LETTERS ON BUDDHISM
Appeared in Sri Lankan News Papers
PAGE II
LETTERS INDEX Page-2
- Dhamma Gathas in Sinhala - The Pali language was the language of the people of Magadha Desa where ...
- Sinhala Buddhists - Ven. Soma Thera preaches the Dhamma in countries other than Sri Lanka...
- Why slate Ven. Soma Thera? - Ven. Soma, a true patriot and lover of our motherland and indigenous population, has times without number...
- Empirical knowledge and god - Those who fill newspaper columns arguing that god exists or does not exist...
- Dhamma gathas in Sinhala for Sinhales - The Dhamma (Doctrine of Deliverance) was preached by the Buddha for the benefit of all humanity...
- Rev Soma Thera and the TV discussions - We who live in a democratic country are free to discuss or speak and to express our views...
- Vesak - a United Nations Special Day - At the 1998 International Buddhist Conference held in Sri Lanka to commemorate...
- Caste in the Sangha - Kamalika Pieris’s current series on Buddhism has referred twice to caste restrictions in the Sri Lankan Sangha...
..Dhamma Gathas in Sinhala
Ref. letter under captioned 'Dhamma Gatha in Sinhala' by Hettige (DN of 8/10/99) I offer few comments.
The Pali language was the language of the people of Magadha Desa where the Buddha was born. It is one of the most beautiful languages of the world. It is called a musical langauge, Dr. G. P. Malalasekera who was proficient in so many languages too expressed the same opinion and confirmed the view.
The Five Precepts, Eight Precepts, Jayamangala Gatha and Pirith recitations, Bodhi Pooja, Vihara Vehera worship etc are in Pali and its music sound has a real soothing effect on the mind. See ho beautiful the Pirith, Jayamangala Gathas etc are. Even though you hear them daily you never get tired of listening to them because of the wonderful music of its tunes.
It is told that these Gathas and so forth are recited in Pali to get the full effect of efficacy and benevolence as they are composed with the effect of the sound having benevolent effects. It is this sound effect of its numerous words, syllables etc that brings benevolent effects. We even name our children consulting astrologers for the construction and sound effects to bring benevolent effects.
The Christians too have copied these sweet tunes of like of Jayamangala Gathas. The Buddhist nations like Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, China, Mongolia etc also recite in the original Pali all these Gathas etc.
The Koran is recited in Arabic in whichever country Islam is practised. Professor Rydes Davis, Mrs. Davis and Turner and after scholars have transcripted the all important Buddhist tripitaka to English with diacritical marks to have them in the original Pali to get the benefit of the sound. Tripitaka is now available in Sinhala as all other buddhist books.
Any Buddhist fully well understand the meaning of these Gathas etc which they recite almost daily.
When Bana is preached the monks utter the Pali version first and explain in detail the bana is Sinhala. Hence there is absolutely no difficulty in apprehending the Dhamma by the Sinhala people.
The Hindus use Sanskrit the original language of the Vedas in their stanzas.
Hence there is no necessity at all to substitute Sinhala for Gathas etc which are in original Pali, at this stage. It has continued for the last 2543 yrs. and let it not be disturbed for the next 2457 yrs.
I wish an erudite Buddhist monk would express further opinion on this for the benefit of all and clear all doubts.
V. K. B. RAMANAYAKE - Colombo 3
Daily News,16 Oct 99
I am a strong admirer of Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera. In respect of the above reference to "Sinhala Buddhists" I fully agree with Mr.. Edirisinghe.
Ven. Soma Thera preaches the Dhamma in countries other than Sri Lanka too. He does not convert them or coerce them to become Buddhists in any way. But, if one of those foreign people, on their own free will, accepts the teachings of Lord Buddha and becomes a Buddhist, where does he stand, according to this nomenclature. He is not a Sinhala. According to this nomenclature, he cannot be a Buddhist. Because there are only Sinhala Buddhists and no Australian Buddhists, German Buddhists etc.
Similarly there are also Sinhala Catholics, Sinhala Christians, Anglicans, Baptists or for that matter Sinhala Hindus too. Therefore, I agree with Mr. EMGE that this nomenclature needs a little change, which definitely would bring about better inter religious understanding. I do not take offence, but I strongly feel that this nomenclature has to change and change fast to bring about greater religious harmony and better understanding.
