Discussing Buddhist rituals over centuries
Hardly ever does the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) get filled to capacity for a book launch. In addition to the normal seating, an extra row had to be put in right at the back for an event held recently. The occasion was the launch of two books by Venerable Professor Bellanwila Wimalaratana Anunayaka Thera. Another feature was the presence of a large number of Buddhist monks.
It was a significant day in Ven Wimalaratana’s life. He completed 55 years in robes on that day –February 28. “I don’t celebrate my birthday,” he quipped when he heard someone saying it was his birthday. That was when he asked the audience whether anyone could guess why the day was an important one for him.
During the past couple of years he commemorated the day with the release of a new book authored by him. There were two books this year. One was on Buddhist rituals practised over the years. The other was a translation of the English publication ‘Bellanwila Murals’. (He was not the trans- lator). Both are Sarasavi publications.
In a book launch, generally it is left to the author to say a few words at the end – mainly in the form of a vote of thanks. Here it was different. The first to speak was Venerable Wimalaratana. “I shall do the welcome speech and the vote of thanks at once,” he said, and did so.
Commenting on his effort to discuss Buddhist rituals, he said his is an attempt to trace the history from the Buddha’s time, the progress, objects of worship and the literature developed in relation to these objects, and a study of the Buddhist arts and crafts. Stating that the rituals have undergone many a change over a long period of time, he said he was not attempting to either highlight or criticise them but his was a mere narrative thus leaving the reader to assess and decide which way these are moving.
In addition to the presentations by Professor J. B. Disanayaka and Professor Sarath Chandrajiva, three well-known artists Nanda Malini, Victor Ratnayake and Deepika Priyadarshini rendered three songs which were most apt for the occasion. “Those who come for book launches get tired of listening to speeches – so a musical item or two breaks the monotony,” Venerable Wimalaratana said in his introductory remarks.
Over the years, Venerable Wmalaratana has written articles on a variety of Buddhist themes. These have covered the Buddha’s life story, the Dhamma, Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist culture, Buddhist statues, paintings and murals. He has done a lot of research and his thesis titled ‘Maha Purusha Sankalpa’ submitted for his PhD was the product of such research.
The venerable monk served as Professor in the Faculty of Buddhist & Pali Studies at the Sri Jayawardenapura University and is presently the Chancellor of the University.