Issue

7th Issue (March, 2008)

Editor's Preface

The THEME of this edition of Bodhi Journal is ‘Theravāda Tradition’. The Sanskrit equivalence is ‘Sthaviravāda’. It connotes ‘ The Teaching of the Elders’ or ‘The ancient teaching of Buddhadhamma’. Theravāda tradition predominates in south-east Asian countries which comprise Sri Lanka as the international centre of studies of Theravāda Buddhism, Myanmar as the prominent exponent of Insight Meditation (Vipassanā-bhāvanā), Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh and so on. The Theravāda canonical texts are collectively known as Tipiṭaka. It comprises three baskets of Scriptures. The first basket contains the scripture of Vinaya or Rules of Disciplines (Vinayapiṭaka); the second basket contains the early discourses of Gotama Buddha (Suttapiṭaka); the third basket contains the further elaborations of the early discourses of the Buddha ( Abhidhammapiṭaka).

In the Features Section, four articles pertaining to Theravāda tradition are featured. The first article is Ven. Upali’s penetrating article on ‘The ‘Insubstantiality’ Emphasis in Buddhism:Towards Establishment of an Harmonious Human Culture in a world of Discrimination’. Ven. Upali unveils that the cause of current clash of civilizations lies latently in the dual role playing of the human hearts - the rational thinking of discrimination or dichotomy. The article reveals that the Buddhist philosophy of ‘Insubstantiality’ relates the cause of the clash of civilizations to the clash of egoes due to deluded worldview. The Truth of ‘Insubstantiality’ is that all sentient beings are intrinsically interrelated and interdependent. The arbitrary separation, discrimination and division among human beings through creeds, colours, races cultures and boundaries violate this intrinsic cosmic Unity of mankind. Conflicts and turmoils are the retributions impacting mankind for transgressing the Law of Intrinsic Unity promulgated by Gotama Buddha as ‘Insubstantiality’ (Anattā) and ‘Dependent Co-arising’ (Paṭiccasamuppāda).

 The second article is ”An Examination on George Grimm’s ‘The Doctrine of the Buddha: The Religion of Reason and Meditation” contributed  by Wong Weng Hon. Wong Weng Hon presents a purport on the two fundamental Buddhist doctrinal issues: Saṅkhārā (Volitions) and Taṇhā (Cravings) expounded by George Grimm in his book ‘The Doctrine of the Buddha: The Religion of Reason and Meditation’. Whoever intuitively discerns these two Buddhist key concepts will intuitively apprehend the profound message of the Buddha. George Grimm’s work can be considered a lofty exegesis of the authentic Word of the Buddha. Wong Weng Hon’s purport may be considered as a further doctrinal  elaboration on George Grimm’s doctrinal exposition. The sole intention of further elaboration is to make what is abstruse to be more lucid or more comprehensible to those genuine Dhamma cultivators or practioners. In this manner, readers would be like the footprints of all living beings that walk fit into the footprint of elephant (Indriyasaṃyutta.V.54.4).

The third featured article is ‘Some Thoughts on the Theravāda Exegetical Literature’ by Ven. Assaji Tanchangya. A comprehensive background on the Pāli commentaries to canonical texts of the Theravāda tradition is presented to the readers. Ven. Assaji also sheds light on the extensive coverage of the commentarial literature. It comprises not only exegesis but also Buddhist history, languages, Buddha’s biography, geography and politics of both India and Ceylon. Original Pāli commentators, whose commentaries are included in the Buddhist canonical texts, include Sāriputta, Dhammadinnā, Anuruddha, and Mahākaccayana are briefly introduced. Buddhaghosa’s contributions, as a prominent Pāli commentator, are esteemed. The purpose of the commentarial literature to preserve the purity of Buddha dispensation is stressed by the writer.

