta

Bastion of the Buddha's teachings

SACHITRA MAHENDRA

The Yaksha was anxiously waiting for that moment. The monk was serene and deep in his contemplation, his shaven head invitingly glistening. But the Yaksha's mates pleaded with him not to strike the monk's head fearing the bad consequences. The monk's companion's warning fell on a deaf ear. The monk still firm in meditation. The Yaksha could fulfill his desire by striking the monk's head, which could have killed an average person on the spot. For Arhath Sariputta, however, this came like a little poke on his head.

Arhath Sariputta is a famous name in Buddhist literature among a few others: Moggallana, his colleague and Ananda, the Buddha's chief assistant. Sariputta's story starts in a village of Brahmins, being born to Sari in Upatissa village. The Brahmin priests named him after his hometown, Upatissa.

Lifelong companion

Upatissa had a lifelong companion called Kolitha. Their friendship - it is recorded in both Mahayana and Theravada - had been throughout Sansara until they achieved deathlessness in their last birth. Kolitha, who later became Mugalan, has a different story, though we apparently mention him oftentimes with Sariputta.

Every Buddhist knows that these two young chaps went to see a pageant, which ultimately caused them a depression. Like any other their next quest was for a teacher. Their teacher Sanjaya interestingly turned out to be one of the six so-called contemporaries of the Buddha including Nigantha Nataputta of Jainism.

Sanjaya Belatthiputta - Sanjaya of the Bellattha clan - is famously known for his 'eel wriggler's theory' (Amaravikkhepavadi). Although many Jain philosophers do not like to accept, some opine that Sanjaya studied and was largely influenced by Jainism. However his teachings mostly do not specify any ideals, like Jainism. The following extract from Nyanaponika Thera's 'Great Disciples of the Buddha' (don't get the misconception that the learned priest considered Sanjaya as a great disciple of the Buddha) offers insights to Sanjaya's philosophy.

"If you ask me if there exists another world (after death), if I thought that there exists another world, would I declare that to you? I don't think so. I don't think in that way. I don't think otherwise. I don't think not. I don't think not not. If you asked me if there isn't another world... both is and isn't... neither is nor isn't... if there are beings who transmigrate... if there aren't both are and aren't... neither are nor aren't... if the Tathagatha exists after death... doesn't both... neither exists nor exists after death, would I declare that to you? I don't think so. I don't think in that way. I don't think otherwise."

Great personality

However Sanjaya had a great personality to release his students Upatissa and Kolitha in their quest for another teacher when they became disappointed at him. When they returned having discovered the Buddha's teachings, nevertheless Sanjaya did not like to join them on grounds he thought justifiable. Being a teacher of a large retinue, Sanjaya told his ex-students, he cannot just abandon them for the sake of another philosophy, however rich it may seem. Sanjaya was wise to say "Majority are fools, I belong to and cannot get rid of. You may join the clan of few wise men." When Upatissa and Kolitha became Sariputta and Moggallana, most of Sanjaya's students abandoned him. It was too late when Sanjaya realized his mistake.

Of the pair, it was Sariputta who was first fortunate to find the way of purification. He spotted Arhath Assaji, a monk quite collected in his composure. Nothing could have ruffle him; no, not in the least. His calm composure beckoned inquiring Upatissa to wait up. At length, only after making sure the monk's mood is not disturbed, Upatissa approached the Arhath. And then started a new tradition.

I reproduce an extract from Nyanaponika Thera's 'Life of Sariputta' here:

"...the Elder Assaji uttered this stanza:

"Of all those things that from a cause arise,

Tathagata the cause thereof has told;

And how they cease to be, that too he tells,

This is the doctrine of the Great Recluse."

Upon hearing the first two lines, Upatissa became established in the Path of stream-entry, and to the ending of the last two lines he already listened as a stream-winner."

