Features | Online edition of Daily News

Buddhists all over the world would always find inspiration from places linked to the Buddha’s life Sumanachandra Ariywansa captures memorable moments of pilgrims breathing in the serenity of where once the Master lived.

The robed statue of the Buddha	Monks carrying a robe in procession to be offered to the Lumbini shrine
Monks reciting Maha Parinibbana Sutta in Kusinara where the Buddha passed away	Flowers offered in tribute to the Bodhi tree, where the Buddha achieved Enlightenment	A monk reciting Pirith in Lumbini Vihara, where the Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha
Pilgrims trying to take a glimpse at the gong located by the entry gate of Jethavana Vihara that sheltered the Buddha for a long time	Crowds studying the remains of Nalanda University

Ideal study of Buddhism

Title : The Buddhist

Editor : Rajah Kuruppu

Publisher : Young Men’s Buddhist Association

Price : Rs 125

Page count : 76 pages

Reviewed by E M G Edirisinghe

The issue of the 126th volume of The Buddhist the bilingual Buddhist journal founded in 1888 and published by the YMBA, Colombo brings out several articles which enlighten the reader with a variety of topics covering several aspects which arise when a reader focuses on Buddhism in depth.

The articles it carries in Sinhala and English make the average reader richer in the knowledge of the Dhamma. The ‘guardians of world’ by Bhikkhu Bodhi who is considered the best living exponent of Theravada Buddhism, concentrates on mental constitution which covers both the individual and the society. ‘Nibbana’ by Ven.

Luand Poe Sumedha says that the word Nibbana is undefinable, and he goes on to explain it as the status in which on experiences ‘the reality of non-grasping.’

Similarly, ‘Vipassana Meditation’ is the subject which Ven Dr Revatha Dhamma does discuss. ‘Vipassana’, says he, ‘means to use to see things as they really are leaving no room for intrusion of imagination or illusion.

In his contribution, Dr. Ananda W P Guruge observes why does Buddhism appear to be so favoured in the world. Buddhism has become relevant as education, science and technology are making giant strides in the world today. Suranga Weerapperuma’s ‘How Buddhists Express Their Devotion’ is an interesting contribution which says that clarity and serenity characterizes the mind of a practising Buddhist.

Tissa Devendra’s piece is a tribute to Prof G P Malalasekera for making his dream of a World Fellowship of Buddhists come true. With his ‘Economic Impact of Observing the Five Precepts,’ Olcott Gunasekera factually advances the theory that adherence to the five precepts will make one not only spiritually richer, but economically too.

This detailed analytical study of the offences committed by prison inmates arranged on the basis of breach of the Buddhist five precepts, 65.5 percent of them are convicted of alcohol and drug related offences while 12.7 percent are convicted of offences related to stealing and theft.

Woman and Buddhism, in relation to ordination in particular, is the subject of Anil D Amarasekera’s write-up. As far as Nibbana the summom bonum in Buddhism is concerned, it is equally within the reach of both man and woman without any discrimination.

Touching on a serious Buddhist theme R L Ihalamulla makes his analysis under the subject ‘The Great Myth about suffering and its Cessation,’ he says “suffering is inherent in mankind which manifests itself in mild to severe forms. “Knowledge alone cannot bring happiness defeating suffering. The Noble Eight-fold Path is the

Dr Wickrama Weerasooriya draws the attention of the reader with his learned least written least discussed subject of Buddhist Eccelesiastical Law. According to him this subject is quite vast and is far from what an average Buddhist seems to think. Dr Siri Nissanka Perera’s contribution The Buddha Born in Bharat is an attempt to focus on the Buddha from an historical perception. While, according to Dr Kariyawasam’s Buddhist concept of Human Person, it is an analytical approach to puggala, aththa and saththa as conceived in the Buddha Dhamma.

Buddhism and the national environment are inseparable. Prof Lilie de Silva who concentrates on this subject says that the main reason for environmental pollution is the projection of one’s own polluted mind. The attitude of Buddhism to nature is that man should be primarily non-aggressive and soft.

According to Dr Dharmasena’s assertion what the Buddha preached the laity is not to run away from lay life but to stabilise oneself in noble life to make lay life satisfying and productive.

This volume of ‘The Buddhist Journal’ is pleasantly readable and stimulating, and what is more important is that it is a volume that enriches the reader’s knowledge on the path to understanding the Dhamma.

Why Buddhism?

Why is Buddhism the fastest growing religion in the western world? The answer to this inquiry is multi-layered and complex. It is a tantalizing issue because it highlights the changing spiritual landscape of the West and provides an insight into just how multicultural the West has really become.

