Browsing by Author "Rewatha Thero, Udawela"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

A comparative study of the Sāṃkhya-Yogic Caturvyūha and the heart of Buddhist philosophy
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Rewatha Thero, Udawela; Ven. Da Xing
In the Sāṃkhya-Yogic and Buddhist traditions, both fundamental methodologies adopt logic matrix and process to the discovery of a problem and solve its problem in their respective fields successfully. In fact, this research aims to make a comparative study between the Sāṃkhya-Yogic Caturvyūha and the Buddhist Four Noble Truths (Pāli. Cattāriariyasacca or Skt.catvāriāryasatya) to help practitioners to understand both traditions in the core of philosophy and practice. The Sāṃkhya-Yogic philosophies are based on the discoveries made by the sages from generation to generation and refer to the teachings of Veda-s, Brāhmaṇa-s andĀraṇyaka-s. In Brāhmanic tradition, especially Sāṃkhya-Yoga is built on the system of causation which is known as the Causality of the Four Realities (Skt. caturvyūha) to remove duḥkha and saṃsāra and achieves mokṣa. In the Sāṃkhya-Yogic tradition, the Caturvyūha is the logical approach, as avoidance(Skt.heya), origin (Skt. hetu), cessation (Skt. hāna) and means (Skt. upāya) are considered as a whole to ascertaining the misery and its ending. In fact, these fundamental conceptual theories and terminologies are formulated into a logical philosophical structure and designed in order to enable yogis to understand and perform the spiritual realities in human life. According to Buddhist tradition, the Four Noble Truths (Pāli. cattāri–ariyasacca or Skt.catvāri–āryasatya)such as suffering(Pāli. dukkha or Skt. duḥkha) and its cause (Pāli. samudayaorSkt.samudaya), the cessation (Pāli. nirodhaor Skt.nirodha)with its path (Pāli.magga,orSkt. mārga)as logic matrix which known as the perfect structural formula in human’s purpose to eradicate the impediments and be free from dukkha (Skt.duḥkha) and saṃsāra. We should note that both four-factor formula that has different methods leading to the same result which can also be improved by causality in the Sāṃkhya-Yogic and Buddhist traditions. In fact, there exists reduplicative of causality condition in both traditions. In accordance with the doctrine of the Cattāri–ariyasacca(Skt.catvāri–āryasatya) and the Caturvyūha, the first three as philosophy and the last one as practice. In other words, the first two can be set to be the existence and cause of problems while the last two constitute as the cessation of problems. The objective of this research is to make a comparative study between the Sāṃkhya-Yogic Caturvyūha and the Buddhist Catvāriāryasatyain similarities and dissimilarities for the welfare of the world to guide sentient beings to eliminate their suffering (Pāli. dukkha or Skt.duḥkha) in the life of saṃsāra and attain the liberation (Pāli. mokkhaorSkt.mokṣa) of execution and consummation respectively.
The influence of techniques depicted in Sanskrit vāstu texts for the planning of ancient palaces in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Rewatha Thero, Udawela
In spite of certain ruins, there is not much evidence related to the palace that is one of the most significant constructions in the history of Sri Lanka. Although more than ten gigantic palaces have been built by the great kings, only ground plans of those palaces exist almost in every ancient city. Fortunately, sufficient evidenceis available in relation to the premises of the palace in Kandy as it has been reconstructed on several occasions. It is important to examine the techniques that had been used in the construction of these massive palaces. Adequate details of construction of the Ruwanveli Pagoda are available in the chronicle,Thupawansa but it is impossible to identify trustworthy evidence related to the construction of the palace in historical sources. All the methodical constructions have been initiated in Sri Lanka after the "Mahindagamanaya" (the arrival of Arahanth Mahinda thero). Craftsmen who represent the 18 different traditions in India arrived in Sri Lanka as a major result of "Dumindagamanaya" (the arrival of Arahanth Sanghamitta). These Indian craftsmen were specialists in their conventions that had been developed on the basis of the techniques depicted in Sanskrit vāstu texts. On the other hand, it cannot be argued that kings took no advice in order to build palaces from Brahmins who were the chaplains for the kings who were the experts in Sanskrit language traditions. it is possible to assume that techniques that were practiced in order to build ancient palaces were merely extracted from Sanskrit vāstu texts. On the basis of existing ruins of the ground plans of several palaces,an attempt will be taken to establish this in this paper.
විරහව
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Rewatha Thero, Udawela