Buddhist Spectrum

The popular belief in society is when something happens to someone is to attribute it to KARMA. It is one of the most misunderstood words used to justify the suffering of others, a convenient way of ignoring one’s social responsibility to the fellow beings in society.

The Buddha’s teachings on Karma differ from those of other religions of the world.

The Buddha did not subscribe to the view that every thing happens to us due to something that we had done in the past.

The Buddha taught that there are five types of factors at work in the Cosmos that cause things to happen, called the FIVE NIYAMAS. Karma is only one of these factors. The present circumstances that the man is in is the result of countless factors that are always in flux. There is no single cause that determines everything to be way it is.

Utu Niyama – Environmental factor

Natural law of non-living matter. Change of seasons, climate, weather, wind, water, fire, soil, gasses, floods, earth-quakes. The matter it governs is not part of the law of Karma.

The Buddha suffered from a chronic backache, to the extent that he used to lean his back against a wall when preaching, if and when the pain increased. He would retire to his bed room and take bed rest and ask another disciple to continue with the preaching.

The Buddha in Aryaparyesana sutta says that when he was practising self mortification, he used to sleep naked on the grounds inside a cemetery exposed to the elements.

Repeated trauma to the back with temperature fluctuations on uneven gravel surface is a common cause to develop chronic backaches in terms of medical science and it is rational to say this practice led him to develop the backache although the commentaries says it is due to a past karma.

Bija Niyama – Genetic factor

Bija Niyama is the law of living matter in pali “Bija” means “seed”. It governs the nature of germs, seeds and the attributes sprouts, leaves, flowers, fruits the law of genetics.

Over fifty years ago Thalidomide, a drug was used in pregnant mothers in Germany. Many years later children with congenital deformities eg; without limbs or deformed limbs were born. Subsequent medical research in to this problem showed that is was due to a direct side effect of this drug Thalidomide. The drug was banned and thereafter the affected children and their mothers received huge compensations from the manufacturing drug company.

Chitta Niyama

Chitta Niyama means “mind” or state of consciousness. Law of mental activity, it concerns consciousness, thoughts, perceptions. In Buddhism, mental activities are phenomena that arise from causes and conditions, like other phenomena. Eg: Partaking of alcohol and other intoxicating drugs leads to a altered state of consciousness which in turn resulting in delusions, hallucinations and other sides of altered stage of perverted types of consciousness. It is this type of mind with no powers of reasoning that commits acts of child abuse, child molesting, incest, rape and murder along with other antisocial activities.

On the contrary practice of the 5 and 10 precepts in Buddhism leads one to develop such wholesome thoughts, which in turn leads to wholesome conduct which is beneficial to oneself and the society.

Promotes service to man out of compassion which was the very advise the Buddha gave the 1st batch of 60 missionaries with YASA to the outside world. Practice of meditation leads to wholesome states of mind and to develop different stages of mental absorptions which helps one to develop insight meditations, a process that leads to conquest of happiness in stages.

Kamma Niyama

Kamma Niyama is the law of causation. All our volitional thoughts, words and deeds create an energy that brings about effects and that process is called Karma.

It is a kind of Natural law, like gravity that operates without having to be directed by a divine intelligence. In Buddhism Karma is not some kind of a crime and punishment justice system that operates in the cosmos.

There is no supernatural force or God directing and controlling it to reward the good and punish the bad ones. On the contrary Karma is a natural tendency for skillful actions (kusala) to create beneficial effects and unskillful actions to create harmful (akushala) or painful effects. In Hinduism there are four castes, Brahmins, Farmers, Traders and the low castes which are sometimes termed untouchable. If one is born to low caste such as tappers will have to tap today and coconut and palmyrah trees. Fisher caste has to fish in the sea or lakes. Tom-tom beaters will have to beat their drums as their vocation etc. Low caste people are discriminated in society, culturally and economically by the high caste people which unfortunately is sanctified by the very religion Hinduism to which they all pray for their salvation. While the Brahmins and Farmers enjoy, Traders and low castes suffer with no salvation in sight. If this is not the effect of karma for the low castes to suffer, what is karma.

