Young Researchers-The Need
of Our Times
3rd National Conference on Buddhist Studies-12th to 13th July 2007
Review By Ramani D.Wickramaratne
Gone are the days when erudite Buddhist scholars( both from Buddhist
clergy and the laity) spent long hours doing research into The Buddha
Dhamma and imparting their scholarship for others with lesser experience,
to study and understand the deep philosophy of The Buddha Word. It is
with the objective of training and fostering such scholarship, that
the National Conference on Buddhist Studies has been organized during
the last 3 years. The year 2007 saw the 3rd such Conference which was
held at The All Ceylon Buddhist Congress from 12th-13th July 2007 from
9.00 am - 5.30p.m. This year, this Conference was organized by The Buddhist
and Pali University of Sri Lanka (2007 also marks the 25th Anniversary
of The University) under the guidance of Venerable (Professor) Wegama
Piyaratana(Vice Chancellor)in association with The Buddhist Times Trust
and "Bodhu Sahana Aramudala" with the coordination work including
logistics being handled by Dr. Hema Goonatilake. The Inaugural Address
was delivered by Former Head Dept. of Archeology, University of Peradeniya
and Founder President Sri Lanka Council of Archeology Professor Leelananda
Prematilleke on "Contribution of Archeology to Buddhist Studies."
Information regarding the National Conference on Buddhist Studies was
circulated through the email networks as well as the internet. Although
it was supposed to be a "national conference", there were
many foreign researchers who showed a keen interest to participate and
some even submitted research papers for consideration. Over 40 research
papers were received from national/local and foreign scholars from which
30 were selected for presentation at the conference. Of the 30 selected
papers presented, around 50% were submitted by young researchers from
Sri Lanka and were considered to be of a high standard by the Selection
Panel.
The following research papers were presented during the 2 day Conference:
(1) Asoka Gunasekera-"Asvaghosha, the Propagator of The Dhamma";
(2)Bhikshuni Chuehmen(Taiwan)-"Sacred Music as a Means to Promote
The Dharma"; (3)V.Dr.Medawachchiye Dhammajothi Thero-"Chinese
Interpretation of Sunyata and Seng Zhao's Thesis Unreal Voidness (Bu
Zheng Kong Lun)"; (4) Nilanthi Bandara- "Methodologies Adopted
to Protect Buddhism in Ancient Sri Lanka as Revealed by Stone Inscriptions(
Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Periods)"; (5)Dr.M.W.Gunathunga &
Dr. A.A.S.H. De Silva- "Occurrence of Mental Defilements Among
a Group of New Entrants to a Medical Faculty"; (6) D.G.Athukorale
- "Paticcasamuppada-A New Interpretation"; (7) Jayadeva de
Silva - "A Buddhist Model for Management of Sri Lankan Enterprises";
(8) Nishadini Peiris -"Buddhist Concept of Woman's Social Role";
(9) Wasantha Priyadarshana -"Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapeutic
Approaches in Buddhism"; (10) Dr.Piyasena Dissanayake -" Buddhist
Socialism: The Political Heritage of Asia"; (11) Dr.Hema Goonatilake
- "Scholar Monks of 19th and 20th Centuries: Academic Discourse
Among Global Peers"; (12) M.M.A.C.Munasinghe -"Political Characteristics
in Early Buddhism and Plato's Philosophy"; (13) J.A.Amaraweera
" e-Resources for Buddhist Studies"; (14) Ramani K.Samarasinghe
-"Observations on the Process of Recovery of a Tsunami Damaged
Buddhist Village in Southern Sri Lanka"; (15) Professor Vibha Arora(India)
- "Identity, Indigenity and Belonging Among The Buddhist Lepchas
and Bhutias of Sikkim"; (16) Professor More Nandhkishor(India)
-"Buddhism: Emerging Issues"; (17) Ven.Wilegoda Ariyadeva
Thero -"Mudras: The Buddha's Way of Teaching"; (18) Aruna
K.Gamage -"Rectification Points of The Pali Canon in Atthakathas";
(19) Pofessor Madhumita Chattopadhyay(India) -" Testimony and Buddha
as Pram?na"; (20) R.K.A.N.Rathnasiri "Yasodhara: Post-Colonialism
or Pro-Colonialism"; (21) Bindu Urugodawatte - "The Development
of The Buddha Statue in China: From the Earliest Period to 6th Century
AD"; (22) Gamini Gunawardane - "Parallels of Human Resources
Management and Buddhism"; (23) Olcott Gunasekera -"Need for
Improving Performance of Dhamma Education in Schools"; (24) Raj
Bandara -"Interpretation of Mahastupa in Space: Anuradhapura Maha
Stupa Period"; (25) Dr. K.G. Kulatunga - "Some Current Development
Similar to Buddhist Concept of Perception"; (26) Bandu de Silva-"Thoughts
on The Evolution of The Stupa Cult: From Evolution Theory to Cosmic
Symbolism"; (27) C.Srinath Fernando -"Celestial References
in Buddhist Texts and The Search for Intelligent Life in Space";
(28) S.Illangakoon - "Can Nirvana or Buddhatva Be Postponed";
(29) Kapila Peiris - " Universe and Samsara"
From the number of topics that were covered at the 3rd National Conference
on Buddhist Studies, it is evident that there was ample provision for
the presentation as well as discussion on a wide and diverse area which
involve Buddhist research. It might be an added incentive to the researchers
who submitted papers for this conference, if The Buddhist and Pali University
would consider publishing the best papers that were accepted for presentation,
in the "Sri Lanka Journal of The Buddhist and Pali University.
"
In Sri Lanka, it is sad that adequate opportunities are not offered
to research students and scholars, to engage in serious studies due
to various reasons one of which is financial support. Therefore, it
is all the more creditable that there was such a high level of keenness
on the part of young researchers, to submit their papers and become
participants in a process which would hopefully open the doors for more
opportunities in the future. In order to research and preserve research
papers of depth and value for posterity, it is essential that more and
more scholars come out and commit themselves to do research work in
Buddhist studies. Since Sri Lanka is considered to be a centre of Buddhism
in Asia, it is all the more important that adequate importance is placed
on Buddhist research work. Such conferences also offer opportunities
for scholars from various countries with diverse cultural and religious
backgrounds to meet, discuss and understand the differences.
At a time when Buddhism and Buddhist Studies is gaining ground in the
western academic circles, it would certainly be prudent to appeal to
the Government of Sri Lanka and Ministry of Higher Education, to place
adequate importance on higher levels of research at University-both
undergraduate and post-graduate levels which will no doubt train our
upcoming future scholars and academics, to be proud of their achievements
and continue to look for more and more opportunities to enhance their
knowledge.
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