Features

My Passion for Productivity

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/7

Thilina Walpola

State Engineering Corporation

LESSONS FROM MY CAREER: SYNTHESISING MANAGEMENT THEORY WITH PRACTICE – PART 38

The initiation

Although today I have mastered many productivity techniques, my initiation into the subject came quite by chance.

At the beginning of my career at the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) in 1971, we were given one month to spend in the library, ostensibly to study technical subjects such as the theory of concrete hardening, welding technology, timber structures, and related engineering topics. While I studied these diligently, I also stumbled upon several books on productivity. They fascinated me.

One of the books was on Frederick Taylor, the pioneer of the global productivity movement. It described his work on time studies, the setting of standard times, and the establishment of scientific norms for jobs. Another intriguing book explained how time studies could be conducted by dividing a minute into one hundred centi-minutes rather than sixty seconds. I found the concept remarkably interesting.

My curiosity grew. I joined the British Council Library and the American Centre Library to broaden my reading. In another library, I discovered a delightful book called Cheaper by the Dozen, an anecdotal biography of the famous husband-and-wife team Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The title came from the fact that the couple had twelve children.

The book described Frank’s relentless pursuit of productivity, not only in factories but even at home. It was amusing to read how he timed his own shaving routine and became irritated if he exceeded the standard time he had set for himself. He constantly searched for ways to perform multiple activities simultaneously.

Frank Gilbreth was also the man who developed a classification of basic human motions and called them “Therbligs” — simply his surname spelt backwards. Only older industrial engineers would recognise the term today, but at the time it represented a major breakthrough in motion study.

Sometime later, I came across a brochure from the Institute of Practitioners in Work Study, Organisation and Methods in the United Kingdom. The syllabus immediately attracted me. I enrolled and began preparing for the examinations.

Looking back, that decision may well have been one of the turning points in my career.

There were no formal classes available locally at the time, so I studied through a correspondence course. Method Study, Work Measurement and related subjects became my passion. Years later, after the local branch had begun conducting courses, I found myself teaching some of the very subjects I had once struggled to learn on my own.

Practising productivity at the State Engineering Corporation

While working at the State Engineering Corporation, I studied the methods used at the pre-cast yard in Narahenpita. To me, many of the practices appeared highly unproductive, but nobody seemed concerned.

I carried out time studies on several operations and submitted my findings to my superiors. Nothing happened.

The foremen and supervisors were openly hostile towards my work. One day, my notebooks containing carefully recorded timings mysteriously disappeared.

After I had completed my assignment at the pre-cast yard and moved on to other training locations, a number of workers from the yard were transferred elsewhere. Apparently, the foremen had informed them that it was “the fellow who was timing you” who had caused the transfer by proving that the workforce was excessive.

I had absolutely nothing to do with the decision.

Had I unknowingly walked into that yard during that period, I suspect I might have been eaten alive by the workers!

According to the International Labour Organisation’s classic text on Work Study, a method study or time study should be carried out transparently and with the knowledge of the worker concerned. Ethically, that was the correct approach. In practice, however, it was often difficult. Many studies were conducted discreetly because behaviour changed dramatically once workers knew they were being observed.

After completing my training, I joined the Building Research Institute. There, I volunteered to conduct studies at two major construction projects being undertaken by the SEC — the Lotteries Board building and the People’s Bank Head Office building on Parsons Road, Colombo.

Numerous opportunities for productivity improvement came to light. I even employed a lesser-known technique called the Group Timing Technique, which was particularly suitable for construction activities involving teams rather than individuals.

One of these studies eventually inspired an engineering undergraduate from the University of Moratuwa to undertake a project on the subject, and I had the privilege of serving as the technical supervisor.

The Institute of Management Services (UK)

By this time, a growing number of Sri Lankan students were following courses offered by the London institute, which had by then been renamed the Institute of Management Services.

I had the privilege of serving on the committee of the Sri Lankan branch. We organised numerous training programmes for executives on productivity improvement techniques and management methods.

Although I had completed the academic examinations, two practical projects were required before I could obtain Associate Membership of the Institute.

The first project involved a comprehensive study of a strawboard manufacturing factory. The experience was exhilarating.

I examined every operation in detail and discovered numerous opportunities for productivity improvement. Tasks had been assigned using convenient rounded figures rather than scientifically established standards based on human capabilities. The layout contained many design flaws that caused unnecessary movement and delays. My calculations suggested that excess labour amounted to almost fifty per cent.

As a young professional, I was immensely proud of what I had discovered.

