Vignettes on Life:

Moves at a fast and exciting pace

Reviewed by Gwen Herat

Being one of Sri Lanka's prolific feature writers, the versatility of R. S. Karunaratne stretches in many directions. The sustainability of wholesome English language depends on writers of his calibre in Sri Lanka. We lack the old school charm found therein. But in forceful writers like him, it rests comfortably upon their shoulders. Few can be counted upon one's fingers in the subjects that Karunaratne specialises in. The new generation of writers tends to use 'hip hop' and slang language for elaboration or subject it to a point of no return. Karunaratne writes with motivation and is inspirational to the new crop of clean young writers who struggle to surface in the literary world. He selects his words with utmost care and weaves them into beautiful passages. Karunaratne's chosen subjects give him the liberty to go wild with freedom. There is an incandescence about his writing and in principle, it triumphs. While he lavishes his gift of writing, he never overlaps the same subject. An ample and delightful set of essays revolves around psychology, philosophy, everyday life and people. The fragrance that Karunaratne finds in people and their character makes it evident that he is a keen observer of man and his emotion.

In 'VIGNETTES ON LIFE', he bares this concept. He is blessed with a well-settled mind which makes it easier for him to pick up his pen. Karunaratne is in no hurry and he is a complete master of what he writes. He is less witty, and more serious. But he is a writer in command over the English language. The diverse subjects he had essayed on, baffle me and make my admiration for his writing grow stronger.

Beyond doubt, the adoration of most literate people of our country have been profoundly moved by his talent in condensed articles. There is nothing sexual, sensuous, or erotic meanings in his articles and his influences are mainly beneficial.

His is a happy memory of laughter and wisdom packed with a penetrating beauty that pervades his readers. Every line has been carefully chosen by this writer and it is not possible for me to dwell on every essay found in the 'VIGNETTES ON LIFE'. But I will settle for the last essay on 'MYSTERY OF WOMAN' where he pays homage and benediction to the one who matters most in this whole wide world.... WOMAN, without whom he could not have penned these words, without whom I may not have penned these lines, without whom you could not have read these words. Let me quote:

'All the great religions are founded by men. Similarly, great philosophers of the world such as The Buddha, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates... happened to be males. Although there are no female religious leaders, women can take the credit for giving birth to and bringing up such religious leaders and great thinkers'... (P.182)

Rites and rituals, customs and manners of Sri Lankan Buddhists:

A handbook of Sri Lankan culture

Reviewed by Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

Gangarama Monastery in Colombo has assumed the stature of a high spiritual centre, with a remarkable pragmatic stance. Under the versatile guidance of Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Nayaka Maha Thera, this eminent Buddhist Institution functions very much like a monastic university. The Chief Prelate of the Monastery, Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Nayaka Maha Thera, quite efficiently directs the young Monks towards a disciplined way of life, enabling them to achieve personal fulfilment, in a variety of fields associated with the multiple aspects of religious practice.

Of these young monks, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera has distinguished himself, especially by a literary work published bilingually to celebrate the 65th birthday of his Venerable mentor and revered Gurudev Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Nayaka Maha Thera.

To my mind, this impressive study marks the very first occasion, when the rites, rituals, customs and manners of Sri Lankan Buddhists, have been presented in one compact publication.

In effect, it is an extremely valuable guide for all those concerned with the practice and the study of Sri Lankan Buddhist rites, rituals, customs and manners.

Each nation or communal group, acquires its unique personality, and its specific identity, through the cultural traits peculiar to it.

When these are meticulously recorded, with a high sense of authority, as is done in this work, two primary objectives are fulfilled.

They are:

* Such a record, will enable those who are outside a given culture to understand the way of life of that community. This will make it possible for those to whom this specific culture is foreign, to refrain from forms of behaviour, that will offend a given group and will hurt their susceptibilities.

* This kind of work will make it possible for those within a given community, to become familiar with the appropriate rites, rituals, customs and manners, that should be observed and performed on a given occasion.

The author, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera wrote this book originally in Sinhala. He has been quite rightly persuaded to bring out this English version. It must be stated without any ambiguity, that an aura of special significance is associated with the present English version.

The English version has emerged from a highly worth while perception.

In the presence of certain religious and social situations, many tend to feel a sense of utter helplessness, not knowing what is proper to do. This work will dispel that kind of awkwardness.

I must confess, that, I have never come upon before, a book that sets down the rites and rituals of the Buddhists, with this kind of ultra-care.

Rites and rituals relating to forms of worship and types of offering are so elaborately elucidated here, that every home and every institution should have a copy of this book, as a much-needed treasure.

Over and above the proper rites and rituals, this work indicates what righteous moral behaviour is. Quoting extensively from Singalovada Discourse (Advice to Singala) preached by the Supremely Enlightened Buddha, this work establishes the right moral attitudes for lay life.

A religious ritual, that receives extensive attention now-a-days is the Bodhi Pooja - offerings to the Bodhi Tree. This book devotes much space to indicate the right ritual for this form of worship. Good Governance, receives the attention of this Ven. author, enabling the establishment of responsible public admiration.