How is it possible for a 2,500-year-old philosophy, which began 500 years before Christianity and 1000 years before the Muslim faith, to be relevant to modern life in the West? Considering all the other ancient religions that have faded from contemporary practice, such as the sun worshippers of Ancient Egypt, the human sacrifices of the South American Mayans and the Druids from the Dark Ages of England, Buddhism has outlasted them all

Buddhism is a living, growing religion today because it succeeds in conserving many of the highest moral values of its adherents. It promotes calmness and self-control, augments serenity and happiness, and does much to prevent sorrow and mourning. Those who believe this philosophy live better lives than many who do not.

Free Thinkers

Westerners believe that Buddhism is a scientific religion. Gautama, the Buddha, is honoured today by every cultured and intellectual man irrespective of whatever religion he may profess, while the founders of most of the other religions are honoured only by their followers. Not only have those who belong to some other religions but also the ‘free thinkers’ respected this world honoured Supreme Enlightened One.

Bertrand Russell, in his presentation ‘Why I am not a Christian’ says, ‘I cannot myself feel that either in the matter of wisdom or in the matter of virtue Christ stands quite as high as some other people known to history? I think I should put Buddha above him in those respects.

H. G. Wells, famous writer and teacher, says, ‘Buddha in a different language called men to self-forgetfulness five hundred years before Christ. In some ways he was nearer to us and our needs. Buddha was more lucid upon our individual importance in service than Christ, and less ambiguous upon the question of personal immortality.

Albert Einstein, famous physicist and philosopher comments, ‘The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology, covering both the natural and the spiritual, as a meaningful unity.

Buddhism answers this description.’ Rev. Joseph Wain remarks, ‘Buddhism taught a life not by rule, but by principle, a life of beauty; and as a consequence, it was a religion of tolerance.

It was the most charitable system under the sun. ‘These are just a few among the thousands of quotes by the illustrious personalities around the world.

Educated men and women in the West Began to appreciate Buddhism for three fundamental reasons: Buddhism teaches that all men are born equal and free to choose whatever is best for them. Buddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so loving and compassion are natural and important: it focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life.

Why I am a Buddhist

Stephen T. Asma is Professor of Philosophy and distinguished scholar at Columbia College Chicago, He works on the philosophy of the life sciences, and the theme of Religion and Science (especially Buddhism and Christianity). Prof. Asma wrote a book titled ‘Why I Am a Buddhist’. Part of his introduction to the book is quoted below. He answers in simple terms why he became a Buddhist and why Buddhism matters to him.

‘Buddhism has a core set of elements that inform its approach to life, and these were not just recommended on the authority of the Buddha’s charismatic personality. They were put forth, using argument and evidence, as testable and verifiable truths that could be corroborated by anyone who cared to investigate them. In that sense, Buddhism is not a set of beliefs to be adopted by faith, but a set of practices and beliefs to be tested and then employed in our pursuit of the good life.’

‘I will slowly unpack these elements of Buddhism (collectively referred to as the Dharma) by looking at some specific challenges of our modern life. How can Buddhism be applied to our lives in the workplace? How can Buddhism inform and ameliorate our increasing biotech moral quandaries (genetic therapy, stem cell research, mood medications, nanotechnology, etc.)?

How can Buddhism help Americans in the ‘war of the sexes’ and the ongoing reformulation of the family? How can Buddhism, with its emphasis on conflict resolution, contribute to and clarify such issues as ‘nation-building,’ ‘religious tolerance,’ and the ‘war on terror’?’

‘And how can Buddhism better educate or moderate our national pastimes of entertainment and consumption? Buddhism has beneficial wisdom to help us navigate even the most arduous aspects of modern life.’

‘While I was writing this book, a news story filled the media— the same story that fills the media every year around Thanksgiving. The day after the holiday is celebrated as the high holy-day of consumerism—Black Friday.

Consumers line up all night long outside retail stores, and when the stores open, the patrons, filled to the brim with cravings, actually trample each other in a stampede to get the consumer products.

This time around an employee at a superstore was actually crushed to death. When patrons of the superstore were informed of the tragedy, they disregarded the management’s attempt to close the store and instead went on shopping—refusing to leave.

Many lesser injuries ensued all around the country. While everyone in the media and the wider culture dutifully reported the death and the injuries with gravitas, there was no question or critique of the larger ideological assumption—furious consumption is healthy for America. If anyone doubts the relevance of Buddhism for Americans, I recommend they spend some time watching the depressing YouTube videos of people getting trampled in order to get TVs and video games.

Revisiting the inheritance