The report was completed and sent to London for assessment. I passed.

Naturally, I expected management to implement at least some of the recommendations. Unfortunately, they did not.

It was, after all, a government project. As often happened in those days, nobody seemed particularly interested.

Eventually, the factory closed down because it could not compete economically. Some later concluded that handmade strawboard simply could not be produced profitably. Yet I have often wondered whether the story might have ended differently if even a portion of the recommended improvements had been implemented.

One lesson I learned early in my career was that identifying improvements is only half the battle. Convincing people to implement them is often the more difficult challenge.

My second mandatory project involved conducting a time study at a wire nail factory in Kotahena. This exercise tested our ability to recognise what constituted a normal working pace.

To prepare, we repeatedly watched specially prepared films and practised estimating performance ratings. I successfully passed the assessment and remain confident that even today I could establish a reasonable time standard.

It is only after mastering these skills that one becomes qualified to set standard times incorporating allowances for fatigue, personal needs and unavoidable delays.

Years later, the Institute itself experienced difficulties. The rising exchange rate made it increasingly expensive for Sri Lankan members to pay fees in Sterling Pounds. Eventually, the link with the London headquarters was broken.

During a later visit to London on unrelated business, I visited the Institute. My own membership had lapsed by then, but the penalties were waived and I renewed it. At the time I was Chairman of the Sri Lankan branch, and I agreed to all the conditions required to re-establish the relationship.

Upon returning home, I revived the Sri Lankan branch. After several years, however, I stepped away from active involvement. I believe the branch no longer exists today.

Some of us who served as trustees of its funds recently donated the entire balance to the University of Moratuwa.

Industrial Engineer at the Sri Lanka Tyre Corporation

At the Sri Lanka Tyre Corporation, I had many opportunities to put theory into practice. I undertook numerous projects and even participated in developing a new Management Information System.

There I learned one of the most important lessons in productivity improvement.

The ILO Work Study manual says that productivity improvement is 90 per cent human and only 10 per cent technical.

I discovered how true that statement was.

On one occasion, I attempted to redesign all the forms used by various departments. My experience at SEC had shown me how professionally designed forms could simplify work and improve efficiency. The forms used at Tyre were nowhere near those standards.

My boss encouraged me to proceed. I worked diligently, redesigned every form and presented the proposals to management. The response was lukewarm. Nothing happened. The project failed. Later, my boss explained why.

“You must learn what can be changed and what cannot be changed,” he told me. “I knew this proposal would probably fail, but I did not stop you because you needed to discover that lesson yourself.” He was a wiser man than I realised at the time.

Nevertheless, despite its shortcomings, Tyre was one of the better-managed government corporations of that era.

My training in Japan

My training in Japan has been described in detail in earlier chapters, but it would be impossible to discuss my passion for productivity without mentioning it once again.

Japan exposed me to a completely different way of thinking.

One of the most memorable experiences was attending a Quality Circle presentation at NEC. What fascinated me was the enthusiasm, confidence and analytical capability displayed by ordinary factory workers operating as autonomous teams.

I was determined to introduce the concept in Sri Lanka. The journey was not easy.

As described in previous chapters, the idea encountered mixed reactions and numerous obstacles. Eventually, however, I succeeded by modifying the technique to suit Sri Lankan social and cultural realities.

The visits to Japanese factories opened my eyes. Everywhere I looked, there was discipline, cleanliness, orderliness and attention to detail. It became obvious why they were capable of producing world-class precision products.

Looking back, my visit to Japan was perhaps the most important turning point in my professional life.

I genuinely believe that my subsequent rise through the ranks, eventually becoming Chairman of a government institution at the age of 39, was due in large measure to the knowledge and exposure I gained there.

Conclusion

After establishing several national-level associations and promoting productivity throughout Sri Lanka, I was sometimes introduced as “the father of productivity in Sri Lanka.”

I still remember the advice given by the famous management guru Mr. Mansoor Ghouse.When someone introduced me using that title, he quietly cautioned me: “Never allow yourself to be called the father of productivity. It is safer to be called the mother of productivity, because paternity is only an opinion while maternity is a fact.”

His remark provoked much laughter, but it also taught me the importance of humility.

My work as Adviser on Productivity at the Ministry of Industrial Development has been covered extensively in earlier chapters, so I will not repeat those experiences here. However, one final story deserves mention.

After retiring from Dankotuwa Porcelain, I met His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa at a function. He asked me what I was doing. I replied that I had just retired from my final executive appointment. Without hesitation, he said, “I may have a job for you.”

