Proliferation of Bodhisattas!

by Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Not so long ago, it was the proliferation of Arahants that we witnessed. Perhaps, recognising the ready acceptance by the gullible of self-declared Arahants, some charlatans seem to have gone a step further by declaring themselves Bodhisattas! As I mentioned in my article The Three Evils (The Island, 11 January), one of the evils plaguing Sri Lanka is gullibility. Hence, there is no shortage of followers for the pretenders! Anyway, it is nothing new as it is said that the Buddha, too, had to face this problem during his lifetime. The prompt action of the hierarchy of Ramanna Nikaya, in disrobing one of these may act as a deterrent, but some Bhikkhus themselves have criticised this as being too harsh an action as the person concerned may be a victim, suffering from a psychiatric illness. Of course, it can be argued that overaction may be better than inaction. Siyam Nikaya seems to be good at only giving final warnings, repeatedly to the same offenders!

The concept of Bodhisatta has evolved to be one of the most fundamental differences between Theravada and Mahayana, the two major schools of Buddhism. Whereas in Theravada it refers to someone who has made a resolution to become a Buddha and has also received such confirmation or prediction from a living Buddha, in Mahayana it refers to anyone who has generated Bodhicitta, a spontaneous wish and compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. By implication, it is a very privileged and rare position according to Theravada and many early forms of Buddhism but is open to everyone, who wishes to, according to Mahayana. In fact, Mahayana is sometimes referred to as Bodhisattva Yana (Bodhisattva Vehicle) and this form of attaining enlightenment is considered superior to that of attaining enlightenment by being an Arahant. Maybe, Mahayana is the ideal but Theravada is the more practical!

Those who claim to be Bodhisattas can perhaps justify their claims on the basis of the Mahayana tradition. In fact, the names they assume are often those mentioned in Mahayana literature. Theravada Buddhists believe that the next Buddha to be Maitreya and there are many stories about him, one of the most interesting being that the sequence was altered; Gautama Buddha, who was to follow Maitreya, attained Enlightenment first because of an act of self-sacrifice. It seems they were travelling together when they saw a hungry lioness about to devour its litter when Maitreya Bodhisatta went looking for help but Gautama Bodhisatta allowed himself to be the meal, saving the cubs. Thus, Maitreya had to delay his attainment of Buddhahood by eons but is rewarded by a very long lifespan and an ultrashort period of renunciation which he can spend in his own palace!

These are very interesting stories to be believed only if blinded by religion. They are at variance with the teachings of Gautama Buddha but, unfortunately, around the scientific discourses a religion has been created by followers! If we are to believe in a Maitreya Buddha, waiting in a heavenly abode, to be born eons hence, we have to accept predetermination; that the future is already written! Does this not go against the concept of cause and effect?

Often, Bhikkhus refer to being able to achieve enlightenment at the time of Maitreya Buddha. Is this not an insult to Gautama Buddha when the path He showed is wide open still? We are told about many previous Buddhas, adding that they had differing characteristics. By inference, all that Gautama Buddha did was reiterating what was already stated by many of His predecessors who disappear into an unknown, unimaginable past. Considering the very short span we humans have been fortunate to inhabit this beautiful blue planet, the likelihood of even a single more Buddha seems impossible. There is an abundance of archaeological data, in India, to prove the existence of Gautama Buddha. He was a human with a supreme intelligence who analysed the causes of our dissatisfaction and showed the path of ultimate detachment. Attempts at deifying Him and making him a supernatural religious leader is demeaning, in my personal opinion.

In a world with very rapid advances in science, the teachings of the Buddha have remained unchallenged. The Buddhists need to understand the core values of the teachings of the Enlightened one and realise that the stories about the Buddhas are only of literary interest. Scientists have understood the truth of the Buddha’s concept that the world we see is of the mind’s making. His analysis of the mind remains unsurpassed.

One of the greatest gifts of the Buddha to mankind is the concept of mindfulness; to be with the moment. Let us apply the same principle and forget about past Buddhas and future Buddhas and follow the path shown by Gautama Buddha.