Learning Buddhism the Pali Way -- by: Shawn Tan

- An Interview with Pali scholar and Chief Reverend of Ruwan Buddhist Society, Bhante Dr Kadihare Somananda

2007 was a fruitful year for Bhante Dr Kadihare Somananda as he was conferred a doctorate degree in Pali by Agra University. It is also a blessing for local Buddhists as Bhante will conduct Pali class at Ruwan Buddhist Society in Singapore. Here's the story of Bhante’s pursuit of Pali.

Buddhism, with its embracing nature, integrates with local culture as it spreads its wings to the north ?Tibet, China,

Japan and Korea ?and south of India ?Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries. This

integration further contributes to a multi-faceted representation of Buddhism in various forms and traditions.

While the multi-faceted nature gives rise to a variety of practices for Buddhists in different corners of the world, it has posed a challenge to Buddhists on their path of learning and practice.

In Cullavaga Pali, a Vinaya text, Buddha encouraged his disciple to learn the Dhamma in Pali to avoid translational defects.

It is in this light that I met Bhante Dr Kadihare Somananda from Sri Lanka, after ‘window-shopping?around many Buddhist traditions.

Since 14 years old, his life is inseparable from Pali learning and in his humble words, “I’m still learning. Pali is the most direct medium to understand Buddha’s teachings. Therefore, learning Pali is a lifelong learning for me.”Starting his Buddhist education in a monks?school SiddhŒrtha Pirivena Kurunegala in Sri Lanka, Bhante topped the class in the Oriental Languages of Pali, Sanskrit and Sinhalese. At the age of 24, he came first again in students sitting for the Pandita degree for the three Oriental Languages.

The success further motivated him to study Oriental Languages in the Sri Jayawardhana Pura University, Colombo. Upon graduating with a first-class honours in Bachelor of Arts in Oriental Languages, Bhante Somananda was appointed as a lecturer of cultural studies and linguistics at the same university where he taught for 2 years.

According to Bhante, Pali is like his second nature.

“Pali pronunciation is easy, that’s why I find it most interesting to learn Dhamma in Pali,?said Bhante Somananda. “However the current Pali literature is insufficient to explain the Dhamma in its entirety. This has pushed me further to pursue my Pali education.”Bhante’s connection with Singapore also plays a vital role in his Pali education. Bhante arrived in Singapore in 1988, taking the role of Assistant Religious Advisor of Ti-sarana Buddhist Society which subsequently led to his current position of Religious Advisor for the Ruwan Buddhist Society.

In 1994, Bhante was encouraged to teach at the Buddhist and Pali College set up by the Mangala Vihara, Singapore. Recognising that there is a lack of qualified Pali teachers in Singapore, Bhante further pursued his Master of Arts and PhD in Pali under the Delhi University and Agra University respectively. He had since graduated with his PhD studies in 2006 and conferred the doctorate title.

“In Singapore, there are pockets of Buddhist organisations offering Pali courses. However Pali is not the main focus of education in these centres,?says Bhante. “Finding an equivalent English word to translate Pali is always a challenge in my teaching. That’s why building a strong foundation in Pali has always been my call to the Buddhist community in Singapore.

With his expertise in Pali, Ruwan Buddhist Society is planning to develop it into a centre for Pali learning in Singapore. The Society has structured its Pali courses into Introductory, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels covering pronunciation, nouns, verbs, grammar and usage. At the same time, it is also offering Basic Buddhism and Dhammapada classes with heavy emphasis on Pali texts.

“To suit the busy lifestyle of Singaporeans, our courses are structured in such a way that it will not stretch beyond 12 weeks so that it will not become a burden for working Singaporeans. As we keep the courses short, we do not sacrifice the essence of the teaching which students can look forward to taking home,?emphasised Bhante.

And what’s the reward for learning Pali at Ruwan Buddhist Society?

“When you complete the advanced level course, you can easily read the Pali suttas,?said Bhante laughingly.

Sounds like a challenge to me. It’s not an easy journey to get to the advanced level but I guess everyone would agree that it’s a worthwhile journey to partake.

Thinking of taking up a Pali class at Ruwan Buddhist Society? Bhante welcomes everyone with open arms. As he puts it simply, “I’ll adapt my teaching after a few lessons of understanding the background of the students.”For more information, please contact: ruwan.pali@gmail.com

More about Bhante and his learning:

Humble Beginnings

Set amidst a backdrop of agricultural fields that seem to stretch endlessly, Bhante Somananda was born in the little tranquil Sri Lankan village of Kadiharaya village in northwestern province of Kurunegala in 1950. The village is 80km and an easy 2-hour drive from the capital of Colombo. The village reminds Bhante of 160 families living harmoniously, sharing with and helping each other. With a population of 100% devoted Sinhalese Buddhists following Theravada tradition, the centre of the village life is naturally the temple which Bhante runs as the Chief Reverend. Though Bhante is physically based in Singapore, he has successfully established a kindergarten, daycare centre, computer centre and library for the small community with the help of Singaporean devotees. His two ‘brother monks?are helping him to run the religious affairs back home.

Taking the difficult route for his PhD

“Pali nouns are easier to explain than Pali verbs. All Pali words come in basic stem (for noun) and root (for verb) from which various forms are introduced. For example, the gama (stem for village) is transformed into gama (noun for village) whereas gamu (root for go) transforms to gacchati (verb for go). Nouns do not change too much in form whereas verbs change drastically. For my PhD, I focused on Pali verbs.”Tough journey to his PhD

“I registered for my PhD with Agra University in 2000 and completed my first thesis in 2003. But the university claimed that it has lost my application and required me to re-apply. I then submitted my second thesis in 2005 and I was awarded Ph.D in 2006.”Advice for Buddhists on Pali learning

“Early Buddhism is recorded and written in Pali while all other languages like Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese are later development of translation. In one of Vinaya text, Cullavaga Pali, Buddha encourages his disciples to learn Dhamma based on Pali. Therefore, for students interested to learn basic Buddhism, I strongly encourage them to have some background in Pali.”Picking up English in Singapore

Recounting his early years in Singapore, Bhante was struggling with communicating with his devotees as he couldn’t speak a single word of English. In his own words, he literally locked himself up in his room to avoid communicating with them. Thanks to many supportive disciples, he walked out from his room as they engaged him in conversation through various means of body language. As he builds his comfort zone with these disciples, Bhante also acquired new English words. More words are formed into sentences. It took him 10 solid years of hard work to be fluent in the language, not discounting the patient teaching of a devoted disciple and formal English classes.