WESTERNISATION IS NOT MODERNITY-ANALYSIS FROM A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE
Posted on December 9th, 2011
DR JANAKA GOONETILLEKE
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Abandoning the lessons of a 5000year old Asian Civilization and accepting a 500 year old Western Civilization is illogicalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the wake of the disastrous impact that westernization is having on humanity in terms of the environment, social instability and Human suffering it is time to reflect. Asian civilizations have been built on a value system be itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism etcƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which emphasizes Harmony as against a western civilization which emphasized Might was Right ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ geared to the transfer of resources in the Proxy of money. In a world where wealth is a constant creation of wealth is an illusion. It is a mechanism of redistribution of wealth from one stable environment to another destabilizing both thus creating disharmony which accounts for the present state of social unrest and environmental catastrophe. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nial Ferguson in his book CIVILIZATION THE WEST AND THE REST attributes the dominance of the western civilization in the last 500 years to 1) competition2) work ethic 3) scientific advances 4) Rule of Law 5) Medical advances 6) consumption economics.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Buddhism believes life is suffering and the prevention of suffering is by the practice of the eight precepts condensed into three Wisdom , Morality and Mental Discipline. Recent neurological advancements have given us the opportunity to analyze these precepts. The brain is divided into a Primitive Brain and Larger brain or the Neo Cerebrum. The Primitive Brain is the site of Fear and Flight and larger brain has developed over millions of years because of social interaction.
Picture of the brain that emerges can be 3 themes
a)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Main function of the Brain is automatic. This is true of most bodily functions but also of conscious thought, decision making, forming altitudes, opinions and even making moral judgments. Reality takes a back seat
b)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Neural plasticity use hypertrophy and disuse atrophy. Meaning practice can make you perfect or vice versa
c)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Social Brain ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” It is suggested that the neo cerebrum or the large brain has been developed by long years of living together.
Morality and Social Brain
Although there is moral diversity all human beings are born with an innate moral code. It is this moral code and compassion ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-NON SELFƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ that liberates the human mind from conflict. In other words it is social justice that Buddhism advocates. King Asoka the Great found salvation in it after his great military victories. Moral diversity is best expressed in Buddhism in the KALAMA SUTRA OR THE SERMON OF FREE THOUGHT. When Buddha was asked as to the truth about sermons preached by many ascetics and priests that passes through the village Buddha said that when you yourself know that the preaching is skillful, blameless praiseworthy conducive to happiness and is praised by the wise should you accept true and practice it. Even though the human diversity was accepted the emphasis on morality was prime. OKKAKURAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Japanese intellect expressed it bestƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by saying that compassion and morality was god and harmony that it achieves was the ultimate.
From a neurological point of view Compassion, morality and the service of others ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-NON SELFƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ stimulate the inferior frontal lobe part of the brain just behind your fore head that suppresses the primitive brain the site of fright and flight the site of conflict. This is the way to freedom or No Fear. This is exemplified by many a ritual like bathing the Buddha etc. On the other handƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is the me and the I and craving and attachment that creates conflict. These bursts of emotional upheavals stimulates the primitive brain the site of fright and flight. Self interest that is the driving force of westernization is hence stressful.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Maximum creativity is when the stimulus is maximum as it will help to develop the coordinating centers in the brain that is plastic or amenable to develop. Where there is conflict the stimulus is reduced and creativity is minimized.
This only confirms that Morality and compassion and service for others are the natural driving forces of human society that we have learned over millions of years.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- BUDDHAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢S TEACHINGS OF THE TRUTH OF COMPASSION AND OF FREEDOM AWAKEN YOUR HEART
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TO THE FREEDOM AND COMPASSION THAT IS YOUR OWN BUDDHA NATUREƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
1)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BUDDHIST CONCEPT OF NON SELF VS COMPETITION AND WORK ETHIC
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- I slept and dreamt that life was joy, I awoke and saw that life was service I acted and behold service was joyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rabindranath Tagore
Competition and self interests are the driving forces of the present western civilization. That unfortunately encourages immorality. Without morals no society can develop the trust that is necessary for integration. It has been found to be lacking in the present world civilization which has caused such mayhem in the world economy. It is also true that the western civilization that has been built on colonialism lacked morality from the very beginning. Competition and self interests are the driving forces of conflict and stress as explained earlier. Buddhism advocates an ethos of non self the exact opposite of the western philosophy of self advancement. When the owner ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the fastest growing internet site Ali Baba.com was interviewed he said when he started the company money was never the objective but money was the result confirming creativity and success revolves around the higher objective of service.
