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LETTERS INDEX : Page 7

L07.01   Who is distorting Buddhism?

L07.02   The distortion of Buddhism and the rise of meaningless rituals

L07.03   Travesty of Buddhism in present day Sri Lanka

 L07.01

Who is distorting Buddhism?

 

Dr. Upul Wijayawardhana

Whilst being in total agreement with the sentiments expressed by a ‘Member of the silent majority’ in the article “The distortion of Buddhism and the rise of meaningless rituals” (Sunday Island, 26 November), being someone belonging to the vociferous minority repeatedly pointing out distortions of Buddhism, I wish to expand on some of the points raised.

The Doctrine of the Buddha “Buddha Dhamma” needs separation from “Buddhagama” Buddhism, the religion. In a way, the greatest disservice done to the teachings of the Buddha is by the categorization of it as a religion and, in fact, there is no one word to describe it, as it is a philosophy, way of life, a science of the mind etc. It has become a religion by the introduction of rituals as well as by the process of mystification and I raised some of these issue in my article “Demystifying Buddhism: Need of the hour?” (The Island, 2 June 2023) wherein I mentioned:

“The Buddha showed us the way to overcome the sense of dissatisfaction that pervades all aspects of life and also the power of the mind. He showed us the way we could develop our mind and introduced the concept of mindfulness. He showed the path for ultimate detachment. What happened subsequently was converting this Dhamma to a religion by enveloping it in rituals and mysticisms; very practices denounced by the Buddha.”

One may argue that rituals have served a purpose, as they have contributed to the continuation of Buddhism as a leading world religion but, as the writer alluded to, it is the rise of meaningless rituals that we should be concerned about. Whilst the minds of the intelligentsia are stimulated by the metaphysics of Buddha Dhamma, rituals may be the attraction for some others but it is the duty of the Sangha as well as the educated laity to direct them towards the substance of Buddhism, as ever pervading sense of dissatisfaction can only be overcome by enlightenment, not by rituals.

It is very true that the opulence associated with Katina ceremonies have converted them to carnivals. One could argue that it is a practice no longer of relevance. Buddha walked across vast swathes of India, very likely barefoot, imparting the knowledge he gained by his own experience. He stayed in one place only during the rainy season but in the modern world all activities continue across all seasons. In the time of the Buddha, disciples had no more than two saffron robes and getting a Katina robe was a bonus. Modern day Bhikkhus have plenty of robes of varying colours and of the highest quality material. Is Katina robe a necessity for them?

If we are keen to continue a tradition, we can make the Vas season a time for reflection and education, sans opulence. I remember when we sponsored the Katina Ceremony in Shanti Vihara, Nottingham, five or six years ago, we requested Venerable Tedeniyaye Amitha to teach us Abhidhamma. He obliged and every Saturday evening, from the beginning of the rainy retreat to Katina Ceremony, was devoted to the teaching of Abhidhamma, which gave me the grounding for that study. Some other years, the concentration was on Mindfulness Meditation. Needless to say, whilst these activities attracted only a small crowd, there invariably was a huge crowd for the Katina ceremony!

The biggest distortion happening at the moment is the rewriting of the Buddha’s existence. Perhaps, deluded with false patriotism, there is a group of individuals, led by some Bhikkhus, who claim that the Buddha was born and lived in Sri Lanka! I must admit that I too get annoyed by the stories that all Buddhas are born in India but the only Buddha for whom there is archaeological evidence is Gautama Buddha and all places related to life events are found in India. It is shame that these individuals are allowed to disregard the inscriptions in the Pillars of Ashoka and our Mahanayaka Theros have taken no action to prevent the spread of gross distortions.

In addition to corruption, what ails most in Sri Lanka is indiscipline; unfortunately, some Bhikkhus displaying this in large measure. In addition to indulging in various activities and professions barred by the Buddha, some of them mislead the public by their levels of Enlightenment! One of the first to claim Arahant hood has been given the final warning, it was widely reported. In fact, this is the second final warning! About six years ago, he was given a final warning for insulting the Tooth Relic.