I am a Sinhala Catholic, married to a Sinhala Buddhist. I respect Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera very much. He is a rare celebrity that has been bestowed upon Sri Lanka. He has a vision and a greater mission. And above all he has a very strong backbone, to call a spade a spade.
Let us all rally round him, with a national identity in this tremendous task of saving our nation from the "dowries" that we have been bestowed upon from the west, viz alcohol, drugs, tobacco and the next to nothing attires of the female folk, on which Thera thrashes out vehemently.
Dr. Jupiter Moonemalle - Kurunegala
Daily News, 16 Oct 99
I refer to Mr. Madura Manage’s letter in the Sunday newspaper of 19th instant and would wish to express my dissatisfaction for the most unfair and unbecoming criticism of Ven. Soma Thera, that I suppose is press freedom. Ven. Soma, a true patriot and lover of our motherland and indigenous population, has times without number exposed the sinister and scheming efforts of the microscopic minorities.
He has conducted discussions with great decorum and dignity. His main grouse was that Digawapi Temple lands are being colonised by Ashraff Minister. He admits many points but tries to wriggle out of the situation by making the British colonists a scape-goat. About Muslims he said the plain truth that millions of goats and lambs are being slaughtered after their prayers. The last Haj Festival took a heavy toll of four lakhs of animals. What is incorrect in pin-pointing about a universal truth?
Priests erudite like Ven. Soma Sri Sobhitha, late Gnanaseeha, Labuduwe Siri Dhamma, Wariyapola Sri Sumangala are some of the giants, true patriots who worked hard with their hearts and souls for our nation. So is Ven. Madihe Pagnaseeha and the late Ven. Baddegama Wimalawansa.
These and the high priests, the Ven. Maha Nayake Theras were the custodians of Buddhism and protectors of the integrity and sovereignty of the country. Now fifty four innocent civilians in a Sinhalese village have been brutally massacred, men, women and little children. Mr. Manage, why not protest and organise a mammoth rally &emdash; a peace march to appeal for peace and to halt the barbaric and monstrous massacres? It is the valiant and brave Buddhists monks who come forward fearlessly to face any national crisis.
Carl Nanayakkara - Kalutara
The Island, 16 Oct 99
Professor Carlo Fonseka has written an elegant article recently explaining lucidly the fundamentals of empirical knowledge which is the basis of science. Those who fill newspaper columns arguing that god exists or does not exist, should read it and understand the limitations of proof. The professor says "no matter how many times a generalisation is ‘verified’ it does not thereby logically acquire universal validity. Therefore a scientific law is not conclusively verifiable. But it is possible to prove it false. Many scientific propositions and theories of the earlier centuries have been modified or rejected outright. Physics and Chemistry are sciences based upon statistical laws concerning the behaviour of particles, electrons, atoms and molecules.
The other method of proof &emdash; deductive logic is also flawed because it is based on acceptance of a premise from which the conclusion follows. You can’t assert the premise and deny the conclusion without contradicting oneself. So deduction can’t reveal anything not originally built in.
Many people believe it is fundamentally reasonable to believe in god. As the professor says ‘it is epistemologically legitimate to accept a proposition for the purpose of verifying its truth’ provided it is accepted as tentative until verification in the sense of being falsified. So those who ask for proof of god’s existence often don’t appreciate the nature and limitations of any proof.
When looking at the universe what is most striking is the order in it. Many physical bodies observe laws which have been discovered by scientists. The existence of a rational being perhaps explains it better than the alternative that they are due to chance. This is the rational basis for belief in god which many great scientists subscribed to. Copernicus, Kepeler, Galileo, Newton, Leibnitz did not merely believe in god.... their incentive in working at all was a desire to know god."
Several who have written about the history of science say that science developed only in the west because of the belief in god. Of course the existence of god cannot be proved conclusively. But there is nothing in the universe for which absolute conclusive proof is possible. Science can’t give a valid proof that the Sun will rise tomorrow. But nor can any disproof of the existence of god possible.
What about the testimony of other people. This is the issue that professor analyses in examining the Kalama Sutta, ‘One should not accept the statements of anyone as true on the mere ground of authority". But a provisional acceptance is made after ensuring the honesty, unbiased nature and intelligence of the person from whom such a statement is accepted.
Many holy people, not only Christians but Hindus, Muslims and other mystics have talked of their experience with god. Belief in god and communion with him seems to have transformed their lives. Should we be guided by the belief in god that these men have testified to. Can a mere elusion bring about such a change in their lives. Is prayer mere wish fulfilment. Or is there something outside the universe which is interacting with the believers and bringing about changes in their lives.
