Day of Lanka’s religious
rebirth
by Soma Thera
The full moon of Poson,
the month of flowers, is the anniversary of the religious and cultural re-birth
of Lanka, wrought through the compassionate teaching of the Blessed One.
On this day, 2,264 years
ago, the Arahat Thera Maha Mahinda, son of Vedisa Devi and Asoka the Emperor
established the gracious ruler of this island, Tissa, the Beloved of the Gods
and his 40,000 followers, in the Law of the Buddha.
That act of the son of
Asoka changed the destiny of this country. The majority of the people of Sihaladipa,
the Island of the Lion Race, turned their attention away from the gloomy,
dull path of worldliness and became interested in the resplendent, joyous
path leading to the extinction of ill, the incomparable path of perfect beneficence,
virtue, wisdom and peace.
Flourish
The Doctrine brought to
this country, by Maha Mahinda Thera after it was redated by Arahats at the
Third Great Buddhist Council held under the aegis of Asoka and the Presidentship
of the Arahat Thera Moggaliputta Tissa, continues to flourish here today.
The words of the Master
brought by the son of Asoka are as clear now as when they were first heard
in this land at Mihintale by Tissa and his retinue.
The credit for preserving
the Doctrine untarnished and for its spreading throughout the world belongs
to the people of this island.
It is not sufficiently
appreciated that the culture based on the Dhamma is what the world needs today.
This is the way of life based on right understanding, the way of amity, sympathy,
compassion and equanimity, which can bring peace and happiness to humanity.
Golden Protest
If the people of this land
are divided and are lacking right leadership, it is because a large number
of those educated according to western standards have been swept off their
feet by the glamour of ideas that are tinsel and paste in comparison with
the gold and jewels of the Ariyan Way. The heritage comes down to us from
the Anubuddha Maha Mahinda.
None can gainsay that in
spite of all the laxities that have crept into our national life the outlook
of the majority of the people of this country is opposed to violence, materialism
and the exploitation of the weak by the strong and favours non-violence, virtue,
and compassion.
It cannot be otherwise.
The national emblem, the Sangha, who in the golden robes of the Arahats are
a perennial protest against the pessimism of the world, are shining in every
town and village of Buddhist Lanka.
The Pure Word of the Master,
which Mahinda Thera brought to us, is being eagerly studied and diligently
practiced by a considerable portion of the population. The great Dagobas and
the mighty peak, which bears the footprint of the Master, the Footprint of
the Great Bull Elephant amongst men, are ever beckoning us to the Noble Path.
The best songs of the Sinhalese
which tell of the good life, of serenity, of renunciation, of amity and the
calm and happiness of the passionless, still inspire many and with the quickening
of our cultural consciousness, they are widening their sphere of influence.
The tanks, the embodiments
of the corporate efforts of our ancestors under the impulse of the Sigala
Sutta, are even today fertilizing our fields and are reminding us of the livingness
of our link with our past.
The wonderful frescoes
of our famous shrines, depicting the Perfections (Parami) of our Master, are
exciting the interest of Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
The edicts of our noble
kings, who served the religion of the Conqueror, Kinsman of the Sun, our Buddha
and made this land prosper, are admonishing us and pointing to us the way
to heaven.
Perpetuator
In such an environment
of excellence have we the fortune to live, blessed with peace and untroubled
by many an ill that afflicts other countries, largely because - the Arahat
son of Asoka, who came here renouncing an empire, lived here, taught our forefathers
the right way to happiness and became a son of Lanka.
Ceylon is in area so small
as to be almost insignificant in comparison with such countries as India,
but this little island has one of he most significant histories in the world
as the preserver and perpetuator of the true teaching of the Buddha and the
tradition of a religious culture extending to twenty three centuries.
Poson, which means pushing
forward, growing, (Samskrta, Prasuna) and refers to an abundance of flowers
and fruits, is another name for Jettha (Samskrta, Jyaishta) a month in the
rainy season.
During Poson takes place
the festival of Anuradhapura and Mihintale, the two places in which Mahinda
Thera accomplished his great work, labouring with love for the world, till
he passed away into the peace that is beyond common understanding, the peace
of Nibbana.
Strengthening
This architect of the culture
of Lanka laid the foundations of the Dhamma in this country soundly and cooled
the hearts and minds of our forbears with the water of compassion; because
of him we have been able to withstand the most determined efforts of marauding
nations living near and far to obliterate us and our culture.
It is healing and strengthening
to remember, again and again, the words of the Buddha: "The doctrine
truly protects him who practises it".
It is because our ancestors
followed the Doctrine with devotion and diligence that we still have the freedom
to live the Good Life, which leads to the highest happiness.
The people of this country
are so conditioned by the Dhamma that without it they will cease to be a distinct
cultured group of any great value in the world.
That is why men of vision
have, from time to time, spoken of the necessity to nullify the influences
that try to alienate the people of this country from the Buddhist Way of Life.
If, however, the people
of this Buddhist land grow in accordance with the culture that is natural
to them, phenomenal progress in their relation to other nations may be expected:
then the children of the Sakyan Sage in Lanka would become outstanding patterns
of the best way of life for all who trust in the supremacy of sobriety, sanity
and non-violence.
Doctrine
It was from Vedisa Giri
(Sanchi) that the Thera Maha Mahinda and his companions came to Ceylon by
supernormal power and set in motion the wheel of righteous doctrine with the
Buddha’s Instruction on the Simile of the Elephant’s Footprint in which the
way to find the genuine teacher of salvation is shown.
At Vedisa a shrine to house
the relics of the Theras, Sariputta and Moggallana, was built recently largely
with donations received from Ceylon and through the efforts of the Ceylon
Buddhists.
The new Vihara in Sanchi
was intended not only as a memorial to the Two Mighty Leaders of the order
of the Buddha, but also to Vedisa Devi’s son, the founder of Buddhist Lanka
and its friendly culture, which springs from the mind of the Wisest of Beings,
who is known thus because . -
He clearly sees the dying
out of birth.
He wishes well to all and
pities all;
And knows the single way
by which men crossed,
Now cross and will in future
cross the flood
— Samyutta Nikaya.
(First published in ‘Bosat’ 1956)