Theravada Buddha, still preserved in the Pali canonical texts, is vastly different from the glorified Buddhas of the Pali commentaries of Buddhaghosa. It was as the result of the fruition of his merit, accumulated through innumerable eons of life in sansára that the Buddha attained Enlightenment in this life. In spite of Buddhaghosa’s insistence on the indispensability of merit, the Buddha has never referred to, either accumulation of merit or past merit as a factor for Buddhahood or the attainment of nibbana. It must be noted here that the theory of accumulation of merit and the theory that merit can be donated to other parties are both alien to the Buddha’s teaching.”
The new ritual Buddhism which changed the Theravada Buddhism into a system of worship, offering and prayer, has been very carefully planned
Rituals
In addition to quoting many other facts, Prof Marasinghe states:
“It is Buddhaghosa who claims in his commentary on the Ratana Sutta that it was first chanted by the Buddha to heal the city of Vesali of the devastating epidemic and affliction by non-humans. It must be noted here that Buddhaghosa’s claim of an epidemic is not supported by any other literary or historical source. ………. ”
More recent adulterations
One of the most despicable acts was the introduction of caste as a criterion for ordination, initially by Malwatta Chapter, diametrically opposite to the teachings of the Buddha; a victory of Brahminism over Buddhism.
Our Sangha, unashamedly, discouraged the re-establishment of Mehenini Sasna. They insult the Buddha by stating that even the Buddha was reluctant to ordain women. Can you believe Buddha’s fairness crossed cast-barriers, not gender!
Of late, a fashion has developed of self-declared enlightenment which I discussed in detail in my article “Epidemic of Enlightenment” (The Island, 1 January 2018). Some have started claiming that the Buddha was born in Sri Lanka while some others have started reinterpreting Buddhism from Maghada, stating that Pali distorted the teachings…..
Thus, all aspects of the new ritual Buddhism has been very carefully planned and smuggled into practice with several bonus packages for the operators….
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