This time, he referred to an unsavoury liaison between the aspiring Buddha and Sujatha, who brought milk rice. His explanation was that he quoted from, what he realised later was a misinterpreted Sinhala translation of a Mahayana story! If someone who claims himself to be enlightened makes such mistakes, what about mundane beings like us? He will continue to mislead his followers as gullibility seems to be yet another national characteristic of ours! Will our Mahanayaka Theros ever instil discipline?

When the majority of the population is at the verge of starvation, what is the point of having Buddha Puja with hundreds of curries? When children cannot dress properly to school, what is the point in draping Dagobas? Why cannot a part of the donations to the Temple of the Tooth be used to alleviate hunger?

The most meaningless ritual is Bodhi Puja. Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and we are fortunate to have a sapling of that tree. The famous writer H G Wells in the chapter, “The Rise and Spread of Buddhism” in his 1920 book “The Outline of History” refers to this as follows: “In Ceylon there grows to this day a tree, the oldest historical tree in the world, which we know certainly to have been planted as a cutting from the Bodhi-Tree in the year 245 BC. From that time to this it has been carefully tended and watered.”

We can show our respect to that tree of historical significance but what is the point in having special poojas to similar trees, spending hours reciting Gathas. A misguided young priest introduced this tradition and it continues to this day though it serves no purpose. Why not spend that time in Mindfulness meditation; perhaps, Buddha’s greatest gift to the world!

03 12 2023 - The Island

 

 L07.02

The distortion of Buddhism and the rise of meaningless rituals

 

In this day and age, when mankind is losing faith in religious virtues, is Sri Lanka, which is regarded as a Buddhist country losing its way? It seems to have joined the world in its mad adherence to consumerism and the vulgar display of wealth.

This is a country that was declared bankrupt only very recently, on account of profligacy, mismanagement and corruption. This is a crying shame on a Buddhist country that is expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics, as enshrined in the Five Precepts. The population was subjected to untold hardship and is still grappling with the crippling cost of living. Many thousands face food insecurity and have to forgo meals and cut out essential expenditure in order to abate the threat of starvation.

There is anecdotal evidence of suicides among those who cannot face destitution.

In this context, is there a place for lavish expenditure on religious rituals? The Buddha lived by example and practiced what he preached, namely simple living and high thinking. The Buddha gave up his princely life-style and took to the life of a mendicant, in order to purify his mind of the three fetters of greed, hatred and delusion, that bind us to samsara: the cycle of births and rebirth that conforms to the single template of ageing, disease, suffering and death, that is common to all sentient beings.

The Buddha did not encourage rights and rituals and in fact stated clearly that adherence to rights and rituals is a fetter in the path to Enlightenment. The path which is simple and direct, is clearly stated by the Buddha, namely: the practice of generosity, virtue and mindfulness for lay people; and the practice of virtue, concentration and wisdom for the monks. Nowhere in the entire Tripitaka [the Pali canon] does the Buddha advocate rights and rituals. In fact, he denounced them as meaningless and foolish.

It is a sad reflection of the state of affairs in this country, that at a time when half the population is facing food insecurity, that a handful of misguided people are spending millions of rupees on fairly lights, flowers, flags, loudspeakers, carpets, frills and fancies and the purchase of expensive, unhealthy food items to feed monks who are expected to eat only to sustain life. All this excess is expressed in the form of “Katina pinkamas” that we are witnessing right now. They may be described as carnivals, not religious practices.

The monks who are expected to follow vinaya rules [the 229 rules laid down by the Buddha] and lead a simple life of mendicants, have a huge responsibility to guide the followers on the true path to Enlightenment and not to encourage this wanton waste of funds on trivia which the Buddha denounced.

When a “pawada” [a walking mat] was placed for the Buddha to walk, he asked that it be removed. He said that if he walked on it, his followers in the future, namely monks, would consider it to be an approved practice. Therefore, he asked that it be removed, and walked barefooted on the ground. This is the message preached by the Buddha, that monks who follow him, need to practice and preach.

Buddhism disappeared from India due to the corruption of the Dhamma from within and the infiltration of Brahmic rituals and practices. The Buddha predicted that the decline of Buddhism would indeed be caused by its corruption from within. Are we seeing the signs of this, under our very eyes, here in Sri Lanka?

Let us practice wisdom and understand the true words of the Buddha and follow the prescriptions that the Buddha has explained clearly in the Tripitaka, rather than getting caught in a whirlpool of wanton consumerism that Sri Lanka can ill-afford.

