Buddhist spectrum

Dambulla cave temple

The best preserved sacred venue:

Rupa BANDUWARDENA

Situated in the Central Province 82 miles from Colombo, 45 miles from Kandy and 10 miles from Sigiriya is Dambulla the world famous largest and carefully preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. This has been a sacred place of sanctity for Buddhists since the second century BC. This stands out as a very impressive cave temple well known for its strategic location on a rocky slab reflecting the ancient culture of the island based on Buddhism and inspired by Buddhist ideals.

The art of sculpture and painting could be well observed. This is certainly a temple of exceptional calibre that makes us certainly proud of our past. The temple has become all the more important with the subsequent addition of the magnificent golden Buddha statue found in the premises which helps one to identify the sacred place from afar.

The origin and the historical background

It is very clear from ancient chronicles an archaeological evidence that with the advent of Thera Mahinda and Buddhism, to begin with there had been numerous caves with the drip ledges cut in them.

The early Buddhist monk lived in caves which constituted the cells of monks far removed from the crowd, practically cut off from the world he could live a life of detachment in solitude. Next to Mihintale, the caves previously occupied by kings as hiding places were later turned into temples.

The caves became so important part of living of the kings who took refuge there temporarily and caves of various shapes were found among the naturally located huge rocks and Dambulla is an outstanding example for a temple complex found in a cave.

The rock cave temple at Dam was built by king Vatta Gamini Abhaya who fled to the central highlands when Pandyans invaded Rajarata. He took refuge here and later when he won back his throne in 29 BC. During the era of prosperity that followed he transformed the caves into rock temple venerated by all Buddhists today. This enchanting sacred spot is serene attraction enjoyed by many a Buddhist.

Name and fame caves

Going back to its origin the name Dambulla is said to be derived from Damba - Rock and ulla meaning fountain. History records that after Valagamba the temple received further attention by the subsequent kings, later followed by king Nissanka Malla who had adorned the interior walls with golden colour giving it the name Rangiri (Golden rock) bringing into memory the charming melody sung by vivacious couple P.L.A. Somapala. Chitra, the talented singers. The glorious name the cave temple is due to the location of numerous caves in the vicinity in close proximity to the main temple. But the most predominant containing statues which have been converted into shrine rooms are five in number.

These are found at the base in the backdrop of a naturally located huge rock 150 meters in height, supposed to be built during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods. These are acclaimed to be the most splendid in Sri Lanka on its artistic and cultural merit.

Caves Devaraja Lena or the cave of the Divine King comes first in the list. Among the many caves used by the meditating monks of the by-gone era, this is the most outstanding with a 14 metre statue of the Buddha. There is a first century Brahmin. Inscription near the entrance, giving a description of the entire cave/.

Statues

Statues are an essential feature of Buddhist vihares and Dambulla temple has its compliment of statues. There are altogether 153 Buddha images. In addition to these sculptured Buddha statues and also statues of various kings and deities are in all caves.

In the cave called Maharaja lena meaning the cave of great kings. There are 16 standing and 40 seated Buddha statues with the statues of deities such as Saman a popular deity of the area an God Vishnu believed to have blessed the place for honoured veneration by the pilgrims who engage in eventful religious performances with utmost faith making vows for the future progress in their day to day life.

Then there are the wooden structures of Bosat Maitriya and Natha. Then not to miss the statues of the two great kings Vattagamini Abhaya and Nissanka Malla for their magnanimous service to the venue.

Paintings of value

Former the creator and the later to give the 50 statues the golden shrine as shown by the stone inscription at the entrance. The third cave, the stone inscription at the entrance. The third cave, the Alut Vihara depict the Kandyan traditional art said to have been completed during the reign of Keerthisiri Rajasinghe as indicated by the statue found there, a good testimony to his efforts in beautifying the place. The fourth and fifth caves depict the strategic location giving a complete effect to the temple complex.

The temple complex holds a special place not only in Buddhist art and sculpture but also in fascinating paintings of value. It is estimated that there are almost 2000 square metres of rock and wall paintings, depicting the life of the Buddha. Scenes prior to his birth – the dream of queen Mahamaya.

Then Mara Parajaya with the attainment of Buddhahood. History of Buddhism and also the major events in the history of the island are among the paintings of the ceiling and the inner walls. There is said to be holy water dripping from a rock having miraculous powers. There are many legends attributed to the spot.

