Remembering Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda -- By Ven Omalpe Sobhita Thero (Religious Advisor, Bodhiraja Buddhist Society)

"Death is no cause for sorrow, but it would be sorrow if one dies without having done something for oneself and for the world."

Ven K Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thero

Some weeks before his demise, I visited Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thero in Malaysia. Despite his failing physical condition, I could still sense his quiet strength and calmness. Such indeed is the power of the mind of one who had dedicated his entire life to the propagation and protection of the Dhamma, and to the welfare of others. Nayaka Thero was a tower of inspiration for all, and his demise had left a vacuum in the Buddhist world which will be hard to fill.

I first met Ven K Sri Dhammananda in the 80s. Coming then from Sri Lanka to South East Asia, with little understanding of the cultures of the region and not knowing any of its languages, I was lost in this diversely different environment. I remember his reassurance, his warmth and his readiness to share his experiences. He was totally at home with, and well respected by, the various ethnic and religious groups in Malaysia who referred to him affectionately as "Chief Monk".?He was especially appreciative of the Chinese community for bringing Buddhism to the region, albeit from a different tradition. The conversations we had and his sermons were among my

first initiation into how to serve as a Buddhist monk in this multi-ethnic

and multi-religious society.

He was a big man, not only in stature but in heart. With his kindness, compassion, humility and great love

for humanity, he embraced all who came to him. He translated the profound philosophy of Buddhism into simple, explicit and down to earth language

that could be easily understood by all.

Nayaka Thero's depth of wisdom and his strong conviction was matched by his quick wit and sense of humour. At a talk on religion, he was asked by a Christian in the audience, "Venerable Sir, we heard your long talk but there was no mention of God." He replied earnestly, "Thank you for your comment. I did not mention about God because I do not know anything about him." On another occasion, he remarked, "The Americans sent men to the Moon. But the Chinese - they are the cleverest people in the world. Only the Chinese managed to open a bank in Hell."

For him, religion is a part of everyday life. "A man who puts aside his religion because he is going to join society is like one who takes off his shoes because he is about to embark on a journey." He made Buddhism relevant to contemporary society and to everyday life, giving advice on how to live a happily married life to coping with illnesses and death. He was open in many ways and did not shy away from what some regarded as taboo subjects such as homosexuality, premarital sex, AIDS, etc, but helped people to understand them in the light of the Buddha's teachings.

He understood that the duty of religion is "to guide humanity to uphold certain noble principles in order to lead a peaceful life and to maintain human dignity." Religious beliefs and practices should not cause fear of punishment and terror, but give hope and happiness to people. To those who have committed wrong, he advised them not to worry about punishment by God or going to an Eternal Hell but to counter the situation by doing good.

In an age when spirituality is fast eroding, he emphasized the necessity

of religion because "we have a responsibility to uphold certain good principles for our own benefit as well as for others. This makes good sense because when we observe the precepts, we also protect others."

He brought religion down from its mystical and mythical heights, and appealed to our own reason and experiences to test the validity of the Dhamma rather than blind worship. "Ehi passiko." In true Buddhist spirit, he had no room for dogmatism or authoritative views. When questioned about Buddhism at an inter-religious gathering, he proposed: "You withdraw your God, I withdraw my Buddha. Let us use our common sense. Then, without any religious biasness, one can understand reality and truth."

He taught tolerance and respect for other religions: "Every great religion, whether it is Christianity, Buddhism, Islam or Hinduism, has in fact done some service to humanity. If human beings could have behaved badly in spite of having a religion, then, what would have been the position of mankind if there had been no religion at all for them to believe in?" He promoted the universality of the Buddha's teachings in these word: "Whether you are a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, etc, learning about Buddhism makes you a better person."

He was deeply concerned with certain malpractices in the name of religion and the threats to Buddhism and its future. "Today, perhaps at no other time in history, the vast resources of certain religious organizations are being exploited shamelessly in a mad scramble to win converts at any cost. These include the spreading of malicious lies against other religions like Buddhism. " He warned of the disharmony of family and society posed by proselytizing groups who lure people away from their traditional religion through blatant false propaganda and bribes and called for positive action against such unethical conversions: "Conversion in itself may not be a bad thing, but when methods employed and the motives for converting are questionable, then we must not stand idly by and do nothing about it." He called on genuine members of other faiths to speak up against their own kind and for Buddhists to make every effort to urge them to do so. No doubt, Ven. K Sri Dhammananda would have been an ardent supporter of a Bill against Unethical Conversion in Sri Lanka.

On the other hand, he was also critical of the weaknesses within the Buddhist communities today, especially the lack of unity among the different traditions: "While we can go on patting ourselves on our backs for tolerance, the fact remains that we have gone in different directions and that we have tended to consider 'our' school superior to that of others.?He urged Buddhists worldwide to "pool their resources and leave behind their culture-bound approach to the teachings" to transcend their narrow sectarian views and unite to bring the Dhamma forward.

He recognized the tremendous potential of monks as agents of change in society: "The Buddhist monk is part of the global life. Social harmony and universal peace are the responsibility of everyone on this planet: the Buddhist monk must carry out his part of that responsibility." But he also had despaired about the readiness of the Sangha to face the challenge because "the average modern monk in a Buddhist country is... woefully out of touch with the modern world." He advocated for reform in the education of monks to equip them with the necessary tools so that they can realize their full capacity in today's society.

To the Sangha, he reminded them never to lose sight of the Buddha's first injunction: to spread the Dhamma for the "happiness and welfare of sentient beings" and to work towards creating Buddhism as "a perfect harmonious whole that evolved from a single teaching?for the younger generation."

"Dullabho purisajanno - na so sabbattha jayaati"

"Yattha so jayati dhiro - tam kulam sukha medhani."

"Hard to find is a man of great wisdom; such a man is not born everywhere. Where such a wise man is born, that community thrives happily." (Dhammapada 193)

Such a rare individual was the late Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda. He will remain dear in the hearts and minds of all who met and knew him, as a friend, a mentor, and a guiding light on the path to Nibbana. Perhaps, the best way of honouring him would be to follow his teachings, to tread the Path diligently, and to work towards fulfilling his vision for the future of the Dhamma.

On a personal note, I remain eternally grateful to him, for the guidance during those early years, for his inspiration and for his friendship. I am immensely thankful to the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Malaysia for giving me the opportunity to express my gratitude in reciting the Satipatthana Sutta as a mark of respect to this true son of the Buddha.

May Most Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thero attain the eternal bliss of Nibbana!