From Siddhartha Gautama To God- A Response To Dr. Jagath Asoka

By Mahendra De Silva –January 9, 2014

It was really interesting to read Jagath Asoka’s article on “From Siddhartha Gautama to God” and theresponse given by Shyamon Jayasinghe for the same. However I thought that few misleading views appearing in Jagath’s article should not go unchallenged.

Dr. Bhante Madawela Punnaji

I appreciate Jagath’s elegant writing and his genuine interest  to understand what is happening in our country. It is really great that although Jagath has been educated abroad and not living in Sri Lanka for a long time, he has not forgotten his roots. However when he attempts to provide his expertise on Buddhism, it would have been better if he had studied it well before expressing any interpretations or views on this subject. The basic understanding of Buddhist philosophy does not equip someone to offer interpretations on main concepts of Buddhism. Jagath has done exactly that when he tries to define Nirvana. He claims that Nirvana is a state of mind where you are not compelled by desire, fear, or social obligation, and when he plays Tennis or spends time with his Son, he obtains this state of mind. In this way all of us can attend Nirvana by engaging in activities where we enjoy most and totally engaged. He  has explained Nirvana in a short and sweet manner where as Prince Siddhartha struggled many years and made many sacrifices to achieve it.  It is true that his mind may be free of any desires.at the time playing tennis, but it is in a fully active state with plenty of sensations- actively thinking of next move in his game. The moment after the game his excitement will be over and comes back to his normal activities In contrast I believe that Nirvana is a calm and peaceful state of mind one get by the destruction of all feelings and sensations. It is a thoughtless state. States similar to that are achieved by experienced meditation practitioners by meditating for long hours. It is unwise to speculate and compare Nirvana state of mind with worldly things or pleasure creating activities.  We human beings always live unconsciously with the belief that there is a “Self” within us.  Due to this belief we are constantly bombarded with insecurity, anxiety, fear of ageing, sickness, death, separating from loved ones, encounters with the people whom we dislike and many more worries.  Until we discover that “Self” within us is an illusion and not a real entity it is unlikely someone would achieve Nirvan state of mind.                                                             .Read More