Christian work ethic which is a combination of hard work, higher savings and sustained capital accumulation built on objectivism was a sustained attempt by the capitalists to exploit the vulnerable. The objectivism or planning is a very western concept where the period involved allows manipulations of the system that is best exemplified by the present world economic system run on the proxy of monopoly money. Morality and Trusts is always compromised in once desire to earn money .Right effort is the Buddhist work ethic. This is best exemplified by the DALAI LAMA
Dalai Lama when asked what surprised him most about humanity answered ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Man, Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money then he spends money to recuperate his health, he is anxious about his future that he does not enjoy the present the result being he does not live in the present or future he lives as if he is never going to die and then he dies having never really livedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BUDDHIST DOCTORINE OF DEPENDENT CO ORIGINATION ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” CONSUMPTION ECONOMICS AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT
Buddhist believes humanity and nature are interdependent and that for a viable eco system there should be a harmonious existence. On the contrary the west believes that humanity reins supreme and it is with in the power of humanity to destroy nature for its material needs without a price to pay. Poverty of that philosophy is now dawning on humanity. The Buddhist ecological perspective is expressed in the noble eightfold path which is the right view. This view is contained in the doctrine Patticcasamupada or dependent co origination. Where things exist interdependently not on their own right.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The greatest effect of consumption economics and so called scientific advancement is the changes in the bio diversity the harmony that exists between fauna and flora. The changes in bio diversity is mainly due to the essential elements of city centric developments and mass migration toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the city, destruction of rural areas for mass industrialized agricultureƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and corporate mining etc The effects of these changes are ignored. The assimilation of resources from harmonious environments and spread right through the world can only lead to the disharmony all over the world. The effect of these are many and not within the purview of this article. A brief attempt to explain its impact on humanity is as follows
1)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Health ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Changes in biodiversity changes the vector populations that carry diseases to man. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For example the mosquito that carries Dengue fever has increased causing epidemics. These are new diseases. Of course new treatments are an added burden on the economies and humanity. Stress and mental disease is part and parcel of this way of life. And so are the increased incidence of cancer, obesity, diabetes ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ etc due to the unhealthy environments and pollution. Concern should also revolve around the impact of the environment on the genetic makeup of humanity by a process called epigenetics that could increase the risk of certain diseases in future generations.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Human body and constitution is geared to the environment we live in. The environment determines our food habits. Globalised food habits can only lead to health risks. For example in the UK there is a higher incidence of Heart Disease, Diabetes etc amongst Asians. In Sri Lanka there has been a higher incidence of the above after they started the open economic policy
2)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Deforestation ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” This causes reduction in ground water, Purification of water, Flooding and global warming in addition to the new diseases.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A global reduction in water resources is envisaged in the future
3)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Food- Environmental changes have increased the failure of crops leading to higher food prices and starvation of the marginalized. The monoculture agriculture, genetically modified crops with a need to pesticides and insecticides have created a syndrome called the collapsing colonies of Bees. The bees are responsible for 30% of the food that humans eat which has led to failure of crops. This simply is the effect of destroying one species. Thousands of species are been destroyed daily..ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 3)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WISDOM AND MENTAL DISCIPLENE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” INSTANT GRATIFICATION,RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY
The consumer society and Monopoly money has created an addiction to instant gratification which now a recognized mental derangements. This is not led by need but by greed. It is also recognized that these people lack short term memory and has no idea of the long term impact. A good example is that of Western commercialism in the form of Nike, Sony, and Google etc sold to a unsuspecting world ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ driven by this myth that westernization is modernity. The other is BLACK FRIDAY the Americas day of shopping. This is a mental state encouraged and developed by the western media. A state of illusion, which only can be addressed by mental discipline and concentration.
Might is Right is the other western phenomena. Asia has been perpetrated by this phenomenon since Vasco the Gama invaded the peaceful spice market in Calicut and chased away the Arab merchants. . The inhumanity that this policy has ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perpetrated on the world is immense. Slavery and its modern form are self evident. The rule of law and the democracy for a few have been at the expense of the many that has suffered and died. A value system be it the rule of law or Democracy cannot be imposed by violence. The hypocrisy is best exemplified by the fact that America spends 25% of her income on the military when 15% of her citizens are living in poverty. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Western dominance has been mainly militarily. It never had any moral authority.