Chief disciples

When both Sariputta and Moggallana were appointed chief disciples of the Buddha, apparently the question of seniority arose. There were many who were ordained long before. The Buddha was on the verge of being accused of favouration! Despite his superior status of spirituality as well as knowledge, Sariputta was still humble and modest. He had, above all, excellent qualities of preaching. He was commissioned to preach the monk order in absence of the Buddha.

Dhamma Senapathi

One well known instance is when the Buddha visited Thusitha Heavens to preach his mother-god. Sariputta was hence not only one of the chief disciple, but he was also the General of Dhamma, Dhamma Senapathi. With all this weighed against his credentials, Sariputta still had respect to his elder Arhath Assaji. No matter where he rests, Arhath Sariputta always paid homage in the direction where his elder was resting. Many misunderstood this mission as following Brahmin rituals too.

The Buddha then said 'as gods their homage pay to Indra, so should a man give reverence to him from whom he learned the Dhamma' in Nava Sutta. One may naturally compare this theory with the simile of raft. That a man should not continue carrying Dhamma like someone who still carries a raft even when he is done with crossing the river. The Buddha encouraged gratitude on top of everything. He proved it himself by enlightening his family.

Sariputta's modesty earned him much popularity in the monk order. He had the props of both modesty and everlasting friendship with Moggallana in reuniting the monk order on two occasions: splits caused by Devadatta's and two other misbehaving monks.

Divine creatures

Sariputta was beyond reproach. Yet he was modest in his own way to ask the Buddha for forgiveness when the moment for passing away arrived. The Mother Earth burst out with tears when this moment occurred.

Sariputta came back to his hometown to spend the last days. He had a mission to fulfill. This was a return to layman's life for his Brahmin mother, yet she arranged everything. The Arhath fell ill with dysentery, and a number of heavenly creatures attempted to attend him. His mother saw the arrival of divine creatures and inquired about them from the son. She was stunned to hear that her son is greater to be attended by divine creatures her clan had been upholding. She was quite convinced about her son's position. And then the General of the Dhamma could preach the nine great qualities of the Buddha, hence convince his mother; Sariputta repaid the nursing debt of his mother Rupa Sari in that way.

Arhath Sariputta's life is full with events of inspiration. The Buddha summed up his chief disciple's life as a whole of purity, noble friendship, noble companionship and noble association.

Global recession

The Buddhist standpoint

Professor Chandima WIJEBANDARA

The global village is in trouble. Everyone in this village is talking about a tsunami of different nature. Every newspaper in the developed and developing world carries an article or two analysing the nature and the factors considered to have caused this phenomenon. Media seem to be competitively assuring to deliver the most complete news on this disaster to the panic stricken global citizens. We in fact need latest update to make sure the least harm to our lifestyle.

Mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are crippled by billion-dollar losses. Lehman Brothers declared bankrupt. General Growth Properties, the second largest shopping mall operator in the US is applying for bankruptcy. AIG is in crisis. It has decided to sell US auto insurance business to another group as a desperate measure. Merrill Lynch is taken over. Many investors find it difficult to steer clear in the tough environment. Las Vegas Sands putting Macau project on hold. Millions of individuals have lost their jobs world over. President Barak Obama is facing the historic challenge of putting things right with his 'change' formula. Moreover, some people in South Asia are withdrawing their savings from the banks and selling their insurance back to withdraw their money. The sale of old fashioned money safes are increasingly on the rise since many people believe it is safer to keep hard earned money at home, fearing some more banks might collapse.

Financial giants

Some rich governments are trying their best to help the financial institutions by so-called 'bailout'. However, the extent to which this pumping of billions of dollars will save sinking financial giants is not known may be, not even to gods! Governments keep assuring that things will be all right very soon. It is true that timely action has minimised the effects of the financial tsunami to a reasonable extent and we may most probably recover in two years time, thanks to the significant sacrifices the governments have made.

