Wish we had a ‘Dalai Lama’!

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

We claim to be the protectors of Theravada Buddhism with the added qualification that it is the closest to the words of the Buddha. But the fact remains that the present-day worldwide interest in Buddhism is due largely to the efforts of the Dalai Lama, most in the West being of the impression that His Holiness is the leader of all Buddhists in the world; the ‘Buddhist Pope’. In actual fact, the Dalai Lama is the leader of the smallest of the major branches of Buddhism: Vajrayana, which some authorities consider to be just an off-shoot of Mahayana rather than a school of its own. Whatever that may be, distressed by the behaviour of some of our Bhikkhus, I have often wondered whether we should have our own single Buddhist leader, ‘Sri Lankan Dalai Lama’ to effect a course correction, which is badly needed.

Although I know very well it would never be realised, my dream is to have one single leader for the Buddhist world. After all, irrespective of the differences in the shells of the various schools of Buddhism, the core remains the same; the philosophy and science of the greatest mind to have blessed this earth. All scientific advances thus far seem to confirm the postulates of the Buddha. His analysis of mind and thoughts have not been surpassed by any scientist though some have adopted his concepts piece-meal, giving them new names and sometimes going to the extent of claiming originality! Freud started with coining new terms for the concepts of Khama, Bhava and Vibhava Thanha. Mental factors in Abhidhamma are called psychic modules by psychologists. William James, the American philosopher and psychologist, is credited for discovering that the mind is a stream of mental units! Mindfulness, the concept introduced by the Buddha, has become a big business today.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Dhondup in Taktser, in eastern Tibet on 6th July 1935 and was recognized in 1937 as the tulku, reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama who died in 1933. He was formally recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama in a public declaration near the town of Bumchen in 1939.

The way the Dalai Lama was selected could be used as a good example to support rebirth, a concept that has attracted huge attention in the West, starting with the monumental work of Professor Ian Stevenson, the founder director of the Division of Perceptual Studies in Virginia University. On the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, many children were considered tulku narrowing down finally to the child in Taktser. When the selection team visited, posing as pilgrims, its leader, a Sera Lama, pretended to be the servant and sat separately in the kitchen. He held an old mala that had belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama and the boy Lhamo Dhondup, aged two, approached and asked for it. The monk said “if you know who I am, you can have it.” The child said “Sera Lama, Sera Lama” and spoke with him in a Lhasa accent, in a dialect the boy’s mother could not understand.

Dalai Lama had been the advisor and a regular visitor to the Division of Perceptual Studies inspiring the work on brain and consciousness by Professor Bruce Greyson, Ian Stevenson’s successor and his colleagues. In spite of the problems created by the Chinese invasion of Tibet and exile to India, The Dalai Lama has contributed immensely to the advancement of the interface between Buddhism and modern science. He set up ‘The Mind and Life Institute’ which hosted the first ‘Mind and Life’ dialogue on the cognitive sciences in 1987. Since then, at least 28 dialogues between the Dalai Lama and panels of various world-renowned scientists have followed, held in various countries and covering diverse themes, from the nature of consciousness to cosmology and from quantum mechanics to the neuroplasticity of the brain. Sponsors and partners in these dialogues have included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, the Mayo Clinic and Zurich University. Many valuable books have been published based on these conferences.

With his commitment to scientific truth, unusually for a major religious leader, the Dalai Lama, in his discourses as well as in his 2005 book “The Universe in a Single Atom” advises his followers: “If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.” He has cited many examples of archaic Buddhist ideas he has abandoned including his acceptance that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain, not Maha Mehru parvataya.

Not that we have not produced Bhikkhus of eminence and international repute. Venerable Walpola Rahula Thera, in 1964 became the Professor of History and Religions at Northwestern University, USA, becoming the first bhikkhu to hold a professorial chair in the Western world. He has written many valuable books in English and French. Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thera and Venerable Narada Maha Thera wrote many books in English and Sinhala. Venerable Rerukane Chandawimala Thero is considered one of the finest scholars on the Tripitaka, writing many books in Sinhala. Venerable Kirinde Sri Dhammananda Thero migrated to Malaysia in 1952, on invitation, and set up the Buddhist Missionary Society in 1962. He was well-versed in all the other major religions too, as illustrated by the comparisons in many books he published. He strived for unity among religions. Listening to his words of wisdom delivered in a deep but calming voice with a sense of humour, in London, is an experience that I would remember to my dying day. It is said that images appeared in the sky while two priests from India were chanting prayers for the late Ven. Dhammananda in front of the cremation pyre in 2006, one being a ray of light suddenly appearing in the clear sky, projecting the image of a meditating priest.

Whilst there are many Bhikkhus rendering yeoman’s service to the country, unfortunately, there are many whose behaviour discredits the Noble Mater’s teachings. They indulge in astrology, medicine,etc. which were prohibited by the Buddha. Some have become trade union leaders and one tried to get elected to the Cricket Board! Some who claim to be enlightened have become megalomanic with keenness to display the opulence. Others are simply third-rate politicians, of which we have plenty. Language used by many of these is totally unbecoming of a Bhikkhu and they excel in attacking each other. There is no body or authority to control and what concerns me most is the deafening silence of the many Mahanayakas we have. Are they there only to protect wealth, family and cast? The only purpose they seem to be serving is receiving gifts from politicians who make ritual visits.

When will we see a true Mahanayaka? Wish we had our own Dalai Lama!