Lay Routine of Anagarika Dharmapala for a Better Social Atmosphere

Abstract

It is indisputable that Shrimath Anagarika Dharmapala was a Sinhala Buddhist celibate who had practical and prolific social vision based on Buddhist philosophy in its pristine purity. Even in his absence, the value of his social philosophy remains unchanged up to date. Nevertheless, the fact is that how far it has been adopted as a practical method for a better social atmosphere in Sri Lanka. Through his penetrated farsighted intelligence, he proclaimed a paramount and practical routine for Buddhist lay-society with the intention of making an effective and enthusiastic Sinhala national bulwark. It is obvious that, as a social philosopher, social reformer and Buddhist scholar, he compiled an all-inclusive code of ethics and routine for laity. For instance, this code of ethics exposes to the laity about proper behaviour, proper way of having food, wearing clothes, using the lavatories, footing on the road, appropriate behaviour in a meeting, etc. This compilation evidently draws inspiration from the Pātimokkha of the Buddhist Monastic Discipline (Vinayapiṭaka) which elaborates each and every formal and ethical way of human behaviour. In this manner, Anagarika Dhrampala, getting the core of disciplinary values from the canon, represented to laities this routine which consists of virtues and rituals for women and children separately. For instance, he mentions how the spoons and forks should be used if they are used at meals. In the absence of moral values, prevailing social system is downfall bound day by day. In the context of the overall facts relevant to this theme, a conclusion can be drawn that the routine for the laity of Anagarika Dharmapala is of vital importance to build up an ethically wholesome society. Therefore, this paper exposes how the vision of Anagarika Dharmapala can be applied for a better modern social atmosphere.