A few days later, I was appointed Adviser to the President on Productivity Promotion.

Whenever people learned about my new position, they would invariably ask with great curiosity:”Does the President actually listen to you?” The answer was rather disappointing.It became the most unproductive appointment of my entire career. I never met the President even once. Yet my passion for productivity has never diminished.

Even today I become frustrated when I observe waste and inefficiency — whether in government institutions, private-sector organisations, factories, offices, road traffic, wildlife parks or almost anywhere else.

To relieve that frustration, I continue teaching productivity improvement techniques, particularly those inspired by Japanese management practices. My hope remains unchanged.One day, I hope to see Sri Lanka become as productive, disciplined and efficient as countries such as Japan and Singapore. That would be a fitting reward for a lifelong love affair with productivity.

By Sunil G. Wijesinha ✍️

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Features

Is power devolution under JVP-NPP a political daydream?

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/7

Thilina Walpola

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga

The JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva’s recent remarks at a news conference in Jaffna where he ruled out the possibility of holding provincial council elections this year has been widely reported and widely criticized. About the same time there was another media event in Jaffna that went largely unnoticed and unreported outside Jaffna. What was said at the second media event may carry far more political implications than Tilvin Silva’s election timing talk. A veteran Tamil political participant made the startling yet not implausible statement that the prospect of having political devolution under the JVP-NPP government is becoming “a daydream”. The statement was made by Dr. K. Vigneswaran, who served as Provincial Secretary to the only North-East Provincial Council Government that was elected under the auspices of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Dr. Vigneswaran is a Professional Civil Engineer who studied at Royal College, graduated with First Class Honours in Engineering in 1964, and went on to complete a pioneering PhD at the university of Waterloo, Canada, applying the finite element method (FEM) in the field of Geotechnical Engineering. His engineering career has always been at the Irrigation Department where he rose to a Deputy Director. That was when the department was in its golden years, and Vigneswaran was known for his technical mentorship, meticulous administrative skills, and for knowing the fine print of everything. While at the Irrigation Department, Vigneswaran married Ramya de Silva, a fellow irrigation Engineer. After 1983, Vigneswaran became a fulltime political activist and a powerful resource in Tamil politics, but with unwavering commitment to nonviolence, democracy and federalism. The family moved first to India and then Canada, and Vigneswaran has been shuttling between Canada and Sri Lanka.

Devolution: Tortuous Trajectory

Since 1987, the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement, and the 13th Amendment, Vigneswaran has been a permanent fixture in all the politics and institutional dynamic of implementing 13A and establishing provincial councils. He served as Secretary to the only elected Provincial Government for the Northern and Eastern Provinces. After 1994 and the election of Chandrika Kumaratunga as President, Vigneswaran became a key participant in all the civil society efforts and government initiatives to restore the PCs and implement 13A, both during the Kumaratunga presidency and the succeeding administrations of Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo.

Devolution efforts stalled after the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who in so many words declared that he had no time for 13A or PCs in his presidential agenda, whatever it was. Only that his whole agenda turned out to be a wholesale disaster for the country. Already by then, all the nine Provincial Councils had fallen into abeyance with the cancellation of the 1988 PC elections by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo, with the TNA standing by. The abeyance continues under the JVP-NPP government with no apparent end in sight after Tilvin de Silva’s statement in Jaffna.

I say all this to provide the proper context for Vigneswaran’s statement in Jaffna that the prospects for power devolution under the JVP-NPP government are becoming a political daydream. He said something else as well: that of all the government leaders he has encountered over the years, the only leader who has been genuinely sincere about power devolution is former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, and no one else. I am constrained to add that the insincere category would include Ranil Wickremesinghe, who for all his handsome promises, never matched any of them with experiential sincerity. The present JVP-NPP government still has time to show that they are not an insincere lot.

It is not my purpose to agree with or question Dr. Vigneswaran’s assertions, but to use them as cue and context to comment on the widening mismatch between the JVP-NPP government’s promises and its practices on the matter of power devolution and the restoration of the PC system. With a stalling economy, rising prices and external shocks, it is obvious that the government has all the economic matters to worry about, but that does not mean that it can ignore all the other government responsibilities. No government is put in power to solve a single problem or address a single issue. It is in the nature of governments to deal with multiple problems with varying priorities. Otherwise you could have a single cabinet minister to deal with one problem at a time. That is never going to be the case.

