A

FRESH LOOK AT OUR BUDDHIST HERITAGE

QUESTION....
What happens to a dharma? Thrust out of the womb of suffering

With the power of questions

In a society Which has ceased to question?

THE PURE AND AWAKENED MIND

Free spirit of Early Buddhism

Essentially, the Buddhist system is a set of thoughts and ethical norms. The first lesson that this religion taught was by seeking reform in the authority of established religions in India as a reaction to Hinduism. The faith taught an independent ethical morality and revolves around truth and laws that govern human existence. Interestingly, Buddhists all over the world are fairly independent and are not required to get themselves organized around a central authority that decrees practices and doctrines. The essence of this religion is that everything that exists is because of some cause or the other and nothing that exists is permanent.
[Buddhism - Rupa Classic India]

Taking root...

No No

vinaya without meditation meditation without vinaya

Gama vasi and vanavasi bhikkhus

Asking the wrong question The written word a new refuge Creation of a new hierarchy A brahmin elite within the sangha and down grading the sramana?

the increasing popularity of forest dwelling monks who, in the latter part of this period, gained prominence in scholarly activities and took the lead in reformist movements [KM De Silva]
Unity of the Sangha in defending and restoring Sinhala sovereignty in Dambadeniya and Yapahuwa

Affirming and promoting the language of the people

Dharmasena Saddharmaratnavaliya Dharmakeerthi - Saddharmalankaraya Vidagama Maitreya Loweda Sangarawa

Nissanka Mallas criticism of govikula

Kalinga Maghas attack on the nobles and sangha Authentic symbols of the new sasana
Sinhala Buddhist Kingship
Tooth Relic Ubhaya Kula Parishuddha

A NEW BRAHMANISM?
Politics of assassination 1759 & 1959 Longest and most consistent holders of land

(as private or common property?)

Upholders of govi caste supremacy

Cultural specialists of learning and ritual

Separation...

Unity...

 At the time we were remaining

concealed in the mountainous wilderness, having been deprived of our kingdom in consequence of the calamity caused by the Choli Tamils, Buddha Raja of Sitnarubim, Constable of Ruhuna, protected with the aid of his retinue, the entire royal family, including our father, His Majesty King Magellan, the Great Lord;

(he) brought us up in our tender age; he nurtured us with the sustenance of (edible) roots and green herbs from the jungle; he concealed us from (our) enemies who were prowling about seeking us wherever we went; engaging himself in battle in this place and that place, he made the Province of Ruhuna once again loyal to us, took us out of the mountainous wilderness and established us in our own kingdom.

Panakaduwa Copper Inscription King

Vijayabahu I

simple humanity...
A direct address from the heart

Speaking of the greatness of another

Qualities of simplicity, honesty, humility and gratitude We learn something of the community that nurtured,

nourished and supported Vijayabahu There is a clear link between the individual character of the leader and the community he emerges from The spirituality and brotherhood of Vijayabahu is our link with a forgotten, glorious ancient period

Dehumanized learning
Impersonal learning without insight breeds a culture of blind

imitation at its best and a dangerous and dehumanized society at its worst Learning our history and Buddhism is not just about generating facts and figures and marvelling around ancient creations and ruins. It is about generating insights. Our study of history and Buddhism has overlooked the human dimension and it has not helped us to identify who we are that we are human and transient beings The most important aspect of Mahindagamanaya is the character of our people who received the message of the Buddha and their ability to convert it into a way of life

Competition and destruction

We got away with a narrow learning ethic so long as

we were sheltered by the cooperative norms of our old Sinhalese and Tamil social systems Once this was dismantled in 1833 we started using education and new ideas like rights for self advancement, competition and destroying each other Unlike the ancient lankan who was able to understand the Buddhas message the modern lankan has failed to understand the message of human rights