4)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LACK OF WISDOM- SLAVERY OF THE MIND
How has the myth ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-westernization is modernityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ survived this long in spite of the disastrous impact it is having on Humanity?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is not challenged because the west has successfully cut Asians away from AsiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own 5000 year old history and influenced the AsianƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s to accept their myth that western civilization is superior to Asian civilization. The west has successfully enslaved the Asian mind. Westernization that has brought so much suffering be it in Africa or amongst the poor, that hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ brought such great environmental catastrophe , Where a 16 year old 40 years ago had a better chance of having his mother at home than a 6 month old in 2005, causing social mayhem. Where a mere 20% own 85% of the wealth of the world cannot be modernity. It cannot be assed in terms of GDP. It can only be assed in the dictum ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Welfare of the ManyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. It is time to rethink.
MODERNITY ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” A BUDDHIST VIEW POINT
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Advancement in neurology has given us the opportunity to look at Humanity. Buddhist believes that social justice, Freedom from want, Security more importantly Freedom of the mind should be the objective. This is modernity. The way to modernity is compassion, morality and the welfare of the many. This is in our BUDDHA NATURE.
December 9th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Thank you Janaka Goonetilleke for writing this essay.
Over the last three years I have written many articles to the Lankaweb and scholarly journals interpreting world events, economics, history, etc. from the Buddhist point of view.
I studied Buddhism in depth after I settled down in the West some 45 years ago. During my graduate studies in American universities, I became disillusioned with the Western biases of the education system, which is hell bent on belittling everything non-Western. From about 2000 onwards, I turned around to expose the brainwashing that the West has carried out over the entire world through reifying the Trojan horse called science.
Philosopher Hegel, sociologist Weber, political economist Marx and their ilk put down Buddhism and other Eastern religions as negative belief systems that hindered material progress. They inculcated in the minds of the people they subjugated that everything non-Western was inferior through what Edward Said called Orientalism. They spread the notion that development and modernity was associated with the adoption of Western (Christian) beliefs. Jaffna Tamils, many Koreans and Chinese became Christians for this reason.
I found the Enlightened philosophy of the Buddha far superior to the Enlightened philosophy of the European intellectuals of the 18th and 19th centuries. Buddha’s concepts of anatta (no-self), paticca samuppada (dependent co-origination) and the Noble Eightfold Path are so far ahead of anything the Western mind has been able to imagine. Buddha explained the universe through the power of his mind. The materialist explanations of science cannot ever disprove the basic tenets of Buddhism.
Yet some so-called Buddhists continue to berate Buddhism for advocating non-violence (pointing out the defeat of the Nalanda Buddhists), and non-advocating desire (thereby discouraging the competition for materialism, etc.). Such critics do not want to make the world a better place. They are simply agents of the West whose motto is the law of the fish.
Avoiding extremes is the best way for harmony in the world. Follow the Middle Way in relation to non-violence and desire as well without going to extremes.
December 10th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
It is wrong for Janaka to say that Westernisation has been disastrous. Westernisation has lifted many from poverty, improved the quality of life of many and also increased the life span of many . However, Westernisation has also introduced inequality and other problems. The way forward would be to identify and rectify problems rather than turn the clock back. Religious believers may highlight problems and use these problems to promote their own brand of religion. Just as Janaka has done, Muslims may suggest to go back to Sharia law and Muslim way of life. In the same way Christians may promote Christianity and want te world to go back to Christianity and Christian values.
We now have a situation, instead of identifying and finding a solution to the problems we face, different faith believers promoting their own faith. Muslims may even claim that Allah created us all.
Unfortunately, religions, including Buddhism rely on unproven myths, and the believers are seriously affected by the religion mind virus.
Now in the case of Buddjism, that Janaka is promoting, Buddhists ended up in rivers of blood and Buddhist countries in te Silk roue got wiped out. Even China, Laoes, Vietnam came under the control of imperialist powers. Buddhist monks in Maldives could not even save their own lives and were beheaded, when the country turned Muslim. What Janaka appear to suggest is that we turn the clock back and be passive and enable invaders to make mince meet of us.
During the time Lanka was guhided by Buddhism, the Sinhalese ended up being the poorest of the poor.
Religion should be kept as a ting of the past as many sharp minded thinkers have suggested.. Persons suc as Janaka, and others who want to turn the clock back and make us passiv,e are far more dangerous than LTTE terrorists themselves. These people will destroy us from within. These religious promoters appear to be affected by te religion mind virus and appear to be trapped by religion and do not appear to learn from the past. Buddhism has been dumped by the source country India. Since dumping religion, both India and China have made tremendous progress within a short time span of 60 years. Janaka is promoting that we go back to the dark ages..