The economy is of course the top of mind priority for the government even as it is a top of mind concern for the people. Even on the economic front, the government is holding steady but is showing little progress. And there are other government initiatives where political accountability will call for answers: to wit, the catchall Clean Sri Lanka programme, ambitious educational reforms, contentious energy sector reforms and, yes, power devolution as well as the overpromised constitutional reforms. Not to mention the sprawling unforced errors over substandard coal imports, foreign exchange fraud, and the chronic neglect of developing the renewable energy sector. Correcting these fields of errors may require a separate ministry for each.

Devolution: Daydream or Deliverable

On the PC system and constitutional reform, there has been scant progress in spite of handsome promises. On both, the government is inadvertently deepening the holes that it had dug itself into through indifference, inaction or procrastination, or all of them and more. In the matter of devolution and provincial councils, the government can simply defuse the situation by directing the Election Commission to conduct elections at the earliest opportunity that is logistically possible. Making his statement in Jaffna, Mr. Tilvin Silva alluded to funding shortfall and legal complications as reasons for the necessity to postpone PC elections until next year. Neither reason holds water.

The funding question would seem to have been put to rest by the statement of Health Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa, presumably reflecting cabinet consensus, that there are no funding issues and if needed additional funds could be arranged through supplementary allocations. It is also disingenuous to cite legal complications as a reason. The so called legal complications arose because of the collective stupidity of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe parliament that included the then miniscule NPP and the politically-lost TNA. The JVP-NPP has now ballooned from a handful MPs to a two-thirds majority and it can expedite any legislation that it wants to enable the PC elections to be held without delays.

Alternatively, the elections can be held under the old arrangement of proportional representation with assurance by political parties to honour their commitment to fielding more female candidates. Already at a gathering of all political parties, including the NPP (but not the JVP), and civil society groups, convened by People’s Action For Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL), the political parties jointly committed to a 25% quota for women and youth under the old electoral system. The ongoing parliamentary committee exercise studying the legal matter, headed by the overstretched Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, is also an unnecessary red herring. The Election Commission is ready to go under whatever law or electoral system that is before it. So, there is no reason to hide behind legal complications to further delay the PC elections.

Somewhat amusingly, Public and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala has trotted out the argument that the NPP government has already conducted two nationwide elections during the one and a half years it has been in office, and that unlike the Ranil Wickremesinghe government the JVP-NPP is not in the business “to delay elections for our personal benefit” – whatever that means. Unfortunately, the good minister is missing the point. The question is not how many elections can the JVP-NPP hold in how many years, but how many years do people in the provinces have to wait before they vote in another provincial election? How many more years? That really is the question.

We know the current situation in the provinces. There are provincial governments but no elected provincial councils. The government administration in every province is being run by the President of the Republic through his handpicked governors and unelected government officials. This is a travesty of democracy and the euthanizing of the PC system. Already under 13A, the office of the provincial governors has been constitutionally and legally compared to the office of the Governors of old Ceylon who represented the monarch in what was then a crown colony. The irony is that a JVP-NPP President may have inadvertently positioned himself as the monarch of all he provincially surveys, courtesy of the Thirteenth Amendment!

The JVP was in the forefront of the litigation that caused the demerger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. If Dr. Vigneswaran’s assertion were to prove correct, a potential dissolution of the provincial system under the JVP-NPP government would be the consummation of the JVP’s original opposition to the introduction of the provincial council system itself. The whole system may not be eradicated, but it could be devoured of its democratic essence while preserving the administrative shell as the medium for the country’s president to overreach into the provinces. That would be worse than a daydream, a real nightmare.

by Rajan Philips ✍️

Features

‘Spectrum’ Art Exhibition Showcases Emerging Talent at Lionel Wendt

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/7

Thilina Walpola

A new art exhibition, titled Spectrum ,will be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre on the 20th and 21st of June 2026, bringing together a collection of works by ten emerging artists.

Athsara Wijegunawardena

Neha Thirumavalavan

Dillai Joseph

Wasantha Siriwardena

Champika Dias

Nipun Dias

Dr. Prasanna Siriwardena

Kalhari Perera

Siromi Samarasinghe

Chandana Illankone

All ten artists have trained under the guidance of renowned Sri Lankan artist Royden Gibbs, and this exhibition marks an important point in their individual journeys.

Dr. Prasanna Siriwardena

Spectrum brings together a mix of styles, subjects and approaches, giving visitors a chance to experience a wide range of work in one place. The exhibition will include pieces in watercolors, soft pastels, oils and charcoal, reflecting both the discipline and personal direction of each artist. The work ranges from scenery and portraits to still life and studies of the human form, offering different ways of seeing and interpreting familiar subjects.