The work is so comprehensively conceptualised, that rituals relating to all stages of human life are set down here in admirable detail.

The opening chapter has as its theme the rites and rituals associated with child birth and childhood.

The rites that had been practised over long centuries, to ensure the protection and safeguarding the pregnant mothers are meticulously recorded here. Though these have a trace of ancient Indian practices, in Sri Lanka, they have acquired an indigenous emphasis, due to the pervasive influence of Buddhist culture. The book elaborates the time honoured pre-natal preparations, that should be taken care of, to arrange the proper background for the birth of a fortunate child.

Probably it is in this book, that the whole range of rites and rituals governing, pregnancy, childbirth, infancy, the naming of the child, initiation into food, trimming of the hair etc., is quite clearly described. The priority assigned in all those rites and rituals, to the spiritual centre - the temple - is clearly indicated as a practice that dates back to the far past. When the child enters society, through his initiation into letters, his responsibilities in life begin to receive articulation.

His evolution into adolescence, youth and marriageable age, is made up of a whole series of relevant rites and rituals.

The great significance of this book is its capacity to guide people towards the various rituals, that accompany the stages of a person's growth.

The knowledge provided by this book saves people from the utter helplessness, they will otherwise experience, had they not been aware of the appropriate rituals, well ahead.

This helplessness is seen quite often at wedding ceremonies. In some instances, people tend to be confused even about the rites and rituals of alms offering ceremonies.

Rites and rituals associated with funeral ceremonies, are equally troubling to those who are not familiar with those. These rites and rituals are quite clearly set down here.

The book roams along, taking the reader to a vast variety of areas associated with Sri Lankan culture.

The robe-offering ceremony, the New Year celebrations are among such areas.

This book is adorned with a versatile foreword by Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Maha Nayaka Thera, Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siamese Sector.

A felicitatory note is contributed by Prof. Kshanika Sannasgala, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo. The central attitude of this book is highly praiseworthy. In an immortal pronouncement Mahatma Gandhi said this:

"We must keep all the doors and windows of our house open to all winds that blow from all sides. But we must remain firmly established on our feet, to prevent these winds from blowing us off our feet."

This book pinpoints that, we should stand with our feet firmly planted in the Buddhist culture. When this happens all the alien ways that blow, will not be able to shake us off our cultural moorings. I am quite keen to highlight an important aspect of this book. The traditional rites and rituals specific to our culture are vividly and elaborately set down in this book.

As a result of this dimension of the book, it takes on the significance of an anthropological study. Those who are keen to profile racial or communal groupings, will find this book a mine of information.

I can aver without any hesitation that, even a formal anthropological study about the multi-faceted cultural traits of Sri Lanka, has not delved so deeply into Sri Lanka's rites and rituals as this work has done.

By making this English version available to the global community, this Venerable author has rendered a highly esteemed service. This book should be made available especially to educational institutions and students. Libraries of institutions of higher studies should have this work in their shelves. All those who utilize this work, will unerringly recognise in it a unique contribution to the spiritual field, social mores and anthropological studies of mankind. Saman Kalubowila has elevated the text of this book, which possesses a highly appealing typographical personality. We must offer our grateful thanks to this young scholar Monk Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera, for his noble effort.

(The book is published by Sri Jinaratana Bhikkhu Abbhayasa Vidyalaya, Gangarama Monastery, 61, Sri Jinaratana Road, Hunupitiya, Colombo 2.)

Two new windows on 17th century Dutch rule

Reviewed by Padma Edirisinghe

The way the past shuts itself like a grave is almost astounding. Yet the clever species known as humans has evolved ingenious ways to dig up this grave and have a peep. In the limitless passage of time eclipsed, the 17th century is just a few seconds gone away yet closed above grave - style but many resourceful humans have endeavoured to dig up this grave or to use a non-macabre metaphor, have entered this cavern and opened its treasures for the benefit of others.

The latest in the line of academic treasures unearthed are the Memoirs of a Dutch governor 1742-43 and a Commander of Jaffna 1748, namely Daniel Overbeek and Librecht Hooreman. Do these memoirs come ready and direct, to be comfortably served on a platter to the reader? No. The passing time has created umpteen problems, mostly connected to language.

Okay, Dutch is not a dead language and still exists, you would counter argue. But talk to K.D. Paranavithana, former Professor Dept. of Humanities, Rajarata University and at present Consultant to the National Archives who has translated these two memoirs into English. These are the woes listed.

"The Dutch in which these memoirs have been written is to a great extent different from the Dutch in vogue today. Further these Memoirs have been handwritten and time has contributed to decay and illegibility despite exerted attempts to preserve them. Abbreviations now obsolete have been used extensively."

I add an additional obvious cause to the list. The doctor is not Dutch. And here his perseverance is almost remarkable. He is not the first translator of the memoirs of Dutch governors. Here is the list of forerunners in the field. R.G. Anthonisz, first Government archivist of the island, a Dutch Burgher assisted by Sophia Peters, a Dutch female come over, translated and published the memoirs of following Dutch governors. Van Goens 1679 Thomas Van Rhee 1697 Jan Simons 1707, H. Becker 1716 C. Pielat 1734 and Baron Van imhoff 1749. These publications put out between 1910 and 1915 are minus the Dutch text.

