Opinion
The Buddha I believe in
By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana
Not being a believer in past Buddhas or future Buddhas, there is only one Buddha I believe in, and have no problem with the term Buddha either, though many synonyms are associated with this great personality. G A D Sirimal, who has a keen interest in Buddhism, has directed a few questions, after reading my piece “Imagining what the Buddha looked like” (The island, 12 February) and the preceding is my response. Sirimal is of the opinion that as the term Buddha is derived from the Sanskrit term Buddhi which means wisdom, there is a Buddha in all of us and the historical Buddha should be referred to as Gautama Buddha. Even Mahayana does not go to the extent of calling all of us Buddhas though it claims that as one cannot attain enlightenment by Arhathood, all should be Bodhisattvas. Though I cannot find fault with the term Gautama Buddha, some others may argue that it would be more accurate to call Him Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, as Gautama is the family name, not the given name. All this is superfluous as, by consensus, we know who we are referring to by the term Buddha. For me, there is no other Buddha.
It is very unlikely that Siddhartha Gautama was referred to as the Buddha during his lifetime and is likely to have been called Sakyamuni, the ascetic of the Sakya clan, or simply by his name Siddhartha Gautama. The first surviving reference as the Buddha is in the third century BCE Edicts of Ashoka. The Lumbini pillar inscription, which marks Emperor Ashoka’s pilgrimage to the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, refers to Buddha Shakyamuni. There are many epithets used including Samana Gothama in some Sri Lankan and South Asian texts. Whatever descriptive epithets are available it is simple enough to refer to the Buddha as such. Anyway, the Buddha never referred to himself as the Buddha, referring to himself as Tathagata. There is no definition of the word Tathagata but roughly means one beyond all transitory phenomena.
From an evolutionary perspective, considering the relatively brief period of human existence, it is extremely unlikely there would have been previous Buddhas unless in parallel universes, the existence of which is yet to be proved. Believing in a Maitreya Buddha necessitates a belief in predetermination and if everything is predetermined, the cause-and-effect theory of Buddhism is invalidated. It is because of these facts that I believe in only one Buddha. Further, if as some Buddhist priests continue to refer to us as we aspire to achieve enlightenment in the Sasana of Maitreya Buddha, are we not insulting The Buddha? The path He showed is still open and all that is needed is to follow rather than wait for a future Buddha!
Sirimal also questions whether the Buddha was enlightened, as an enlightened one cannot make mistakes and cites two important examples; the ordination of Prince Rahula and the much-discussed question about the Buddha’s attitude towards the ordination of women.
Though the Buddha found the reason for the ever-pervasive dissatisfaction and the way of overcoming that, there was no claim of infallibility. Problems have arisen due to the process of deification that had taken place but if one treats the Buddha as a human being, though he possessed a super intellect, all this could be explained. When it was pointed out by King Suddhodana that ordaining Rahula without consent was irregular, the Buddha never claimed that what he had done was correct or he could do no wrong as he was enlightened. Instead, He admitted his fault and laid down rules.
The Buddha was a true democrat introduced rules on consensus. The Vinaya Pitaka is the best example of how rules should be laid down. When any offence was committed, the punishment was laid down but it was not applied retrospectively, thus establishing the principle that retrospective justice is invalid, long before lawyers did!
Ordination of women or how it is stated in the texts is an interesting topic for debate and I have written about it previously at length. It is full of distortions but to this date many who believe in male supremacy take it as gospel truth, ignoring the fact that we are reading accounts as recorded by males. The Buddha propounded the equality of all, denouncing the caste system propagated by the Brahmins. Is it believable that His concept of equality did not extend to women? Did Ananda have to remind him that Maha Prajapathi Gothami suckled him? Did the Buddha get it completely wrong that by ordaining women the duration of his doctrine would be reduced from 1,000 to 500 years? All these fallacies make it very likely that most of these were distortions. Unfortunately, because of these distortions Meheni Sasna is still under threat in Sri Lanka though we shout from rooftops that we are the guardians of the Buddha Sasana!