Insurance certificates

Those who try to sell back their insurance certificates are advised that we do not gain but loose by early discontinuation of insurance bonds which in fact is true. And selling shares in a hurry will do no better. To keep the economies going the consumers are encouraged to spend more. Yet, as the Asian values favour saving rather than spending, some people are more confused at that. Some might say that saving at a time like this is selfish as it might only help individuals. However, having brought up in a highly individualistic environment where even social service has become social work, it is very difficult to imagine that moderately rich people will take such generous and even risky steps of not 'hiding' their money.

Brainy economists

What exactly has happened to those financial giants? Ordinary laymen are not very focused on the entire affair. Highly qualified and brainy economists may explain, in high-flown words and concepts, what has happened according to their wisdom; yet laymen are left in the dark for all those erudite interpretations are clothed in cliche and jargon not very familiar to them. The ordinary man in the street may wonder, as one Vedic poet did, "Who knows if he knows either". What is sure, any way, is that in the coming two or more years we may have to face unprecedented difficulties. Millions have already lost their jobs; many more will follow.

The universities all over the world have produced brilliant economists and the governments have employed them as economic advisors, planners, operators and managers. The banks and other business organisations are run by expert managers. How is it that even when things were handled by such capable and expert people the world economy has come down to this disastrous situation? As a citizen perplexed I asked an economist friend to explain it in simple terms to me. Some say that economics is common sense made difficult; I wanted it to be made common sense again. Right or wrong, he told me that it is mainly due to the banks' folly of giving loans competitively and the borrowers' inability to pay back. Banks and insurance companies have to generate money by lending and investing.

Development companies

So they lure people for borrowing. Development companies had made the opportunity to borrow money and build houses to be sold on instalment basis. However, the people who bought the agreeing to pay monthly or quarterly have failed to pay owing to genuine or not so genuine reasons. Then the leaders are at difficulty and a series of problems arise to get increasingly complicated.

On the other hand, credit cards and hire purchase are most attractive ways to make people become indebted to financial institutions. Moreover, in the competitively consumerist environment people are bombarded with new products and services which keep on advertising 'cannot do without; must have' things and services. This has created a society where people keep on acquiring endlessly and paying endlessly.

Sophisticated equipment

When you start working you can purchase a house, a car, luxurious furniture, ultra modern entertainment and communication gadgets, and all sorts of modern sophisticated equipment in addition to designer clothes and jewellery etc. What a princely life! When it comes to paying at the end of the month or the quarter, you may just use the credit card. You pay only a small percentage and the rest gets accumulated with the interest. Lenders, actually, want it happen that way since they get their interest which means business. You keep on buying and when one card exceeds the credit limit you use another card. Banks keep on canvassing for new clients and offer attractive incentives too. Some people acquire many credit cards and keep on 'rolling' until the point of halt comes. Many people, even in the developing world, resort to such practices and think that they are very smart until the unexpected calamity takes place. Suddenly you fall ill and cannot work. Some unexpectedly lose their job owing to the company down-sizing or closing down. You have become redundant. Retrenchment or dismissal! Anything might happen.

Behinds bars

Then all your instalments fall due and the items bought on credit, one by one, have to go. Lending companies will remove them and you cannot stop them since you have signed that long document printed in tiny letters which you did not bother reading at the time of signing. Sending such non-paying clients behinds bars will not help the banks or other financial institutions. They need money back to move ahead. When the money cannot be recovered the banks might write off the debts and keep on luring some more people to borrow offering more incentives. This seems to be the reality in many societies today.

Point of collapse

Another reason for collapse of some firms is the mismanagement that goes undetected. In some financial institutions and even in industries those in the managerial positions do not reveal the reality until it is too late. They enjoy all perks even at the point of collapse of the institution. Has not the staff of one of the recently fallen financial giants held a multi-million tamasha even after they announced that they were at the verge of collapse? Are not they responsible for what has happened? From what the government has given AIG to save it from bankruptcy they have pocketed a big sum as their unpaid bonuses. Bonuses should be given to managers only when they have managed the company well and made good profit; not when they had brought the company to ruin. But these officers have taken their bonuses for the last bad years too from the money given as bail out. Moreover, recently the chairman of privately owned Austrian bank, Meinl Bank, was arrested on suspicions of fraud and breach of trust.