R. M. B. Senanayake
The Island, 16 Oct 99
The far sighted Samma Sambuddha Buddha, Gotama, established the Buddha Sasana in order to ensure that the Mind Program ‘Dhamma’ would endure for a full 5000 years in this World by creating a Human Computer Network which he called the order of the Sangha, who were duty bound to memorize every detail of the Dhamma and pass it on to the next generation network of the Maha Sangha, and so on, in a Language the common people could fully understand.
The Dhamma (Doctrine of Deliverance) was preached by the Buddha for the benefit of all humanity without any Discrimination of Language Religion, Race, Caste, Colour, Status or Wealth. The only stipulated requirement was an Unbiased & Unclouded Intellect. His request to all beings was ‘Ehipassiko’ come & see with your own mind ‘eye’ as there are no secrets in the Dhamma. The point made here is can the Sinhalese people, who do not understand Pali language, ever hope to see the Dhamma with their own mind ‘eye’ if it is presented in the Pali Language by the Sangha at all religious ceremonies. Does this not defeat the very purpose for which the Buddha created the Sasana, as this contravenes some of the basic requirements of the Noble Eightfold Path - RIGHT UNDERSTANDING & RIGHT MINDFULNESS. THEREFORE WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS LANGUAGE DISCRIMINATION? This apparently insignificant yet ingeniously effective stalemating of the Dhamma has caused the Irreversible Dhamma Chakra tobe an elusive dream for majority of its followers all over the world, since the seemingly innocent repetition of the Pali Gathas without fully comprehending their exact meaning is an unmindful action which causes irreparable damage and impedes a person’s hopes of ever achieving Nibbana during this Buddha Sasana unless he learns Pali.
The Sinhala monks should not find any difficulty in reciting the daily religious Gatha recitations in Sinhala as all the stanzas illustrating the Virtues of the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha as well as those for Buddha Puja, Merit Transference, Five Precepts, Bodhi Puja & Jayamangala Gathas etc. are available in Sinhala. The Mindful recitation of these Gathas in Sinhala will ensure clear registration of the exact meaning of what the Buddha wanted them to know and keep in their minds every moment of their lives, even among the children. Also the minds of people reciting these Gathas in Sinhala will not wander away from the subject as is usual when you repeat them without understanding them in the Pali language.
It must be emphasized that less than 2% of the present day followers of the Buddha Dhamma in Sri Lanka understand the Pali language. Thus in order to reap the benefits of our Dhamma Heritage it is the sacred duty of all Sinhala Dayakayas, who realize the grave consequences of this illogical practice to request the members of Sangha resident in the Temples to recite these Gathas in Sinhala at all religious ceremonies so as to be assured that they and their future generations could hope for the attainment of Nibbana during this Buddha Sasana itself. The DHAMMA VIVARANA MOVEMENT is committed to ensure the Mindful Practice of the Buddha Dhamma without Language Discrimination in order to ensure the very continuance of the Buddha Sasana in this World for the next 2457 years as foreseen by the Buddha.
Piyasiri M. L. Hettige (Founder DHAMMA VIVARANA MOVEMENT)
The Island, 14 Oct 99
We who live in a democratic country are free to discuss or speak and to express our views and opinion on any matter - religion, politics, sports, education, economy etc etc but should be careful in doing so. Any person who does not agree with such views do have a equal right to express their views etc. This has been the practice where no one has to get unduly excited about.
So it is quite natural that people express their opinion and views re what Rev Soma Thera speaks over the TV discussions. Most of these replies are to questions put to him. Rev Soma Thera is one individual with much experience as well as knowledge about other religions as well. He is well versed in astrology which he had studied for quite some time. I have still to hear Rev Soma making accusations against other religions.
It is a fact that there are persons who do get about converting others to Christianity and I have had the good luck of several visits from them where discussions have been held for hours and even purchased their religious books etc. We should not get unduly excited about their visits or to what they say, as they state their views. When they tell me that Jesus Christ does not have any other Church to represent Him other than their Church I have openly discussed religion with them without getting excited about what they say, but having discussed details, I do express my views and opinion - which certainly does not agree with their views on many areas.