Member of the silent majority

26 11 2023 - The Island

 B04.03

Travesty of Buddhism in present day Sri Lanka

 

Nan

The term ‘travesty’ is defined as a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something. In this case ‘the something’ is the Teaching of the Buddha and practices and customs done and followed at present times, arising thereof. Thus the propagation of false beliefs; the emphasis given to rites and rituals which the Buddha did not approve of, and things done which are completely against what He taught.

Crux of three previous articles

Three recent articles in the Island papers and Sunday Times dealt with relevant issues to what the title of this article implies. A very succinct article by ‘Member of the Silent Majority’ was on “The distortion of Buddhism and the rise of meaningless rituals” in the Sunday Island of November 26. S/He dealt with Katina pinkamas which were said to be more carnivals than religious festivals now. This is not only true but dangerous to the continuation of Buddhism which stresses simplicity and giving or doing good selflessly with no competitiveness or showing-off underlying intention.

Dr. Upul Wijayawardhana listed in the following Sunday Island newspaper other distortions, mostly committed by monks themselves, one in particular. He titled his article Who is distorting Buddhism? and wrote “The biggest distortion happening at the moment is the rewriting of Buddha’s existence, Bhikkhus’ claim Buddha was born in SL. It is a shame that these individuals are allowed to disregard … historical evidence. Mahanayaka Theros have taken no action to prevent the spread of gross distortions.”

Tuesday December 5 The Island carried the article: “Is the Buddha’s teaching lost on us?” by Geewananda Gunawardana PhD. Talking of rituals that have crept into our practice of the Buddha Dhamma he writes: “The glaring proof that the Teaching is lost on us is the moral bankruptcy of the nation that led to the equally horrific economic bankruptcy. Moral and ethical conduct is at the root of the Noble Path; however it appears that this has been fully and completely ignored at all levels of society.”

1. Abuse of Buddhism in places of worship

I have written many times about the gross violation of Buddhist pilgrims’ rights in the two most sacred sites in Anuradhapura.

There is absolutely no quiet and serenity in the premises of the Sacred Bo Tree. These are the two prime essentials of this most sanctified place where pilgrims can sit quietly and pay homage and gratitude to the 2500 and more years old tree which was a sapling from the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained Buddhahood, brought over by Theri Sangahmitta. We go to this place for quiet reflection on the Truths revealed to us and being thankful to the Buddha.

Long ago we imbibed the aura of sacredness that envelopes the place, shattered now by commercialism and false religiousness. Kapuralas, waving peacock feathers, act as intermediaries for money paid them to bless people who seek intervention in having their wants fulfilled. All against true Buddhism. Buddha showed the way to true happiness; no help from Him or from symbols of Him to alleviate trivial problems. This commonly practiced ritual demonstrates ego and soliciting material benefits either from the Tree or from devas.

Commercialism of the chanting men, cheating of gullible people and encouraging false beliefs are all allowed and maybe even connived at by the monks in charge of this most sacred site. At regular intervals poojas in the vihara below are amplified over loud speakers, blasting whatever quiet there is.

An ostentatious new vihara ge has been constructed adjacent to the Swarnamali Stupa and in the evenings, the premises are gaudy with myriad electric bulbs a-blazing. Noise of course is ever present, with a loud speaker announcing money donations.

At the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, I fault the fact that local pilgrims are treated so badly compared to tourists by distancing the shoe keeping kiosks so far apart. No person with less mobility can worship here now. Inside, the slew of ‘pin petti’ is an eye sore. It gives the idea of money making; added to the assumption I make that tourists have to pay much to enter the Temple. The Cathedrals in London, for instance, are free for entering to all.

Even in Anuradhapura, no help is given the old, handicapped or less mobile. In the Sacred Bo Tree site cars have to be parked a good distance from the entrance. They are not allowed to come nearer the gate to drop a person off. Does security still have to be so tight? Not so. Making it difficult to worship seems to be thought to add to merit acquired. Long ago a wheelchair was available for a less able person to be wheeled from one site to the other. No longer this nod to the old.

