Anagarika Dharmapala, an inspiring Buddhist revivalist

By Amal Hewavissenti

Anagarika Dharmapala a national hero of Sri Lanka was the leading spirit in the propagation of Buddhism in many parts of the world in modern times. He was born in 1864 as the eldest son of a wealthy and perhaps an influential family in Colombo and was named Don David Hewavitharana - an anglicised name in vogue of the day. As an influential social reformer, he worked indefatigably to inspire Sri Lankan people to liberate themselves from the degeneration brought about by the foreign domination.

Several important persons such as Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thera and Mohottiwatte Gunananda Thera the renowned scholars at this time helped him gain the necessary training for his future activities. Colonel Olcott who came to Sri Lanka in 1880 gave him immense support to go on with his own campaign of cultural regeneration.

As he turned 20, he chose to lead an "Anagarika life" (celibate life) and to dedicate himself to national and religious service. He thus obtained permission from his parents and took up residence at the Theosophical Society Headquarters as he earnestly believed that the society was working for the welfare of Buddhism.

Interpreter

Being a junior clerk in the Education Department, he obtained three months' leave and joined Colonel Olcott and C.W. Leadbeater in their campaign to raise funds for Buddhist education. Anagarika Dharmapala became the interpreter for them. For two months, they travelled islandwide with Dharmapala interpreting Colonel Olcott's lectures.

This was definitely a sound training for him as it offered him a fine opportunity to obtain first hand knowledge about the true conditions of his fellow countrymen.

Dharmapala became aware of the people's weaknesses and backwardness and he painfully noted how a nation with proud tradition had been reduced to a sluggish pace. Realising this significant national need, he not only translated Colonel Olcott's and Leadbeater's ideas but also gave free expression to his own independent views.

By this time, Anagarika Dharmapala noted how the alien influence was eroding into the general aspects of national character and he struck the keynote of his fierce opposition to the forces detrimental to national reawakening.

He attacked people for adopting degenerate and un-Buddhistic practices such as consuming liquor etc.

He wanted to popularise Sinhala weekly Sandaresa with an English counterpart and accordingly by obtaining English type from Madras with money collected from contributions, the first English Buddhist journal appeared in 1888 as The Buddhist. This English newspaper contained thought provoking discussions on Dhamma in relation to western science and psychology. The paper remained in broader circulation in India, Europe, America, Japan and Australia and created a new interest about Buddha's teachings.

He changed his original name (David) to Dharmapala and continued his preaching in Colonel Olcott's bullock cart. In 1891, he went on a pilgrimage to Buddhist Shrines in India with a Japanese friend.

His visit to Buddhagaya made him resolute on dedicating his life to rescue the place from centuries of neglect.

Buddhagaya

He was so much moved by the lamentable condition of Buddhism in India that he decided to stay there with his Japanese friend till some bhikkhus came to be in charge of the place. Buddhagaya had been entirely neglected with its sculptures removed, images destroyed. He wrote a series of letters to Buddhist countries explaining the situation and appealing for help.

On his return to Sri Lanka, he established the Mahabodi Society (in 1891) with Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thera as the President and Colonel Olcott as the Director, in 1891, Dharmapala delivered his maiden public lecture in India at the Albert Hall in Culcutta on "Kinship between Buddhism and Hinduism.

A year later, the office of the Mahabodhi Society was moved to Calcutta from Colombo and he launched the Mahabodhi journal to exchange views and news among Buddhist countries.

Anagarika Dharmapala was invited by the Parliament of World, Religions held in Chicago in September 1893 to participate as the representative of Theravada Buddhism. He sailed by ship through London where he was given a warm welcome by Sir Edwin Arnold, his English guru. His historic speech in New York impressed C.T. Strauss, the first convert to Buddhism on American soil and a staunch supporter of Mahabodhi Society.

He left for America for the second time at the invitation of Dr. Paul Camus the founder of the American Mahabodhi Society. He spent one year in America lecturing and visiting all important cities. During the year 1898, he travelled all alone by bullock cart from village to village in Sri Lanka championing the national, religious and cultural regeneration of the people. Here, he was capable of generating a fresh wave of enthusiasm among the people.

Inspired

In the meantime, he wanted to know about the technological advances of the West and accordingly, we alternated his lectures with visits to laboratories and technical institutions as well. At Harvard University, Boston, he attended a class organised by eminent American psychologist William James who invited Anagarika Dharmapala to take the chair. William James was highly inspired by Dharmapala's own account of Buddhist psychology and stressed that future psychological studies would concentrate more on Buddhist psychology.

He was back in the campaign of touring the country in the bullock cart to educate the Sri Lankans about the industrial advances of the West and accordingly, his lectures included this aspect as a theme. Under his guidance, the first weaving school was established at Hiniduma and another at Rajagiriya.

Anagarika Dharmapala was a national revivalist who reminded the Sri Lankan people of the greatness of their religious and national heritage. His writings and public speeches show that he had realised that the British rule of the country was a major cause of national degeneration.