Timeless relevance of the Buddha Dhamma
The luminous full moon of Vesak bathes the world in its sacred radiance, illuminating the three pivotal moments that define the extraordinary journey of Siddhartha Gautama. On this most auspicious of days, the cosmos witnessed the birth, the enlightenment, and the final transcendence of the Buddha—the Awakened One.
More than 2,500 years ago, under the shade of the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, the search for life’s ultimate meaning found its resolution. The Buddha’s awakening marked a shift away from blind ritual and superstition toward wisdom grounded in experiential understanding. His realization illuminated a timeless path—a path not confined to any religion, caste, or ethnicity, but open to all beings who suffer and seek peace.
Among the key teachings that have resonated through the centuries is the Buddha’s emphasis on understanding the nature of the self. Much of human suffering, he taught, stems from attachments to what is perceived as “I,” “me,” and “mine.” This clinging—to body, possessions, beliefs, status, and personal identity—anchors beings in cycles of craving and aversion, leading only to deeper dissatisfaction. Liberation lies in recognizing the impermanence and emptiness of these constructs.
In Sri Lanka, a country with a proud Buddhist heritage, the relevance of these teachings remains urgent. Amid the challenges of modernization, ethnic tensions, and the fragile healing process of post-conflict reconciliation, Dhamma offers a powerful ethical and spiritual compass. When applied earnestly, it calls for unity above division, compassion over hate, and understanding over prejudice. The labels often imposed—Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian—are social constructs that obscure our shared humanity. As the Buddha taught, virtue, not birth, determines one’s worth.
Ancient Buddhist texts present vivid parables and metaphors to illustrate the limits of human understanding and the futility of certain pursuits. One such story describes the great disciple Moggallana using his psychic powers to explore the limits of the universe. Recognizing the futility of the effort, the Buddha extended his hand and gently brought him back to Earth. The chronicler Atuwawa included this tale to underscore the Buddha’s message: some truths lie beyond human measurement and conceptual boundaries.
This message echoes in the modern scientific world as well. Sri Lankan-born NASA scientist Dr. Cyril Ponnamperuma once led pioneering work on creating a “primordial soup” to simulate the origins of life. His research, and that of others at NASA, often returned to a foundational dilemma—how to define life itself. Despite brilliant minds and boundless technological resources, NASA’s high-level team tasked with establishing a universally accepted definition of life eventually dispersed in perplexity. Life, it seems, remains as elusive to define as it is essential to understand.
When asked about the origin of the universe or the nature of Nibbana, the Buddha often remained silent, because he recognized such speculative questions did not aid the cessation of suffering. Instead, he redirected seekers to understand suffering itself, its origin, its cessation, and the path leading to its cessation—summarized in the Four Noble Truths.
A similar redirection was illustrated in an encounter in the forest of Uruwela. A group of thirty young men, searching for a courtesan who had robbed them, stumbled upon the Buddha and asked for help. Instead of answering directly, he posed a question: “Which is wiser—to seek a woman, or to seek yourselves?” They immediately saw the deeper truth in his words and stayed to receive his guidance. This anecdote exemplifies the Buddha’s method: not to provide answers to every curiosity, but to offer insight into the root of suffering and the path to liberation.
Throughout history, great minds—Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud, Sartre—have pondered the questions of being, existence, and consciousness. Despite their brilliance, none have conclusively defined life. This is perhaps because life, like Nibbana, may be better understood through experience and introspection rather than rigid definitions.
The Buddha’s discourse in the Agganna Sutta from the Digha Nikaya outlines a cosmology where the universe undergoes cycles of expansion and contraction. He describes a primordial Earth devoid of life, shrouded in darkness and mist. As the world evolves, greed and the desire for possession emerge, giving rise to conflict, hierarchy, and social division. It is a profoundly symbolic account, one that suggests that ethical decay, not merely geological shifts, brings about human suffering.
In modern times, the challenge lies in preserving the essence of this Dhamma in a world tempted by political Buddhism and empty ritual. Institutions may survive, but the transformative power of the Buddha’s message is transmitted only through understanding, practice, and lived experience. That task falls to educators, religious leaders, and parents: to ensure the next generation learns not only ceremonies but the deeper philosophical truths.
One powerful initiative to aid this understanding would be to introduce Comparative Religion as a subject in schools. Teaching children the tenets of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and other spiritual traditions fosters tolerance, empathy, and respect. It helps dismantle the false sense of religious superiority and replaces fear with familiarity. Such education paves the way for peaceful coexistence in an increasingly pluralistic society.
To honour the Buddha this Vesak, it is not enough to light lamps and hang lanterns. The deeper tribute lies in embodying ahimsa -the principle of non-violence – not only in physical action but in speech and thought. It is a principle that extends to all living beings, affirming the Buddha’s view that no one is superior or inferior by birth. Prejudice, cruelty, and hostility obstruct the spiritual path just as surely as ignorance and craving.
On this sacred Vesak day, may the teachings of the Buddha inspire a return to self-inquiry, to compassion, and to wisdom–values that transcend creed or culture. For in seeking to understand life out there, one may yet find the key to peace within.
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