In Kataragama is an ancient dagoba, the Kiri Vehera, dating from the reign of Kavan Tissa and Dutugemunu, I believe. But most Buddhist pilgrims head with great fervour bearing pooja vatti to the Kovil first. Veneration to the Kiri Vehera is an afterthought almost. I did not go into the kovil on family pilgrimages when I came to realize that the veneration of the Hindu Pantheon was not within Buddhism. I respected the veneration by others but did not do it myself. I was once rewarded by a monkey doing his business on me. The God teaching me a lesson?!

2. Ancient sites being sacrileged

Prez Premadasa having a stark white Buddha statue hoisted at the top of Mihintale sacred site after his Mihintale Gam Udawa; Prez Mahinda R and Gotabaya getting a stupa constructed among the ancient ones in Anuradhapura to confer merit on dead soldiers (I believe); the ostentatious Golden Temple built at the bottom of Dambulla rock temple are all sacrileges to me. Maybe these acts circumvented the rules governing heritage sites, one example is that the rock caves at Dambulla are designated heritage sites, not the rock per se. But building new constructions on ancient sites is simply outrageous, now more than ever followed by lesser mortals sticking Buddha statues on top of hills, road junctions and in any free space, not terminated or forbidden because it is in the name/realm of Buddhism.

The latest abhorrent gimmick was robing the Aukana Buddha statue. No interference with ancient sites should be a rule strictly followed. Consider the cost of the material for that robe that covered the pristinely elegant statue of the Buddha with the folds of the robe so wonderfully carved in stone. What if a man or men climbing up to the top of the statue damaged a part of the statue which time and weather had eroded?

3. Members of the Sangha

Sri Lanka is proud to be home to excellent monks of the Theravada Sect, of local and foreign nationality, temple resident or forest dwelling, who observe the vinaya rules strictly and make clear the Teachings of the Buddha. Many are revered overseas too. For instance Ven Uda Eriyagama Dhammajiva Thera preaches alongside Bhikkhu Bodhi in New York State; local monk are invited to overseas countries to preach.

But, as being bad is easier than being good, for each praiseworthy monk there are many unworthies in yellow robes. Consider protests on streets, especially of university students. Many monks live lives of luxury and do not miss out on any pleasures. (I need not enumerate them). Heard and seen monks who support their families or ‘girl friends’ with pooja stuff given them.

A bad example of being loose mouthed, egotistic, material minded and claiming to have achieved higher mental states was written about recently in the print press. This agri-monk claims arahantship while proclaiming sacrilegious, totally unacceptable comments on the Sacred Tooth Relic and even about Bodhisatva Siddhartha Gautama while on his way to enlightenment.

Then this monk goes before the Kandy Mahanayake Theras and probably a Sabha and seeks forgiveness and is given it, for the second or third time of gross transgression. Consider in contrast what happened to Preacher Jerome Fernando and that hapless singer whose injurious remarks about the Buddha could easily have been treated with a reprimand.

Another travesty committed by over jealous persons has resulted in the demise of the white cloth covered, straight backed chair on which bhikkhus sat to deliver sermons. Pragna TV Channel shows all sorts of gruesomely designed and elaborately crafted thrones for preaching monks. So against simplicity implicit in Buddhism.

Responsible for maintaining the sanctity of Buddhism

There exists the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs which is a Cabinet Ministry responsible for the country’s de facto state religion -Theravada Buddhism. Its duties given short below, cover much ground through overseeing: general welfare of Buddhist clergy; Buddhist education; development of temples as community and spiritual centres; maintenance of selected places of Buddhist worship as tourist sites; propagation of Buddhist philosophy; maintaining the nature of the Buddhist state.

PHEW!! Do they fulfill all or many or even a few of the above duties? If so we need not write these articles.

The Most Ven. Malwatte and Asgiriya Mahanayake Theros have the responsibility of keeping the Bhikkhu Sangha pure, chaste and with no blemishes accruing to any Bhikkhus. I leave it at that.

The conclusion is that segments of the public who are followers of true, unadulterated Theravada Buddhism are the ones who see obvious faults in Buddhist matters as they are now. Additionally, it looks as if they are the ones who try correcting matters. The only way open to them is to write to the media drawing attention to misdeeds and shortcomings, and suggest, nay plead, for correction, protection and elimination of abuses to the Teacher, His Teaching and its interpretation; and to Buddhist sites.

10 12 2023 - The Island

 

 

 

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