They believe there are various divine beings paying their respect to the holy place. Above all the best sacred landmark in Dambulla is the serene Buddha statue reflecting strong feelings of compassion and loving kindness. In addition to the gift of truth the doctrine conveyed, the sacred spot Dambulla depicts traditional art forms like sculpture, carvings and paintings of ancient Dharmadweepa.

Forgiveness in Buddhism

The differing views :

Padma EDIRISINGHE

Please do not expect from me a learned discourse on the heavy topic “Concept of Forgiveness in Buddhism”. In fact I may safely say that in this essay I am only begging some questions in the context of a recent issue. Bear with me for my ignorance and for bringing in a character far removed from the topic. Name, Tiger Woods.

Or is he that far? No. Distance in itself is relative. For one thing he is Buddhist in faith and for another thing (please overlook the Ceylonisms) he has been craving forgiveness from all around him for the past few months, from his wife, from his parents, from his friends and relatives, even from the State judging by the wide circle he has ben referring to in his world-flaunted speeches of apology. He is black in colour, very handsome and smart and has shot to world fame and super status in the game of Golf. Domiciled I don’t know where for he has so many mansions. Married to a Swiss fashion model. He is today a world famous celebrity.

I am not sure exactly when he started riveting my attention. Perhaps some stray reading. Anyway whenever somebody of my colour hits world headlines. I too hit the top of my own small world. Perhaps this could be the result of a long standing. Vendetta against the White man who has been dominating the universe for a number of centuries much maligning the ‘Heathen Blacks’. Perhaps another cause could be that he was the age of my sons. And then when I learnt that he was a Buddhist the affinity was further established.

The fate that befalls many a man rising to fame and fortune fell on him too. He was incredibly rich, very famous and attractive and still young enough for romance and illicit liaisons. And he was always globe trotting by himself. You cannot expect him to take his family along with him as he trudged long miles to all his golf tournaments. Women, especially liberated women of the flirtatious disposition simply began to swarm around him. Poor Tiger Woods, he could not resist the Devil’s temptation. Everything was okay till he was discovered. A cruel saying runs that everybody remains saints till they are discovered as sinners. And then when discovered the golf club rose against Woods, this time wielded by his faithful wife very skilfully.

All hell began to open up. One by one his mistresses began to unravel the secret life they led with him. It became a boast for them insensitive to the hurt they caused his wife and children. The media that can turn dreadful just relished the episode and flavoured matters with spicy bits, imagined or otherwise. World famous TV Channels not to be outdone butted in. They opened the issue to the viewing public and requested advice for Woods now hounded mercilessly. This was a time when a knee problem made me sit glued to the Dialog TV and waste my precious time listening to these misguided advices. A frequent advice given was for Tiger Woods to change his religion. One viewer boldly proclaimed that there was no pardon in Buddhism for misadventures of this sort and called on Woods to revert to his original faith.

The ignorance of the West regarding Buddhism is almost appalling. Even Barack Obama, Harvard educated and President of the USA does not seem to be aware of its existence. I once listened to a speech made by him again over these channels where he referred to the main religions of the world, listing them by name. Buddhism was left out. May be it was a slip but what a slop! Judaism was right inside the list. That Buddhism needs much more publicity and clearing of wrong concepts grown around it is evident here.

That viewer who advised Tiger Woods to give up Buddhism was portraying this noble religion as a vengeful cult that never pardoned a sinner. Two famous characters in Buddhist literature falsify this theory, Angulimala and Patachara. Angulimala earned his name through his crimes. He wore a necklace made out of the fingers of the murdered. Nence Angulimala such dastardly criminals emerge in human history from time to time and do so even now. Some devils who have got into human guise keep parts of bodies of their murdered victims inside the refrigerator to view them with macabre pleasure from time to time. Most of these criminals once discovered end in gallows. But Angulimala had a strange end never enjoyed by the other criminals. He lived in Buddha’s time and that made the difference. Gauthama Buddha with his vast wisdom saw through the background that made Angulimala a criminal. His teacher misled by jealous students who concocted a tale of the young student having an affair with his wife had instructed him to turn murderer as part of his student life. Buddha reforming him ordained him as a Bhikkhu too. Where is the revengeful cult here?

