Two new books on Buddhism

The American who Revived Buddhism in Asia, by Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, a Professor of Medicine, U.S.A., illustrates the famous American, Colonel Henry Olcott, the originator of the world's Theosophist Movement. He became a hero without the traditional springboard of influence and power.

The author gives the reader a groundbreaking inside account of Olcott's life, which began in America, and ended in India.

Half of his life was spent on helping those who had been brutally suppressed by the colonial rulers in South-East Asia. The author details how Col. Olcott contributed to the rule of law during turbulent times in the United States, and how he displayed his incredible inner strength and courage. Colonel Olcott also revived the Buddhists from the yoke of the suppressive British rule.

Buddhist revolution

Popularly known as the "Great White Buddhist", he was responsible for initiating and maintaining the Hela-Buddhist revolution in the late 1880s.

He not only designed the international Buddhist flag, but was also responsible for allowing the Buddhists to practise the traditions in Sri Lanka, and observe the Vesak as a religious holiday.

The author also provides a vivid account of Olcott's leadership in Sri Lanka and India, and provides a historical account of other key leaders who helped to shape the future of Lanka as well as South East Asia.

The book is easy to read, of high quality, and very fairly priced. It contains an impressive, large collection of rare colour photographs, many of which have not been published earlier.

Finally, the book provides an insight into Olcott's numerous contributions to South Asian Buddhist educational system, revival of Buddhism, and planting the seed in the minds of Lankans and nurture appropriate local leadership for future liberation of the country from the British.

This is an essential book for schools and libraries in Sri Lanka to get to know about the Lanka hero, and his magnificent contribution that changed the history and the direction of the country positively forever. The book is a must read by all Sri Lankans.

Comprehensive

The Intertwined Histories of Buddhism and Sri Lanka, by Dr. Sunil Wimalawansa, a Professor of Medicine, is a comprehensive and easy to read book packed with well-researched information.

It provides an extensive account of the past 2000-year history of Sri Lanka, focusing on how the Buddhism shaped the country and society to its current form.

The book also contains a large number of colour photographs related to the topic, Hela and the Buddhism, and provides a great insight to the history that can be absorbed in a short period.

It is unfortunate that many of the recent history books on Sri Lanka have artificially changed the history for political and religious reasons.

Thus, the book is a must for all schools and libraries in Sri Lanka for the children as well as adults to read and understand the unadulterated, true history of the country.

Not only does the book provide vibrant information on the history of Buddhism, but also the key lessons learned from the 500 years of foreign occupation of Ceylon by the Westerners.

Sunil Wimalawansa is a Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, and former Chief of Endocrinology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey, USA.

He is also a Professor of Physiology and Integrative Biology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, Graduate School Biomedical Sciences.

He holds an Executive Master's Degree of Business Administration from the Rutgers University School of Business and a Diploma in Medical Administration from Johns Hopkins School of Business. He had his education at Ananda College, Colombo, and postgraduate studies at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, Royal Postgra¬duate Medical School in United Kingdom, Rutgers, and Johns Hopkins Universities in the United States. He is a member or a board director of several committees of national and international scientific societies.

He is the founder-president of a few charitable organisations, including the International Foundation for Revitalisation, Empowerment, Education, and Development; Hela Empowerment Foundation-International; International Foundation for Chronic Disabilities; and the chairperson of the Education Trust Fund for Needy Children, and the Wimalawansa Charitable Foundation.

Standards

His original contributions to science and medicine include current worldwide practised standards of care in some medical methods. He holds six medical patents and has given more than 170 invited presentations at national and international scientific and medical meetings. He has published more than 200 scientific articles, six books, and 45 scientific book chapters, and has made 260 scientific presentations worldwide.

Dr. Wimalawansa is the recipient of many awards, including the Dr. Oscar Gluck International Humanitarian award in 2007 and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 from the Sri Lankan Foundation for his worldwide contributions to science, philanthropic work, and humanity.

Other awards he received include an International Award for Clinical Excellence in Metabolic Bone Diseases in 1991, multiple young-investigator scientific awards, and American Endocrine Society Glen Foundation Awards. He is also the recipient of the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree in 2001.