Individual and society in Buddhism

Professor Sunanda MAHENDRA

The title of a book may look quite broad and widespread as a subject perspective. But this may tend to attract a reader to look into insights. The book authored by Dr. W. G. Weeraratne, bearing the title 'Individual and Society in Buddhism', is based on a doctoral thesis submitted to the University of Lancaster in 1974, presumably with a much longer title. The author shows how much of time and dedication he has endowed in the research project in order to conduct the above thesis under a scholar supervisor of the same university.

The printed publication of the work based on the thesis covers five basic areas directing attention on the Buddhist doctrine and Buddhist text. But the researcher Weeraratne is not a parochial scholar, since he spreads his vision beyond the textual meanings applying the material to analyze some of the day to day experiences.

The Chapter One titled as 'The Goal of life and the path to its attainment' (p1 - 23) could be regarded as overview of the subject area, where he underlines the concept of the goal of life in terms of Buddhism and goes on to present some of the Buddhist interpretations on same by quoting instances of the utterances of Buddha from time to time.

According to the factors presented, the reader may feel that the goals of a happier and contented life are either covered by such factors as ignorance or left abandoned not knowing the path that leads to achieve the bliss. He copiously quotes such works as canonical texts and refers to Suttas embedded in them as source material. He refers to such Suttas as Ariyapariyesana, and Sumannapahala, to clarify the central issues pertaining to the subject.

He refers to other religious leaders who lived during the time of the Buddha, such as Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala, Ajitha Kesakambala, Pakudha Kachchayana, Sanjaya Bellatthiputta and Nigantha Nataputta and differentiates their approaches and those of the Buddha.

They are being treated and presented briefly enabling the reader to compare and to peruse more closely as a series of religious insights. Having laid these facts the reader is made to know that the teachings of two: Aalarakalama, and Uddaka Ramaputta, have closer resemblances to those of Siddhartha Gothama, who went in search of his path. Then comes the presentation of the Eight-fold Noble Path which eventually discovered by the Buddha.

Together with these eight noble truths prcede the Four Noble Truths and the setting of the wheel of righteousness exemplified in the text named Dhammachakkappavattana Sutta. In short, the goals to the life is treated as the rediscovery of these spiritual meanings as declared by the Buddha in broader terms. An elaboration of the eight-fold path is presented by the writer taking one by one.

The second chapter deals on matters pertaining to the freedom of the individual to think and act. The writer quotes and refers to such sources as Dhammapada, Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Kevatta Sutta, Brahmajaya Sutta, Devadatta Sutta and several Jataka sources in order to clarify the standpoint of the individual as regards freedom to act and think.

A number of clearly laid down Buddhist views are presented with a backdrop of events of the time of the Buddha.

The chapter four covers the topic: 'Duties and obligations of an individual to society'. The duties and obligations cover in the Buddhist sense of the term to some of the achieved virtues of an individual which with help him to mould a better relation with the members of his living plane, where places such as home, working lace etc matter. Parental care and child welfare matters. Honesty counts. The chapter five which culminates the central topic goes as development of character. This last chapter is more or less a pinnacle of the human achievement where the character or the personality matters ultimately. Reference is made to the physical and mental upliftment from the banality of the mundane life full of desires and defilements. Reference is also made to such matters as happiness and contentment.

The work by the scholar Weeraratne I feel is a commendable gift to the reader of spiritualism.

The tone of the book is neither high flown nor oversimplified, and it suits the temperament of the seeker of values for a better living condition based on Buddhist doctrine.

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