Restoration of Moral Values and Buddhist Stance by Celibate Dharmapala: A Brief Review

Abstract

The invasion of the three western powers which adopted the divide and rule policy to gain supremacy in Sri Lanka imposed invaders’ religion and culture changing drastically the lifestyle of Sri Lankans. In this context, Anagarika Dharmapala, who saw the plight of his people whose religion was neglected and lives were dispirited, dedicated to national and religious causes with deep sense of patriotism. Anagarika (homeless one) Dharmapala (guardian of the dharma) who felt that the observance of all the Vinaya rules would get in the way of his work advocated to the laity the Buddhist moral values such as observance of the fivefold ethics (panñsīla), livelihood, decent clothing, behaviour, wholesome family, social and cultural life, etc. based on Buddhist philosophy and culture. Anagarika Dharmapala eventually rejected the theosophical stance centered on the issue of universalism declaring that Buddhism was being assimilated into a non-Buddhist model of truth. He stated, “Theosophy was only consolidating Krishna worship. To say that all religions have a common foundation only shows the ignorance of the speaker; Dharma alone is supreme to the Buddhist.” He, vehemently denouncing the portrayal of Buddhism in the West by Christian missionaries as pessimistic, nihilistic and passive, affirmed the Causality, the central teaching in Buddhism and added, “Buddhism is a comprehensive system of ethics and a transcendental metaphysics embracing a sublime psychology.” Thus, he restored Buddhist values and stance in its clarity. Anagarika Dharmapala, who made a remarkable contribution to the Buddhist revival and the nationalist awakening in Sri Lanka beyond common human endurance, immensely dedicated himself to enhancing moral behavior in his compatriots and safeguarding Buddhism.