Competition and self interests are the driving forces of the present western civilization. Now the Indians and the Chinese have also learnt this and have made tremendous progress. Tamils and Muslims also use competition and self interest as the driving force.
If we do not have the will to survive and learn to compete, not only Western nations will suck our juice and spit the skin out, Tamils and Muslims would do that too If we did not win the war, through military power and certainly not using Buddhism, the Tamils would have driven us out.
Western nations, Tamils or Muslims would not be kind to us just because some of us want to give up desires and seek Nirvana. History tells us that every weak nation has been either wiped \out or made to work as slaves and their resources robbed by stronger nations. So if we are not fit enough to survive then we will automatically go under- survival of the fittest.
What Janaka and similar minded people suggest are absolutely dangerous for the Sinhalese
December 10th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Western thought and the culture is based on Judeo-christean religeons and islam abandoned. That looks for material success and neglects the environment be it mental physical.
Eastern thought based on Buddhism, Confucianism OR Tao in harmony with the environment.
But, I don’t say everything in Western thought should be abandoned, probably may be in the middle path.
December 10th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Servility is the greatest achievement of colonialism. Even when great economists like Jeffery Sachs think that the world is at an abyss and the answer is the middle path geared to the protection of the enviorment and the poor people like Prabas are nothing but a group of brain washed individuals . The article has emphasised a certain scientific basis to the argument and if Prabas wishes to contradict it he should contradict it scientificaly. Abusing the writer is of very poor taste and shows ignorance.
December 10th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Dear Ben Silva
Time and time again, I have factually highlighted the fallacies of your argument that “Buddhism” is the reason for decline of the Sinhalese people. You always seem take great effort bring out selected observations which you seem to conveniently ignore (which is obvious because of your hidden agenda). Starting from great kings like King Dutugemunu and King Parakramabahu the Great who fought wars when needed but during peace time promoted Buddhism as much as they could. Had such visionary people seen Buddhism as a threat to the survival of the Sinhalese people they would have got rid of it ages ago but they didn’t. It was because the saw the Buddhist way of life as the best way for the Sinhalese people and for the sustenance of the nation.
I have highlighted on numerous occasions how Sinhalese Buddhists fought against the colonial powers and BTW unlike Vietnam, China and Laos, Thailand (a Buddhist country FYI) did NOT fall victim to colonialism (again an a fact which you seem to have ignored). I gave the example of Italy being a devoutly Catholic and industrialized nation while secular Albania being a poor nation to highlight the fact that religion on its own is not responsible for the fate of a nation. On many occasions I have shown how Buddhism does NOT prevent anyone from becoming rich.
Numerous other contributers to Lankaweb have also factually highlighted the errors of your arguments but (I say this again…and again…) you seem just go to the flea regardless of the topic!
The Sinhalese (yes Buddhist) civilization of Sri Lanka lasted for 2000 years (then came colonialism) and for most of that time we were a prosperous nation (yes during your so called “Dark Age”). Post independence we have always been going downhill. To understand this (and the main reason for most of our current problems) just try to ponder why King Datusena told “this is my wealth” to a tank full of water to his son Kashyapa.
Finally there is one simple thing. You seem to be so “concerned” about the Sinhalese people but don’t even bother to live in Sri Lanka. Therefore it is no surprise why you will never ever find the answer King Datusena’s statement!
December 10th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
Prabasflaccid head is wrong.
People living out side the western world do not know about the Western world and because of the propaganda they value it.
WE those who lived in the west for decades know what west is all about and start valuing our eastern values and eastern living.
Actually, recently, American Health practitioners asked to consume RICE OVER WHEAT. Recycling and organic food are only hot things now. But, we practiced that long ago and for decades
Anyway, the article is right. Modernity is not westernization.
December 10th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Prabas,
Your illiteracy and slave mindset is beyond belief. The writer has defined what modernity was from a buddhist perspective. It would have been civil and pertinant if you had defined your intepretation of modernity and how westernization was compatible with it. If not there cannot be a meaningful discussion for which this comment page is meant for.
Unnecessary abuse for people you do not agree with is unacceptable. I suggest you refrain from making any more of these abusive statements. If you do continue we would know where it comes from A Cesspit.!
December 10th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Dear Mjaya,
Not many will understand the very Basic laws of nature:
1) Everything is subject to change, nothing remains the same forever.