Can the effects of karma be modified by exercising one’s free will. Yes, Dr. Babashaib. Ambedkar one of the most learned, qualified sons of India who was appointed to lead the drafting of the Indian constitution was unfortunately a Harijan, an untouchable. He using his free will changed his religion from Hinduism to Buddhism. Along with him 50,000 people of his community embraced Buddhism. Because the Buddha says no man is born a Brahmin or a Sudra (low caste), by birth. Only by action and action alone one becomes a Brahmin or a Sudra, thus shattering the myth of Brahmin superiority over the other members of society.

Dhamma Niyama

The pali word Dhamma has several meanings. It is often used to refer to the teaching of the Buddha. It is also used to mean “manifestations of reality” or the “nature of existence”. It is also described as natural spiritual law. Eg. Doctrine of anatta (no self) Shunyata (emptiness) and Nirvana. Phenomena which cannot be described like the above 4 Niyamas.

Lalith Senanayake, the new OBA president

Lalith Senanayaka, senior partner of Tudor U Perera and Co Ltd, Chartered Accountants, Upper Chatham St, Colombo has been elected unanimously as the President of the prestigious Old Boys’ Association of Ananda College, Colombo, at the annual general meeting held at the Kularatne Hall recently chaired by the by outgoing president Tilak Karunaratne.

Lalith is an ex committee member of the OBA for many years. He was the senior vice president as well as the treasurer for many years in addition to having chaired many sub committees of the OBA.

Lalith was also a member of the Old Anandians’ Buddhist Association, Old Anandian’s Sport Club, 70-75 Group, Seniro Old Anandians and Ananda Swimming Pool Management company.

Lalith Senanayaka is the president of the Dayaka Sabha of Sri Wijayarama Raj aMaha Viharaya, Gangodaila and has participated in almost every pinkamas held by me at Sri Dharmodhaya Piriven Vihara, Colombo.

Anguruwatota Ampitigala Sri Sumangalarama Chief Incumbent Ven Bhathiyalvela Vandananda Thera presented his book ‘Prathama Parajikava ha Parisaraya Pilimbanda Bauddha Akalpa’ to Prime Minister Dr D M Jayaratne recently. The book contains details of the Buddha’s teachings on Dhamma discipline.

Felicitating Ven Devasiri Thera

The Buddha offered the highest positions to Venerables Sariputta and Moggallana Theras. This paved the way for rumours: the Buddha has favourites! But later on the Buddha proved it was not so. The positions were given to the most deserved. This noble practice continued all throughout. Ven Professor Neluwa Sumanawansa Thera of Pali and Buddhist University shared these thoughts at a function held in Kaluthara. The function was to felicitate Katukurunda Susimaramaya Chief Incumbent Ven. Mandawala Devasiri Thera with the title ‘Saddharam Vagiswara’ by the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dhamma Maha Sangha Sabawa. The gathering was chaired by the Chief Nayaka Thera of Bentara sector of Kotte Ven. Dediyawala Thilakasiri.

On this occasion the pupil of Nayaka Thera, Ven. Panapitiya Vigithananda Thera, also received the ‘Saddharmakirthi’ title which was offered by Anagarika Dharmapala Foundation. This event was a special occasion because the teacher and the pupil were both honoured on the stage as commented by Venerable Sumanawansa Thera. Added Ven Sumanawansa Thera: “Giving respect and honour to the deserving is a noble practice. That has continued right throughout. Education Ministry Secretary (Rtd) and Kalutara GA Andrew de Silva said that it was an encouraging event.

“When I went to Buddha Gaya as early as 6, I was shocked by what I saw. Ven Devasiri Thera was sweeping the floor. How can I be without shock when such a scholarly monk had become so humble enough to sweep the floor?” Silva further commented. Chief Sanghanayaka of Bentara Walallawita two Korales of the Kotte sector Ven Malegoda Nanda Thera, Venerable Pandith Lathpandure Rahula Neluwe Ananda, Pathakada Wimalananda Theras and D C Piyadasa also spoke.

The Dehiwala Mt Lavinia YMBA held a seminar for parents of pupils attached to Dhamma schools in the area at the YMBA hall on March 25. This was followed by a felicitation ceremony in honour of the teachers attached to these schools. Here a section of the Maha Sangha led by Ven Dr Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thera who addressed the seminar. Below a section of the gathering of parents and teachers.