: Nipun Dias

: Wasantha Siriwardena

Dillai Joseph

Although they share the same mentor, each artist presents a distinct point of view. The result is a show that feels varied yet connected, with each piece carrying its own character and intent. It is this balance that gives Spectrum its identity.

The exhibition aims to support and highlight emerging talent within Sri Lanka’s art scene, while also creating a space where artists and audiences can connect. Visitors will find work that shifts between quiet observation and more expressive pieces, making it an engaging experience for both seasoned collectors and those simply interested in art.

Spectrum is expected to draw art lovers, collectors, students and members of the wider creative community. It also offers an opportunity to discover and support new artists at an early stage in their careers.

Open to the public over two days, Spectrum invites visitors to experience a range of work in a venue that has long been part of Colombo’s cultural landscape.

Features

Rewiring Brain: Meditation to Break the Cycle of Craving

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/7

Thilina Walpola

“Craving begets sorrow, craving begets fear. For him who is free from craving there is no sorrow; how can there be fear for him,” Dhammapada verse 216 states. The mental factor craving, Tanha in Pali, is central to Buddhist Teaching, as its ultimate goal is the cessation or extinction of it—tanhakkhaya. Even though Tanha is translated as craving here, it can sometimes mislead modern readers into thinking tanha only refers to extreme or physical addictions. Just as with any Pali term, it has broad meanings. Venerable Walpola Rahula describes it as “thirst” or unceasing wanting, one of the deep-rooted proclivities or latent tendencies (anusaya) of life (Rahula 1959), without which life as we know would not exist.

Even though the Buddha recognized this natural phenomenon two and a half millennia ago, it was only in the late 20th century that science took note of it and gave it a captivating term—the Hedonic Treadmill. The advantage of this empirical investigation to us Buddhists is that it provides a way to gain penetrative, experiential comprehension (anubodha) of this concept using the vernacular of this technology-savvy age—an alternative to struggling with the language of a bygone era.

These investigations have revealed that there are no hard-to-comprehend metaphysical or mysterious elements involved with this phenomenon; it is a biochemical process fundamental to sustaining life. What is more, an effort to grasp this concept would be well within the goals of Vipassana meditation described in the Sutta Pitaka, incorporating the four elements of investigation: body (kayanupassana), sensations (vedananupassana), mind (chittanupassana), and natural laws (dhammanupassana).

Vipassana and modern science

Vipassana meditation is an in-depth exploration of how humans perceive the world, gain knowledge, and interact with themselves and the environment. Knowing this with wisdom allows one to lead a harmonious way of life (samadhi), a condition conducive to curbing the “thirst” and achieving the Buddhist ideal. The goal of modern science is also to investigate life, but humanity has often used that knowledge to increase material wealth and comfort, providing only lip service to spirituality on the fringe.

An attitude that tends to ignore the consequences of wanting more and more – thirst, potentially endangering the planet. However, that does not prevent us from using scientific information as and aid or a tool to grasp Buddhist concepts. The scientific method bears parallels to the Buddhist approach: it is based on causality (paticcasamuppada), empirical verification (ehipassiko), systematic observation (meditation), and rejecting dogma and beliefs. The primary difference is simply the vocabulary used.

The process of perception: five aggregates

Our five external sense organs receive data (vedana) containing information on the environment: Eyes: receive light, Ears: receive sound, Skin: senses physical contact and temperature, Nose & Tongue: sense chemical properties of substances. The data received by the sense organs is transmitted to the brain, where it is registered as neural networks (sanna). Neural networks, which are interconnected groups of nerve cells (neurons) can be viewed as mind-readable QR codes.

The activity of the brain, or mind (mano), processes this data and converts them into actionable information (sankhara). Modern neuroscience and psychology have made great advances in understanding these processes at the molecular level. This process allows the individual to become aware of their environment, build an autobiographical memory or the notion of a self (atta), and take actions to protect and perpetuate life.

The Pali term vinnana refers to the collection of information committed to memory. Translating vinnana as “consciousness” can be confusing, as the latter often refers to all brain activities. All physical phenomena that sense organs encounter and the mental constructs (sankhara) are referred to as Rupa. This activity of mind forms the basis of all knowledge, representing the entire world as perceived by the individual. This process is what the Teaching refers to as the Five Aggregates (pancakkhanda). The critical takeaway is that the world we perceive is merely a mental construct. While an objective world exists, our sense organs have limitations in seeing it—a fact easily realized through the hundreds of illusions used for entertainment.