Next, the second Govt archivist, Reimers, again a Dutch Burgher translates and publishes the memoirs of Maetsuijker 1650, Van goens 1663, Loten 1757 and Schreuder 1752 during the period 1927 to 1947. These include the Dutch texts too. Next Prof. S. Arsaratnam translates the memoir of Van Gollonese 1751 in 1974 after a long period. Now Dr. Paranavithana again after 34 years has put out these two translations. They have made their debut not only with the original Dutch texts but along with lengthy introductions, glossaries and interesting notes. Human interest counts. How did the doctor master his Dutch? Listening to him this adventure is almost accidental. In the first place his degree subject was not history but Sinhala. But after campus life he had joined the National Archives in 1970. There, no one could help getting accosted with the huge volume of documents written or printed in Dutch that included the thombus and memoirs of the Dutch governors and other administrators. The Dutch were neat administrators with almost everything committed to writing. Unlike the memoirs the thombus entailed much interest among the public as they were written testimony of land ownership. The few Dutch left over in the island though now they had adopted English as their language still could help in translating, these while the above mentioned officers had already translated the memoirs. While working on his assigned job at the Archives the young Paranavithana without any external injunction began studying the 17th Century Dutch with the help of these translated documents. Soon his perseverance paid and he was offered a scholarship to Netherlands establishing a connection with that once Empire building country that furthered his erudition in the field. As this article is not a biography of the professor I will stop there..

What are Memoirs? Following description with reference to the Memoirs of the Dutch administrators, is culled from the introduction to Overbeek's Memoir by Prof. Paranavithana.

"The instruction to the appointed Governor of Ceylon were framed by the retiring Governor of the Island on orders of the Governor General and Council of India. Such instructions were usually framed in the form of Memoirs for the guidance of the new Governor...the territory under the jurisdiction of the Governor and Council departments to be established or organised and generally matters deserving of special attention were summarized in the memoirs. The memoirs of governors maintained not only the continuity of the line of instructions but also amplified and illustrated them to enable their successors to govern more effectively and a memoir is therefore a comprehensive report submitted by the governor to his successor."

However, not all Dutch governors left behind memoirs. Some who had their services terminated abruptly for various reasons seem not to have left behind their memoirs. Daniel Overbeek, however seem to have had long term connections with the island serving from time to time in varied capacities. In fact he could be the only Governor among the three Western regimes whose family members died prematurely have their tombstones here. The introduction encases this tragic piece about the author of the memoir, Overbeek. "He died in Batavia on 9th July 1751, while functioning as Extra ordinary Councillor of the High Government. The tombstone of his wife, Elizabeth Overbeek who died at Galle on 28th October, 1738 and daughter Gesina Elisabeth Overbeek born at Tuticorin on 11th September 1734 who died in Galle Fort. His son's name Johannes Adrian Overbeek who died in Colombo on 16th November 1783 is inscribed on a tombstone in Wolvendahl church in Colombo."

That sure unfolds a family tragedy. Daughter of Overbeek dies at 3 years in Galle while the father was away at Tuticorin and a year later the mother dies.

The son of course seems to have died at a mature age towards the eve of Dutch rule that shows that he had not left the island with his father. Or perhaps Overbeek kept coming back to Paradise Island. That suffices for the mysterious accounts of his family tragedy that I have picked up at random from the book. Overbeek despite his personal misfortunes has put out a very valuable memoir neatly divided into many sections.

This memoir and the memoir of Hooreman, Dr. Paranavithana has done full justice to, by translating them and publishing them with the help of the National Archives to which Institute too we should be grateful. Hooreman's memoir will be dealt with separately as it contains valuable information on the Northern peninsula that would arrest current attention via matters connected to its economic potential.

Book launch

"Walagamba Mharajjuruvo"

The latest edition of "Walagamba Maharajjuruvo", written by Puravidya Chakravarthi Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Book Exhibition Hall, Ven. S. Mahinda Mawatha, Colombo 10 on January 26 at 10 a.m.

Ven. Medhananda Thera is the author of several other books such as "Negenahira Palatha Ha Uthuru Palathe Sinhala Bauddha Urumaya, Sinhale Maha Raja Wansha 1 and 2, Wanni Manushika Meheyuma, Navathama Shilalipi Gaveshana, Aithihasika Kudumbigala, The Sinhala Buddhist Heritage in the East and the North of Sri Lanka. "Walagamba Maharajjuruvo" is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.

Who will win the Presidential Election?

In the book, 'Astrological analysis of the winner of the Presidential Election of 2010', the author Jagath Jayewardene analyses the horoscopes of the two main presidential candidates; incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his rival General Sarath Fonseka. The book offers a detailed account of the position of planets in the horoscopes of the two main candidates for the Presidential Election of 2010.

Among other things, the author has stressed that the booklet is an astrological analysis of the two main presidential candidates and that the analysis has been done objectively without any ulterior motive. In the course of the book the author analyses the pros and cons of the two personalities and their personal attributes according to astrology.