Arhat Marga :

Re-living the book world of the 19th century in the 21st century

Reviewed by Padma Edirisinghe

“The softest couch of gold
The beauteous maiden's lap
The grandest schemes of old
All plans that man can map
Have failed to find
Endless satisfaction
It can't be found on couch
But within your action.”

(From the Path to Freedom, an English religious text by Seelakkanda Thera 1892)

Today there is a guessing game in academic and literary circles in the island as to who heralded the first translations of Dhamma or other books into English. I cannot vouch for “the first position” but it was with some surprise that I came upon a book titled, Arhat Marga translated into English possibly by a learned Bhikkhu who lived as early as the 1890 decade and developed many an international contact while getting proficient in English.

The book along with a few others had been donated to Godage, the award-winning book publisher by the present chief incumbent of Dodanduwa temple, that had for almost two centuries been a repository of such rare books. Strangely Sri Seelakkanda Thera of Dodanduwa temple, the author seems to have foreseen the future scenario of Lanka for he puts out the Arhat Marga or The Path to Freedom in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Dodanduwa lying on the South Road today mainly known for its harbour and fishing industry has sunk into some obscurity but few are aware that at the end of the 19th century it had been the hub of intellectual enterprise of Lanka. It was also the hub of Lanka's international contacts with the rest of Asia, especially Buddhist Asia.

The 19th century in Sri Lankan history is most noted for the eclipse of the independent status of this small island maintained against all odds. At the outset it seems to imply the eclipse of the culture, religion and indigenous learning for the overpowering boots were so large and destructive. But slowly, gradually national forces surged forth via many a venue especially in the South taking on the mission from Sri Saranankara, the Sangharaja from the uplands.

Shailabimbarama in Dodanduwa was a foremost venue among them and Sri Seelakkanda Thera who headed it a foremost scholar. At the time the port at Dodanduwa was the most popular entry point for learned Bhikku-scholars from other Asian Buddhist countries.

The Thera who had by this time gained mastery of texts and Grammar of Moggalayana began to associate the Bhikkhus expanding his orbit of learning. Soon the pundit visitors to Dodanduwa who crossed oceans to drink at the fount of Buddhist learning included even Russian scholars. One of them was Minieph who along with Rhys Davids, then Police Magistrate in Galle visited Shailabimbaramaya and was impressed by the young Bhikkhu's dedicated scholarly work. Soon a Pundit Paul Keras from America too came over followed by many an Indian scholar.

The international contacts would have made it imperative that the thera gain mastery of English. Soon this Pirivena became a repository of books on Dhamma penned by many a Western scholar all inspired by the work going on at Dodanduwa Pirivena. Many a Buddhist book arrived from Thailand too as gifts from the king and carrying the royal signature.

All these found a safe haven in the temple library. The Thera himself wrote a large number of books some in Sanskrit and Pali too. He lived on up to 1924 having been conferred many an honorary title for his work. Coming to Arhat Marga or The Path of Freedom, this, according to the preface by the thera himself is taken from the Rathana Sutta of Sanyutta Nikaya.

It aims at exposing the knowledge to gain complete happiness to the reader. The book has also been translated into English, most probably by him though he gives the credit to a young friend whom he does not mention by name. The preface indicates the date of publication of both works as January 20, 1899 and the place as Shailabimbarama, Dodanduwa. He held the post of Mahanayake in the Ampara Sri Kalyanawamsa chapter.

In his preface he writes in flawless English. “In this enlightened age when many highly cultured minds of the English-speaking world are devoting their energies in search of the path of freedom, we offer them this guide given to us by Thathagatha.”

It would be relevant to note that the English of the present editors of the book as well as the English in the Publisher's note lag far behind the elegant English of the original book written in the 1890s. The manuscript had been all these years preserved in the library at Kumara Maha Vihara of Dodanduwa. Godage's visit to this temple set things in motion. He found many a worthy manuscript wasting away there and volunteered to undertake their publication, the first being Arhat Marga.

Writes Godage in the publisher's note, “ I hope that these invaluable works of yesteryears will be used and preserved for many more centuries”. We too hope so. All three manuscripts in Sinhala, English and Tamil will be printed and they will serve as magic wands re-living the 19th century book – world in the 21st century.