Evolution and emotion

The evolutionary purpose of this data processing mechanism is to enable living beings to respond to environmental factors for survival. The psychological and physiological state that arises prior to acting is called emotion. Primarily, emotions can be of three kinds: desire (loba) – seeing a new phone causes an urge to buy it, even though the current one works fine; aversion (dosha) – encountering a vicious dog triggers a “fight or flight” response; delusion (moha) or illusion – an unanswered message to a loved one triggers worry or speculation. Thus, tanha or thirst represents how we connect to the world in its entirety; it can be desire, aversion, and delusion, not merely simple greed. Consequently, these are natural phenomena beyond our immediate control, which are intended to sustain life. In other words, emotions are the forerunner to volitions or intentions, which the Teaching defines as kamma.

The biochemistry of craving

Emotions result from the interaction between the nervous system and biochemicals known as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, and endorphins). Just as the Buddha’s simile of two bundles of bamboo supporting each other describes, these two processes are interdependent and co-arising. Every thought or emotional state corresponds to patterns of neural firing. When neurons fire, they release these chemicals into synapses, influencing how one feels and acts. This release perturbs the body’s normal balance, or homeostasis. Once an action is complete, these chemicals are reabsorbed, and the body returns to its baseline.

Return to baseline is essential for survival. For example, if we stay satisfied with just one meal forever, we could not sustain life. Nature has developed another mechanism to prevent us from being satisfied – we also habituate. In the case of dopamine, the brain adapts by reducing the response to the same stimulus. To get the same level of satisfaction with repeated experiences, the amounts of neurotransmitters needed keeps increasing. This leads to the cycle of craving and dissatisfaction—the Hedonic Treadmill. You “run” toward happiness on the treadmill, but it does not take you anywhere, leaving you in the same emotionally unsatisfactory state, wanting more and more.

Breaking the cycle

This explains why achievements and possessions do not bring permanent happiness, and lead to a cycle of struggle, addiction, crime, and other ills of society. For Buddhists, it also explains why we cling to meaningless rituals. The Dhamma captured this complex phenomenon in the Four Noble Truths: pleasant experiences are impermanent (anicca), leading to grasping (tanha) and unsatisfactoriness (dukkha). The remedy is the Eightfold Path that involves wisdom (panna), conduct (sila), and harmony (samadhi).

Neuroplasticity and the point of liberation

While we cannot stop the sense organs from receiving stimulation (vedana) and sending them to brain, the mind can be developed to prevent vedana from leading to tanha. This is the “point of liberation,” the seventh link in the paticcasamuppada formula. We may not have free will, but we have ‘Free Won’t’ or the ability to say no to the natural tendency to act upon stimuli. We can rewire our neural connections to do so. This ability can be cultivated by practice and repetition, and neuroscience refers to it as neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change with experience.

The natural tendency of the brain is to strengthen frequently used neural networks while weakening and eliminating lesser used networks and building new ones as needed. This is known as neural plasticity or rewiring the brain. As described in the Eight-fold Path, the way to weaken and eliminate dopamine-driven neural networks includes three aspects. First, the process leading to thirst must be understood. One must engage in sila – activities and thoughts that cultivate Metta: loving-kindness and goodwill, Karuna: compassion, Mudita: appreciative joy, and Upekkha: equanimity, emotional stability, calmness, and evenness of mind in the face of gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and disrepute, pleasure, and pain. That must be done with wisdom, ritualistic behavior does not strengthen the correct neural networks. These activities promote a “cocktail” of oxytocin, serotonin, and GABA, subduing the role of dopamine and helping us step off the Hedonic Treadmill. This leads to a tranquil state of mind and a harmonious existence – samadhi. Again, it is an interdependent, co-arising process that improves upon repetition. Using mind altering substances hijacks this process, thus the need for adhering to the Fifth Precept.

The goal of Vipassana is to understand this process and train the mind to say “no” to tanha. It is not just about sitting on a mat; it requires developing a lifestyle that maintains homeostasis or harmony, samadhi, at every moment. Pali term bhavana means the development of wisdom and insight. In modern vernacular – rewiring brain. This model must be assessed for its efficacy by the individual and realize the benefits by themselves –ehipassiko; knowledge without practice does not work. According to what the Buddha taught, that is the path to cessation or extinction of craving – tanhakkhaya, the supreme goal.

by Geewananda Gunawardana, Ph.D. ✍️