The Buddha was a human being, not supernatural, with an intellect so far unsurpassed in human history. He laid the foundation for scientific thought as well stated in the Kalama Sutta. His analysis of our dissatisfaction in the form of the Four Noble Truths, continues to be the way all scientific facts are elucidated. The Middle path, the Buddha showed, is recognised even in politics of modern times. His analysis of the human mind has not been bettered by scientists so far. His explanation of how senses work, including the mind as the modifier sense explains things much better than the accepted scientific explanations based on five senses. Afterall, we see what we want to see and we hear what we want to hear!
What is important is not splitting hairs on what to call Him but to follow the path the Buddha showed us.
by Sudharman Siripala
Sri Lanka is grappling with the increasing threat of climate change, which has led to unpredictable weather patterns. The country faces a dangerous combination of flooding in some regions and water shortages in others, a situation exacerbated by shifting rainfall patterns. Rivers originating in the Central Hills, such as the Mahaweli, Kalu, and Kelani, flow through much of the country, but these water sources are not being distributed evenly. Districts like Monaragala and Hambantota, located in the dry zone, are experiencing severe water shortages. To address this challenge, experts suggest the development of an interconnected river system to harness excess water during floods and redirect it to drier areas, ensuring a year-round water supply for agriculture and daily use.
Global Case Studies in River Management
Several countries facing similar water-related challenges have implemented successful water management systems that Sri Lanka could adapt to its unique circumstances:
The Netherlands – Room for the River Programme
The Netherlands, a country prone to flooding, widened its rivers and relocated dikes to create floodplains. This approach allows rivers to overflow without damaging urban areas, while preserving water flow and natural habitats. Sri Lanka could apply this concept by designating specific riverbank areas for temporary flood storage.
China – South-North Water Transfer Project
China’s massive project channels excess water from the flood-prone Yangtze River to drier northern regions. This system of canals and reservoirs could inspire Sri Lanka to divert water from rivers in the Central Hills to drier areas in the south and east.
Bangladesh – River Interlinking Projects
Bangladesh has implemented river interlinking projects to redistribute water from flood-prone rivers, such as the Brahmaputra, to drier regions. Sri Lanka could link its major rivers like the Mahaweli and Kelani to smaller rivers in water-scarce districts to balance water distribution.
India – National River Linking Project
India’s National River Linking Project connects major rivers to manage both floods and droughts. Sri Lanka could use similar strategies, connecting rivers around the 500-foot contour line in the Central Hills to help distribute water more effectively.
United States – Mississippi River and Tributaries Project
The Mississippi River system combines levees, floodways, and diversion channels to manage flooding. Sri Lanka could adopt similar flood-control measures in vulnerable river basins such as the Kelani and Kalu.
Japan – Underground Reservoirs and Flood Channels
Japan’s G-Cans Project in Tokyo channels excess water into underground reservoirs to prevent urban flooding. A similar underground system could be implemented in Colombo and other flood-prone cities in Sri Lanka.
Singapore – Marina Barrage
Singapore’s Marina Barrage serves as both a flood control measure and a water supply resource. Sri Lanka could develop similar systems to control flooding in urban areas and ensure water availability during dry spells.
Thailand – Chao Phraya River Basin Management
Thailand uses diversion channels in the Chao Phraya River Basin to prevent flooding in Bangkok and direct water to agricultural areas. Sri Lanka could replicate this by creating diversion channels to supply water to its agricultural zones.
Actionable Solutions for Sri Lanka
Develop an Interconnected River System
Establish water diversion channels along the 300-500 meter contour lines of the Central Hills to capture excess rainfall during floods and redirect it to drier areas.
Build Reservoirs and Storage Tanks
Construct reservoirs to store diverted water, ensuring a steady supply for agriculture and domestic use. Sri Lanka has around 14,000 ancient tanks out of 30,000 that could be revitalized for this purpose.