And there are facets of Patachara’s tale that yet remain unexplored. She was the daughter of a wealthy duke of high social standing in Savath city. She tainted her family by running away with a menial servant in the palace. That she had wild sexual propensities could be guessed by the fact that the parents had locked her up in a room many storeys high. Perhaps the only male who had access to her could be that servant who carried meals to her room or performed some other essential errand. But the Buddhist culture is so forgiving that even today no body speaks of these dissipated ways of her. Patachara is certainly a lucky lass for even in today’s enlightened age, people spurn such daughters of committing the offence of disgracing the family. “Moone deligaawa” is the local phrase used which means applying soot on the face. They overlook the high complexity of human nature that makes men and women stoop to unexpected and socially non-condoned behaviour.

Like Angulimala, Patachara also lived during the Buddha’s time and despite all her past acts that hardly fitted the label of a righteous daughter to which were added untold sufferings caused by her own irresponsible behaviour was lucky enough to be addressed as Sister by the Great Thathagatha. Though never mentioned in any standard psychology texts of educational institutes, in the Buddha we see one of the earliest proponents of Psychology who forgave many a human after seeing through the events that led to the debacle. After Patachara had gone distraught again she seemed to have assumed anti-social behaviour by going about naked. All clothes thrown on her she would tear thus giving rise to the name Patachara-One who tears off robes. But once reformed became not only a highly disciplined nun but the foremost.

This Touch Heal treatment activates the various glands and cells releasing the required amount of energy for proper and balanced recovery. Augmenting the resultant salutary effects on the body is the release of one from the inner fear which begins with the slow and pensive conversation. No hurry, no brittle talk that dismisses the patient as some riff raff, no eyeing your pocket or purse for that all-important dough that the greatest philosopher of Mother India. The Buddha denounced as the serpent that brings endless woe to humans.

Dr. Seth is modest too about his performances. Here he is on the subject. “I only give the healing that the patient requires depending on how much he accepts it for it to be effective. Here is the ultimate in modesty.

“We are not gods, just human beings who have learnt to channel the energy force around us.”

Now we descend from Gods to much more earthy topics as Malaria. In fact Dr. Seth has developed a herbal medicine for the prevention and cure of malaria. The prevention herbal is made of milk and herbs and can be taken by any one as there are no side effects. The doctor also has developed a medicine for heart problems and has helped patients awaiting by pass sugery. Staging workshops wherever he travels, his aim here is to disseminate the knowledge he has garnered. An 8 to 10 hour program of 3 days follows these workshops that start with different forms of Yoga aimed at establishing a positive mental attitude.

Stress, migraine, wounded shoulders, pained back and legs, hands, knees, diabetics, heart, stomach disorders, sexual problems, childlessness, insomnia and a host of physical mental and emotional problems. Dr. Seth is there to help you. He does not guarantee complete cure, remember he is no God (he admits to be not so) but he would carefully listen to your woes and feel your pains and empathise with them and attempt his cures. Cynicism and he are far apart. Pocket grabbing and he are far apart.

Medicating apart in this sorry and wicked world just getting that there are humans like him do sooth you.

Going round and round the world? I feel he should do it more often. His very presence is magic.

Sakalika Sutta The

Stone Sliver

Translated from the Pali Thanissaro Bhikkhu

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha at the Maddakucchi Deer Reserve. Now at that time his foot had been pierced by a stone sliver. Excruciating were the bodily feelings that developed within him — painful, fierce, sharp, wracking, repellent, disagreeable — but he endured them mindful, alert, and unperturbed. Having had his outer robe folded in four and laid out, he lay down on his right side in the lion’s posture — with one foot placed on top of the other — mindful and alert.

Then Mara the Evil One went to the Blessed One and recited this verse in his presence:

Are you lying there in a stupor,

or drunk on poetry?

Are your goals so very few?

All alone in a secluded lodging,

what is this dreamer,

this sleepy-face?

[The Buddha:]

I lie here,

not in a stupor,

nor drunk on poetry.

My goal attained,

I am sorrow-free.

All alone in a secluded lodging,

I lie down with sympathy

for all beings.

Even those pierced in the chest

with an arrow,

their hearts rapidly,

rapidly

beating:

even they with their arrows

are able to sleep.

So why shouldn’t I,

with my arrow removed?

I’m not awake with worry,

nor afraid to sleep.

Days and nights

don’t oppress me.

I see no threat of decline

in any world at all.

That’s why I sleep

with sympathy

for all beings.

Then Mara the Evil One — sad and dejected at realizing, “The Blessed One knows me; the One Well-Gone knows me” — vanished right there.