Opinion
Controversies Related to Buddhism
A Book Review:
By Professor N.A.de
S Amaratunga
Publisher – Motilal Banarsidass International, Delhi
Reviewed by
Professor Chandima Wijebandara
I was surprised, when I received this scholarly treatise on the controversies related to Buddhism, noticing that the writer was a professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. After reading it I am amazed at the skill he has displayed in handling the Buddhist concepts and his familiarity with the way intellectual giants battled in the field of Buddhist Philosophy, even turning the Buddha’s original teachings topsy-turvy. It is a wonderful and encouraging gift from an academician of an unrelated field, not only to the students of Buddhism but also to the scholars in the field who may definitely enjoy reflecting on many controversial issues related to Buddhism in a new perspective. They may definitly admire Professor Amaratunga’s intellectual treat, thanking him heartiestly.
Professor Amaratunga’s approach to the subject is scientific, critical and comparative. Even though we come across endless writings on Buddhism almost everyday most of them are either simple “faith-laden sermons” or pseudo-scholarly attempts. In such a context a genuine attempt of scholarly analysis like this is warmly welcome by scholars and serious students of Buddhist Philosophy and culture.
The book contains 36 chapters covering many controversies ranging from Buddha’s personality to the decline of Buddhism in India and its survival in other countries like Sri Lanka. The main focus, however, is on the transformations taken place in the context of India. The writer has surveyed how the concepts like three signata, knowledge, reality, morality, rebirth and nibbana, etc., had been differently interpreted by Buddhist philosophers of sectarian camps in India. The writer, in order to help us understand the contextual value of Buddhist concepts properly, has provided parallel teachings of Vedic, Upanisadic and Jain traditions. As a matter of fact, some of the Buddhist concepts like anatta could not be properly evaluated if taken out of the religio-philosophic concepts prevailed during the time of the Buddha.
Professor Amaratunga’s critical and comparative study of controversies among the sectarian Buddhists has covered the essential branches of philosophy like Epistemology, Ontology, Ethics, Logic and Psychology. How the later day Buddhist intellectuals aggressively defended their interpretations has fascinated him as he has dealt with them in comparative light. Thus, it looks like that he has left no stone unturned. And he, as an intellectually honest scholar, has extended due honour to the views of modern scholarship on the issues he has discussed. Of course, there are occasions he has rationally disagreed with some of them as well.
I find his discussions on Impermanence, soullessness and Sunyata are of extreme importance to new comers to the Buddhist studies. Not only the Westerners but some Sri Lankan students also have misunderstood these teachings to the extent of branding Buddhism as a pessimistic, nihilistic and negative philosophy. These illogical labelings are carried out mainly due to out of context analysis. A careful study of discourses found in the Scripture would prove that The Buddha engaged in dialogues with outsiders only after obtaining the way they define their terms. Refuting or accepting their views were strictly on the definitions. If we take the Buddha’s remarks out of context the real accurate and philosophical implications of them could not be grasped. Western misinterpretations of anatta is a good example to this kind of misunderstanding. The Buddha obtained the philosophical definition of atta used by brahmins and crystalised it as permanent, unchangeable, indestructible, substantial entity. If the most important ingredient in our being is such unchangeable entity it is impossible even to know that we survive! Are we such undynamic useless frozen entities? Is our self absolutely unmanageable by ourselves or anyone else? The implication of the definition given by Brahmins is none other than that. However, philosophically immature ordinary people may also hold to that irrational definition and refuse to agree on the Buddhist teaching of anatta and go for a permanent soul. Or, choose to adopt a nihilistic view, mistaking it as the Buddhist position. They do not realize that there is a Buddhist way of using the term atta safely, as implied in statements like Attanam Damayanti pandita and attanava sudantena natham labhati dullabham ,etc. Vatsiputriya personalism and Sarvastivada all-exist theory are attempts to provide life-boat-ontologies to respond to nihilistic charges with affirmative concepts. So, the chapters on such topics given in Professor Amaratunga’s book are of utmost importance to enlighten the reader on the relevant controversies.
I do not, even the author of the book may not, believe that all the controversies related to Buddhism are resolved with the publication of this book. Twenty-six centuries of religio-philosophical controversies are not to be settled just by one book. They may continue and some more controversies might arise. That is the nature of discursive human thinking. In fact the Dhamma is something that wise people should realise by themselves and for themselves (paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi). Even the Buddha claimed himself as a Maggakkhayi – a guide of the road. We have to do the walking ourselves. So, Professor Amaratunga has brought the controversies to limelight for us to study, reflect over and get properly aware of them. We will probably find the solutions proper only when we also sit under ‘our’ Bodhi tree and get enlightened.
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
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