Improve Urban Flood Defenses
Drawing inspiration from Japan and Singapore, build underground reservoirs and flood channels in cities like Colombo to mitigate urban flooding.
Strengthen Watershed Management
Restore natural floodplains and create wetlands to absorb excess rainwater, as seen in the Netherlands, helping to reduce flood risks.
Encourage Public-Private Partnerships
Foster collaboration between the public and private sectors to fund large-scale water management infrastructure, leveraging models from China and the United States.
Leverage Technology
Utilise modern forecasting and real-time water management systems, similar to those in Bangladesh and Thailand, to monitor water levels and manage river flows dynamically.
International Collaboration
Form partnerships with countries that have successfully implemented flood control and water management systems to share expertise and technology.
Sri Lanka’s dual challenges of flooding and water scarcity, compounded by climate change, require immediate action. By developing an interconnected river system and learning from successful global water management models, Sri Lanka can mitigate the effects of floods while ensuring a sustainable water supply for agriculture and daily life. It is crucial for the country to act now, as these solutions have the potential to transform Sri Lanka’s water management system for the better.
Sudharman Siripala Managing Director of Geoinformatics Group and a Registered Licensed Surveyor, specializes in geo-spatial applications. He also serves as a freelance value chain consultant for Vivonta Green Tech Consultants (www.vivonta.lk)
Some people have found fault with a female doctor for not coming forward to identify her rapist and help make him pay for his crime.
Do they not realise the emotional toll of facing her rapist again?
There should be a way for survivors to testify directly to the judge without enduring such distressing encounters. Making a victim relive her trauma in this manner is akin to subjecting her to the ordeal all over again.
A Ratnayake
Sri Lanka was once at an economically comparable level with some of the world’s most developed countries in the 19th century. However, despite our country’s potential, we are still striving to fully develop. Many people often blame politicians, government officers, or various sectors for the situation. However, I believe the root cause of these issues lies not in any individual or group, but in the lack of good attitudes within our society.
We are investing significant resources into our education system, which is funded by the taxes of hard- working citizens. However, when we examine the outcomes, we realise that the academic achievements of our graduates alone are not enough. There are instances where professionals, despite having the necessary qualifications, fail to uphold ethical standards. In some cases, this even results in malpractice or harmful actions that damage our country’s reputation and progress. This highlights the gap between academic success and real-world responsibilities.
The education system, which is currently focused on competitive exams and rote learning, does not emphasise the development of attitudes and character in students. While our students are academically capable, many lack the qualities required to contribute positively to society. This lack of focus on social values, such as patriotism, selflessness and respect for elders, is holding us back from achieving the level of progress we deserve.
To address these concerns, I wrote to His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, on 24th September 2024, proposing education reforms that emphasise not only academic qualifications but also attitudes, ethics, and social responsibility. I suggested a holistic approach to university admissions and government recruitment, incorporating moral integrity, character, and extracurricular involvement, key traits for fostering well- rounded, responsible citizens. More importantly, I strongly recommended introducing a compulsory school subject, with both theory and practical components, focused on attitude development, which would be evaluated in university admissions. Encouraging extracurricular participation alongside academics will help shape ethical and socially responsible individuals.
I am pleased to inform you that the President, recognising the importance of these reforms, has directed the relevant ministries (by a letter dated 24th October 2024) to explore integrating these ideas into the education system. This marks a crucial step in transforming the values and attitudes of our youth for the nation’s benefit.
However, meaningful change requires collective effort. Parents, teachers, students, and citizens all play a role in shaping Sri Lanka’s future. Together, we must instill responsibility, ethics, and patriotism in the next generation. I invite you to share your thoughts and suggestions on further enhancing the values and attitudes of our youth. Your feedback will be invaluable in building a brighter future for Sri Lanka, one driven not just by knowledge, but by integrity and character.
Dr. Mahesh Premarathna
Research Fellow, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka Email: mahesh.pr@nifs.ac.lk
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Uva provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya district after 2.00 p.m.
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