I have seen an old notice or a board which states that - 'God is coming'. But for over 50 years, nothing has happened. I do not get excited about such statements. Others do state that God created this world - full of animals, reptiles who are dangerous or poisonous, which belief I do not share or agree with? Some are of the view that after death, we go direct to Heaven. Should this be so?
JEOFFREY GUNASEKERA - Colombo 5
Daily News, 14 Oct 99
At the 1998 International Buddhist Conference held in Sri Lanka to commemorate Sri Lanka's 50th Anniversary of Independence sixteen resolutions were passed, the first of these was - 'Seek the declaration of Vesak Full Moon day as a Holiday by the United Nations.'
The followers of Buddha Dhamma in Sri Lanka and throughout the world were greatly relieved to find that all their deliberations were not in vain when we were made to understand that the Government of Sri Lanka has taken the most decisive step in order to implement the first of the 1998 Buddhist Conference Resolution. Thus the Buddhists worldwide will be grateful to the Government and its Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar for seeking the recognition of the world community to declare Vesak Day as a special day to be observed by the United Nations, during his distinguished address to the UN General Assembly, on the historic day of 23rd September 1999. This great step forward is in accordance with fulfilment of Buddha's vision that the Buddha Sasana will endure on this planet for a full 5000 years in order to preserve the Dhamma for the seekers of truth and deliverance from sansara.
It is hoped that the Sri Lanka Government and the Ministry of Buddha Sasana will try their utmost to implement the remaining resolutions too, with the support of the Buddhist activists worldwide, as these are very valuable resolutions and their implementations would be most beneficial and inspirational for the cause of world peace and human development. Efforts should be made by leading Buddhist organisations and the international network of practising Buddhists to work together with the Government to affect their implementations during the next millennium. The Dhamma Vivarana Movement which is committed to ensure the mindful practice of the Buddha Dhamma without any discrimination of language, religion, creed, colour, status or wealth, wishes to place on record our appreciation of the Government's action and hope that other Buddhist organisations would also record their appreciation of the Foreign Minister's efforts which are praiseworthy.
Kumara Semage- Executive Coordinator, Dhammma Vivarana Movement.
Daily News, 12 Oct 99
Kamalika Pieris’s current series on Buddhism has referred twice to caste restrictions in the Sri Lankan Sangha (The Island 01/09/99 and 29/09/99). In the first article she says "The Buddhist sangha consisted exclusively of Govigama monks". This is a totally misleading statement. The practice of restricting higher ordination only to the Govi caste is quite recent and is attributed to the year 1764. It has no further antiquity. Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747 - 1782), the king who is said to have issued the royal decree, was a Hindu South Indian king with limited knowledge of local customs. The Mandaram-pura Puvata, which narrates the above says that many senior monks opposed it as it was contrary to the teachings of the Buddha. Thirty two senior monks had been banished to Jaffna for protesting against this move. The so called royal decree has however never been produced for public examination. However the Siyam Nikaya alone carries on this practice todate, evidently with official sanction.
The caste monopoly so established in 1764 was short lived. During the next few decades Salagama, Durava and Karava monks proceeded to Burma and obtained the higher ordination. By 1810 all castes had regained the higher ordination.
Ms. Pieris immediately follows her above statement with pre-1764 quotations from the Dambadeni Katikavata of the 13th century and Knox and Queyroz of the 17th century which state that Buddhist monks had to be of noble birth. Thereby, she gives the impression that the Govi caste continuously monopolized the Sangha from the mediaeval period onwards and that it was considered a noble caste. However, all local sources without exception and specially those of the mediaeval period, the Pujavaliya, Polonnaruwa inscriptions, Ummagga Jataka etc. show that the Govi caste definitely did not occupy such a position in our culture.
Ms Pieris also says that the Karava, Durava and Salagama castes experienced a rise in numbers, wealth and power during the British period. The increase in numbers is indeed extraordinary and a novel revelation. Possibly Ms. Pieris knows of some fertility ceremonies, selectively performed by the British on these three castes and almost all castes, including the Govigama, Batgama and Vahumpura castes benefited enormously by these opportunities. Saying that the Karava, Durava and Salagama alone rose during this period is the insidious and currently popular method of suggesting that these three castes were previously low in status.
Ms. Pieris appears to have unquestioningly and indiscriminately repeated such an "authority". Had Ms. Pieris researched the subject on her own by examining original sources, rather than basing her articles totally on unreliable secondary material, the above errors probably could have been avoided.
V. R. de Silva - Kotte
The Island, 11 Oct 99