The fourth featured article is that of Dr. Lisa Kemmerer who contributes the article ‘Buddhist Saints’. Dr. Lisa elucidates the characteristic features or traits of a Buddhist Arahant based on the narration of an actual Thai Arahant, Acharn Mun. She also unveils the life style of the Arahant, his religious relations with the laity, his supernormal knowledges (Abhiññā) or psychic powers, and the quest for spiritual Truth. The similarities and differences between Arahants and non-Buddhist saints are elucidated. It is pertinent that Dr. Lisa emphasizes that the spiritual attainment is more important than the display of supernatural powers, such as clairvoyance, clairaudience,and other psychic powers. Overemphasis of psychic powers impede ascending spiritual vertical development. What is of paramount importance is for the Arahant to destroy his cankers (āsavas) completely to gain liberation (vimutti).

Scott Quyen contributes the first article on ‘Buddhist Attitude to Wealth’. The comprehensiveness of his article lies in the fact that almost all the key Buddhist Economics expounded by Gotama Buddha in the early discourses of the Buddha have been crystallized or encapsulated in this concise, informative article. His work may serve as a mini compendium for comprehending Buddhist Economics in terms of the balance between wealth and ethics. The golden rule is that one should obtain wealth ethically or righteously (dhammena dhanaṃ labheyya).

The second academic article on ‘ Mental Cultivation through Theravāda Meditation Techniques’ is contributed by Quyen Ngo. Quyen Ngo elucidates the Buddhist three-fold training (tisso-sikkhā) of Morality-Concentration-Wisdom (Sīla-Samādhi-Paññā) in their ascending relationship as well as their inter-relationships. This three-fold training is canalized towards the experience of Buddhist intuitive discernment of Nibbāna. The significance of the pivot of Concentration between Morality and Wisdom is explicated. That, dissimilar meditational techniques are merely dissimilar expedient devices (upāyas) or pedagogical strategies to consummate the Noble Eight-fold Path’, is featured by the writer.

Dr. Robert C.L Law shares his knowledge of ‘Karma or Kamma’ with our readers on ‘The Meaning of Kamma in Early Buddhism’. The evolution of the concept of Karma as ‘Ritual Work’ commencing from early Brahminism till the Gotama Buddha’s promulgation of the doctrine of Kamma as ‘Mental Volitional Actions’ is explicated by Dr. Robert C.L Law. Dr. Robert opines that the original Buddhist definition of Kamma as ‘Mental volitional action’ has undergone a deviated transformation in the teaching of transference of merits. Thus, the knowledge of the history of Indian Buddhism is useful for those who aspire to grasp the definition of ‘Kamma’ originally conceived by Gotama Buddha.

The fourth academic article is ‘Depersonalization of Human Personality’ composed by Bhikkhu Karmannada Tanchangya. The Truth of Anattā is expounded with the word ‘Depersonalization of human personality’. The word ‘Depersonalization’ is utilized to connote that illusive Self or Ego personalizes the human personality and that annihilation of Self or Ego depersonalizes the human personality. Depersonalization of human personality leads to the cessation of grasping upon the Five Aggregates leading to emancipation.

The only article in the Reflection section treats the readers with spiritually discerning feast of insight into the mind of enlightenment or intuition of Gotama Buddha expounded by Bhikkhu Ñāṇananda of Sri Lanka. The article ‘Metaphor of Film Show: A Brief Purport of ‘Nibbāna – The Mind Stilled, Vol.II’’ is contributed by Wong Weng Hon as a sub-purport to Bhikkhu Ñāṇananda‘s commentary on Buddhist teaching of Nibbāna and the associated doctrinal concept of Non-manifestative consciousness (Anidassana-viññāṇa) his celebrated Dhamma talk recorded in printed text ‘Nibbāna- The Mind Stilled, Vol. II’. It is wise to capitalize on Bhikkhu Ñāṇananda’s wisdom in expounding the abstruse concept of Nibbāna utilizing the metaphor of the film show on the screen watched by the audience. Utilizing this metaphor, Bhikkhu Ñāṇananda leads us to self-actualize Nibbāna which is actually the stilling of all mental volitional actions (sabbasaṅkhārasamatha).