2) What goes up must come down.
December 11th, 2011 at 5:35 am
Prabas,
You are a disgrace. Your comments are best applied to yourself.
December 11th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
My view is, we need to learn how to survive in a highly competitive dangerous world, to prevent further shrinking of our living space. If the likes of Janaka or Shelton feel depressed, they need to visit the local temple and seek Nirvana rather than writing articles promoting Buddhism, ( which has been dumped by Indians,), to rub their depression on gullible people.
December 11th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Oh Ben Silva you are so pathetic!
It has always been a dangerous world and the Sinhalese people have survived through all of that. We have our country when so many other people lost theirs (Red Indians, Abos, Maoris even the Sudanese lost South Sudan and Serbians lost Kosovo) but we (mainly “meek” and “incompetitive” Sinhalese Buddhists – rather ironic isn’t it!) fought for our country all along (from the Portuguese, Dutch, British to LTTE).
As I have mentioned so many times before (and ignored for obvious reasons!!) the decline of Buddhism in India was a complex issue. There were a lot of people who benefited from the ancient religious practices of pre-Buddhist India and caste system. Buddhism which promotes both reason (“Mano Pubbangama Dhamma” the mind is above everything) and egalitarianism was a thorn in the side of such people…. today India is a country of extreme extremes, poor people who live in slums with no proper sanitation to the super rich, it is one of the few countries were polio still spreads. These are things someone who visited India would know for sure. Nevertheless, Buddhism is undergoing a resurgence in India right now, especially among the oppressed untouchables….due to Ambakar.
So Ben(edict), it seems that you are feeling depressed because people know more about you and your agenda than you think (they are not as gullible as you think :D). If you are depressed about loosing your NGO funding and nightly trips to Soho, then I’d suggest visiting the nearest shrink.
December 11th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
A REQUEST TO THE EDITOR OF LANKAWEB:
Please establish the basis for the decent debate of issues by publishing only those comments written by individuals under their real names.
People who hide behind pseudonyms often disregard the rules of debate and tend to resort to personal attacks rather than systematically dismantling the opponent’s thesis. They should be held responsible for what they write. Freedom of expression and responsibility are interconnected and interdependent.
Lankaweb will improve for the better if it implements my request.
December 11th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Ben,
I think you have misinterpreted this article. It is a general article meant for the individual. It is not catering to the needs of the sinhalese. It tells the individual how he can achieve modernity. Individuals make humanity and in that sense it is meant for humanity. It is wrong to interpret every article in terms of narrow sinhala nationalism, How ever if the sinhalese are to survive they have to act for the greater benefit of the many. Narrow Sinhala nationalism only leads to conflict as we see so often. Fair play not rhetoric .What is wrong with Sri Lanka is Sinhala Nationalism is only rhetoric to increase the personal wealth of a few at the expense of the many.
On a different note I agree that comments at this site must be a discussion which is civil and meant for a serious discussion on the article. People like Prabas must not be allowed to express personal abuse. Censorship or banning is the answer.
December 11th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Ben,
Why dont you define what modernity is from your perspectivefirst and justify it. Tell us how westernization is the saviour of this planet that is at this moment full of conflict with severe enviormental damage , increase in poverty etc. Then we all can have a useful dialog
December 11th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Hi Nandimitra
There is no point in inviting Ben Silva for a “meaningful” dialog. Like the story of the flea (where a schoolboy somehow comes to the topic of the flea regardless of the essay topic) Ben Silva will always come to “the Sinhalese should give up Buddhism”. His arguments have been countered over and over again but he continues to spit them out.
People do so only if they have a hidden agenda or are brain dead.
We are very familiar with this kind of stuff, doe things like “Tamils are discriminated”, “war crimes”, “Tamil grievances” sound familiar? Well they all come from the same source……..
December 11th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
There are 2 cases here.
1 – Westerisation is modernisation.
2 – Westernisation is not modernisation
1 – Most technological advances, military advances, money making, space/ocean/earth exploration, etc.
We must embrace this. It does not come by avoiding westernisation because it functions within this model.
2 – Modernisation should mean advancing from where we are now. In morality, environmental protection, etc. westernisation is going backwards. We should avoid this.
It is a case of selection.
December 11th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Dear Ben,
Your good intentions are appreciated but you seem to be misled.
Ancient Sinhalese under Buddhist principles were very rich.
e.g. Chulavamsa and Mahavamsa describes the prosperity Buddhist governance principles brought about not only in Sri Lanka but also in India.
