In CONVERSATION......With a Pandit in Abhidhamma and Early Buddhism -- by Jeffrey Po

Prof. Y. Karunadasa, B.A. (Ceylon), PhD (London), the visiting lecturer in Department of Philosophy, Hong Kong University, is instrumental in preparing the syllabus for the Diploma in Buddhist Studies Program for the Buddhist Library. He talked to Jeffrey Po about how Early Buddhism has proliferated into various schools of thoughts and the reason for its expansion to the West.

Jpo: Professor, can you mention some of your overseas assignments?

Prof: I have been to Singapore about 10 times and have mostly conducted lessons at the Buddhist Library. In 1993, I was a visiting professor and lecturer in the English School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London. I have also been invited as a guest professor to some Japanese Universities in Ryukuku and Bukkho. In the University of Calgarie (Canada), I hold the NUMATA chair in Buddhist studies.

Jpo: Does your charming wife accompany you in your overseas assignments?

Prof: Yes, definitely! We are inseparable!

Jpo: Which aspects of Buddhism appeal to you most?

Prof: The Abhidhamma and those of Early Buddhism.

Jpo: Why those preferences?

Prof: I first obtained my university degree in general Buddhist studies and soon the fascination and interest in those subjects grew in me.

Jpo: Can you elaborate on what you mean by Early Buddhism?

Early Buddhism Versus Various Schools of Buddhism

Prof: Early Buddhism is in fact the historical teachings of the Buddha. It is free from technicalities and scholastic interpretations. These teachings are in fact enough for personal salvation. Today, Buddhists become concerned with Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, Tantric (and so forth) systems of thoughts and practices. Unnecessary metaphysical digressions and labyrinths of details have been added to them. The many facts of early Buddhist doctrines evolved into legendary stories and symbolisms.

Jpo: Has this then caused some sort of confusion?

Prof: Yes, but I do not think very serious. The Dhamma is an instrument and a means to an end. It is not dogmatic and the proliferations of the many schools of Buddhist thoughts are in fact a shower of strength. The basic doctrines of the Buddha are similar in all schools of Buddhism and the seemingly differences that have surfaced over a period of time is to cater for the different psychological and spiritual needs of the people.

Jpo: Do you find such diversities significant?

Prof: Undoubtedly, with the diversities, the culture of each country that Buddhism has infused and grown into are preserved. Notice the many and varied Buddhist wedding ceremonies and funeral rituals of different Buddhist countries. Buddhism gels into a host country without disrupting the social and cultural habits and fabrics of the inhabitants. Buddhism is not a fundamentalist movement and its views are not dogmatically forced onto the people even though they may have been right views. Buddhist culture is not monotonous. Furthermore, the vitality of the Buddha's messages and the Dhamma are taken seriously by people and they respond in many ways. Proliferations of the varied schools of Buddhist thoughts, which in fact arose from Early Buddhism, are truly signs of strength.

Buddhism and the West

Jpo: In today's context, would you then see Buddhism expand rapidly, especially to the West?

Prof: Definitely so! Buddhism is concerned with the preservation of moral life. Society must be based upon moral foundation. Otherwise, moral decadence sets in. Early Buddhism, the actual and accurate teachings of the Buddha, is also based upon those foundations. As history has shown, Buddhism has offered moral stabilities to the society. The spread of Buddhism to as far as the West today, has been tremendous, simply because of this. It is slowly permeating into the thinking that what really matters is not the source of utterances, but rather those statements that are valid and sound. Today, many in the West have found many of the utterances and statements made by the Buddha to be sound and valid. Again, those statements are based upon the teachings found in Early Buddhism. As the Mahayana statement goes, "Whatever is said by the Buddha, is well said". "Whatever is well said, is said by the Buddha" seems to have caught the imaginations of the West.

Jpo: Thank you, Professor.

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