Three poems are presented in the Poetry Section. The first poem on ‘The Buddha’s Teaching in Short’ is the master piece of Dhamma poetry of Ven. Upali. The poetry expounds the message of loving kindness and compassion to all sentient beings. Deluded ones are advised to cease to conflict but to harmonize with others. We ought to love all sentient beings like we love ourselves. All human beings cherish happiness and repel vexation or anguish. We ought to execute complete vigilance or heedfulness in our actions to foster universal brotherhood of humanity. Eternality is the permanent asset of the not greedy, the not angry and the not deluded person who perceives Insubstantiality.

The second poem on ‘Truth Lies in the Five Agreggates’ presented by Wong Weng Hon. The Five Aggregates constitute the microcosm or micro-reality of the human personality. Whoever intuits the microcosm also intuits the macrocosm - the macro-reality of the universe. Monotheistic religions advocates that Divinity is found in the Centre of human heart which is designated as ‘Buddha-nature’ in Mahāyāna tradition and as ‘Dzogchen’ in Tibetan Buddhism.

The third poem is ‘The Transgression of the First Buddhist Moral Injunction:Restraint from Killing’ contributed by, Mandy Mui, a regular Dhamma poetry composer in our Bodhi Journal. The Five Buddhist Moral injunctions are called the Five Precepts (Pañcasilas). Mandy Mui pin-points that the transgression of the first Precept leads also to the breach of the second Precept of ‘Restraint from Taking What is not Given or Theft’. Killing robs of the happiness of the lover of a victim. It is therefore a very grave offence from the Buddhist perspective.

The Editorial team is gladdened and encouraged by increasing number of articles submitted to us by Buddhist scholars, intelligentsia, writers, journalists and general Dhamma supporters from various portions of the world. This global collaboration is a reflection of alliance of civilizations in the production of Buddhist literature.

In this edition, the contributors have emphasized the key doctrinal points of Theravāda tradition which is theme of this Edition of Bodhi Journal. It heartens me too that more articles on the issues of comparative religions and clash or alliance of civilizations are received and featured. They mirror the altruistic compassion of the article contributors. Such articles on world issues of great concern help concerned readers to discern the Truth of universal identity so as to foster the alliance of civilizations. The objective is to avert the clash of civilizations. Discerning and insightful articles on the world current affairs, protection of our natural environment, such as global warming and climate change and construction of world harmony and peace and other issues, visioned from Buddhist perspective, are fervently encouraged and most welcome.

By the way, the main enterprise of Bodhi Journal remains on the noble platform of the preservation and exposition of the authentic Word of Gotama Buddha. The endeavour is to help develop, cultivate intrinsic human infallibilities  and manifest the intrinsic supremacy of human wisdom and virtue through the right knowledge of Saddhama. Of course, the promotion and fostering of an alliance of civilizations through religious wisdom has become our concerns too. This goal of world peace and harmony can only be realized when men develop both his intellect and heart. This supremacy of heart exist latently in all human species. The sole function of all esoteric religions is to uncover this innate treasure of Man – Wisdom of Perfection.

I’ll rejoice and cherish if more article contributors will be more collaborative and participate actively in our Dhammaduta work of propagating the true teachings of Buddhism (Saddhamma). Such noble, benevolent endeavours through the contribution of Buddhist or religious literature will help transform, refine and upgrade the world. Generally, we concur that the pen is mightier than the sword. That, our publications are esteemed by many, mirror that our Dhammaduta work is on the right track. I thank profusely all those who support and encourage our works.

We must priortize the scriptures as the focus of our thought culture. We ought to meditate upon them throughout our daily lives. Esoterc religions make us born again or self-redeemed, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible one, by the Word of Buddha or God. Buddha or God is the eternal and immutable Truth. Buddha or God refers to the same eternal Truth of Unity synonymous with Non-duality, Insubstantiality or Emptiness. There is only one Truth not two. This Truth creates the Kingdom of eternal Paradise or Nibbāna. The Wisdom of this Truth makes one dies (of Self or Ego) before one dies. It is called new birth or self-redemption.

  Editor