Viewed from the Buddhist point of view it appears very clearly that three basic causes, among others, could be identified as the main culprits. The first is uncontrolled human greed.

Uncontrolled greed

Trying to acquire more than we need or can afford to inflate our status and prestige is done because of uncontrolled greed. Making the ventures too big, exceeding the humanly possible supervision is also an expression of greed.

How can one man manage 200 companies well? Second reason is gross mismanagement and dishonesty. Thirdly, ignorance of reality and indiscriminate behaviour needs to be emphasised as responsible for the big blunders. The world was thinking the American economic philosophy as infallible and America as the role model. We were all becoming global and our big boss, we wanted to believe, was not going wrong.

One may turn round and laugh, stating all that is religious ethics; not economics or management. In fact, such 'sophisticated' critics were laughing at E. F. Schumacher who authored 'Small is Beautiful' offering a Buddhist analysis on poverty of modern economic thought. Schumacher devoted a whole chapter on Buddhist Economics in his book and wrote "The Buddhist point of view takes the function of work to be at least triple; to give a man a chance to utilise and develop his faculties; to enable him to overcome his ego centredness by joining with other people in a common task; and to bring forth the goods and services needed for a becoming existence..." Professor Glen Alexandrine, who teaches Economics in US, in his article to 'Planning Review' published in Canada, reaffirmed the importance of looking for Buddhist Economics for guidance when traditional economics is limited to materialistic assumptions like utility and profit maximisation, competitive behaviour etc. "A Buddhist Economist," he wrote, "...is not a teacher of ethics or moral philosophy.

Appropriate future

His job, on the one hand, is to encourage the planner to foresee and to create an appropriate future for his company, industry, workforce, nation and the world, and, on the other hand to supply and coordinate, in an understandable, comprehensive and technically intelligent way, all the insights he has."

Encouraged by the interest of such Western Economist critics, one Sri Lankan scholar namely, Dr. Dharmasena Hettiarachchi has published an eye-opening treatise running into more than 350 pages on the subject of Buddhist Economics.

Financial tsunami

He has shown that the Buddha has given complete philosophy of Economics that may be used in any time and any place without running into a condition like the present financial tsunami. The Buddha has based his philosophy of Economics on the Middle Path.

Allowing human greed to grow uncontrolled will only result in fierce competition which may blunts all humanitarian concerns. People may become extremely selfish and resort to all tricks to squeeze maximum possible profit. Modern food industry is a very good example. The melamine issue has shocked the world. Who can say no if someone claims that many other products that are harmful for human health are on the shelves of supermarkets waiting to be exposed? Selling poison as baby food is a good example to the extent of human greed can degenerate.

Economic success

Thus it is very important we must practise restraint. Rafael M. Sallas of UNDP once said that Sri Lanka has the most important ingredient for balanced economic success, namely restraint. If restraint is not there, people many exploit and harm fellow people. And countries may exploit, bully and destroy other countries. Materialist Economics has failed in bringing sense of balance to profit motivated people or institutions.

Modern business environment is abusing the human greed to maximum possible extent. In order to create more marketing opportunities for the competitive business world the banks and other financial institutions encourage buying on credit. They do not explain the risks you take. The Buddhist Economics has shown, two millenniums ago, that getting indebted means getting into disaster. In the Ina Sutta of Anguttara Nikaya the Buddha explains that one who borrows is obliged to pay interest and if he fails for any reason gets pressed to pay.

When being pressed and failed to pay he becomes bankrupt. Sometimes he may get arrested and end up in jail. The Buddha has emphatically said that one of the four kinds of economic happiness one may obtain is the freedom from indebtedness. Inspite of temptation in enjoying extra pleasures he ends up in endless suffering.

Buddhist Economics may bring back sense into this greed ridden, mismanaged crazy world of business.

The writer is professor at the Graduate School of Buddhist Studies, Singapore.