When did it all collapse?
After Buddhist governance principles were overridden by a mix of western and other concepts.
Buddhism never stood in the way of destroying our enemies or even going to their lands and killing them.
Nalanda is not the only example. Ancient Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Shaolyn, Kung-Fu are also examples of how Buddhist practitioners were practical.
Westerners robbed resources from East to West. The entire North and South American continents and the Australian continenet were totally robbed by them! In addition, Asia was also exploited. Africa too suffered their onslaught. Westeners essentially robbed all the continenets including Antarctica. Others never move out of their continent!
That gave them huge resources. But there are no new continenets to rob. Therefore their acend to power and economic strength is not very relevent today.
But there are still many good things to learn from them.
Resisting westernisation is not wise as totally embracing it.
Marxism must be avoided at all cost. Even westerners have totally rejected it. It has no basis in eastern economic systems either.
December 11th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Completely agree with Ben Silva.
Its a bit late to be croaking against Westernization now. With the exception of Lifestyle and Religion, Sri Lanka is completely Westernized…
December 11th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
*** but we (mainly “meek” and “incompetitive” Sinhalese Buddhists – rather ironic isn’t it!) fought for our country all along (from the Portuguese, Dutch, British to LTTE). ***
Wasn’t it also you Sinhala Buddhists who surrendered the 2300 year old Kandyan Kingdom to the British because your nobles deplored the fact the Sri Vickrama Rajasingha was an Indian Malabri?
…and last I checked, many Sinhalese Catholics, some Muslim and a few Tamil Sri Lankans were also in the Armed forces, which leads me to my next point which is that Sri Lanka is not a Sinhala Buddhist country… you may feel it is, but many other Sri Lankans like me don’t agree with you. It is a Secular Democracy full of many different ethnicities, races, and religions.
*** If you are depressed about loosing your NGO funding and nightly trips to Soho, then I’d suggest visiting the nearest shrink. ***
Maybe you don’t quite know who Ben Silva is? – but he’s no NGO Schill. I have followed his very incisive criticism of Western interference of our Terrorism problem, he has been a true Patriot from as far as I have heard of him. Perhaps you should google search his name and read up on his writings before slandering him unnecessarily.
December 11th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
*** Buddhism never stood in the way of destroying our enemies or even going to their lands and killing them. ***
Gosh Dilrook… I can comfortably say that the VAST MAJORITY of practicing Buddhists would disagree with you on that point.
December 11th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
I agree with Fernando. Sri Lanka has now been highjacked by the aliens. The issue in this article is about Humanity and how the aliens are destroying this world. It is time to rethink
December 11th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
Hi Devinda
I never (yes absolutely NEVER) implied that there were only Sinhalese Buddhists who fought in the army. Col. Fazly Lahir, the founder of the Special Forces was a Muslim. Maj. Tuan Mutalif was a Malay and there were plenty of Catholics, Christians and Tamils as well. I owe the freedom I live in today to the sacrifices of all these great people. I was saying so in the due context of what stereotype Ben Silva is always trying to imply – Buddhists are meek and incompetitive. If I were to be 100% politically correct in whatever I type, I would have to type volumes.
I don’t tolerate people with hidden agendas. Anyone who wants a genuine discussion is free to talk here. Such people who continue to spit out ideas despite the counter examples given are nothing more than bigoted. Anyone is free to have any belief or opinion as long as it is benign and non-deceptive.
**Maybe you don’t quite know who Ben Silva is? – but he’s no NGO Schill. I have followed his very incisive criticism of Western interference of our Terrorism problem, he has been a true Patriot from as far as I have heard of him. Perhaps you should google search his name and read up on his writings before slandering him unnecessarily.**
I don’t deny anything of Ben Silva’s past. But people change sides. What happened to Gen. Sarath Fonseka? There is nothing wrong with him running for president. Its his democratic right. He was once a great General of the SL army but he joined the traitors of the TNA and tainted our country with the White Flag story……..
**Wasn’t it also you Sinhala Buddhists who surrendered the 2300 year old Kandyan Kingdom to the British because your nobles deplored the fact the Sri Vickrama Rajasingha was an Indian Malabri?**
True, there were those traitors of the Kandyan aristocracy who did so. We had similar traitors before and even now (remember the CFA?) But most of the common people of all of SL were against the British, that is why in 1818 and 1848 there were two major revolts against the British.
BTW: Are you the Devinda Fernando connected to Tamilnet.tv, if so great job!