Revival of Buddhism and theosophistsProf. C.V. Agarwal Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai
(This article was published in the Daily News a few years ago. The writer passed away recently in India)Sri Lanka has been a leading Buddhist country. It is not quite correct to speak of the decline of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The invaders tried to vanquish it by subjugating this peace-loving land which did not believe in the rule of the arms. All our attempts were made over very many years to prevent the noble tenets from spreading in the land.
Colonel H.S. OlcottThe famous debate proceedings at Panadura led by Ven. Mohottiwatte Gunananda were published in the Ceylon Times, later named the Times of Ceylon. Later a books was brought out on the debate which fell in the hands of Colonel H.S. Olcott, the President Founder of the Theosophical Society, in America. He and Madam H.P. Blavatsky, (H.P.B.) The co-founder both of whom had declared themselves Buddhists although they had not taken Panchasila as there was none in America to administer it.
Colonel Olcott sent a copy ‘Isis Unveiled’ written by H.P.B. to Ven. Gunananda who opened correspondence with Col. Olcott and started quoting from the book in his powerful lectures. Distressed at the plight of the Buddhists, Col. Olcott and H.P.B. arrived in Galle on May 17 1880 and were received by a large crowd led by the leading monks. They took Panchasila at Vijayananda Vihara at Galle.
Three-pronged strategyAfter discussions with the Venerable monks and assessing the situation Col. Olcott devised a three-pronged strategy to arrest the prevailing decadence, namely, Buddhist education, well-planned propaganda and sound organization.
He was distressed at the practices enforced on faithful Buddhists, such as baptizing the child in Church (Anagarika Dharmapala was given the name Don David), Solemnizing the Buddhist Marriages by a Church Ceremony, Christian oath to be taken in the court, not to speak of cutting of Bo Trees, no holidays on Buddhist festivals like the Vesak Full Moon Day and so on and on.
There were only two Buddhist schools as against 805 run by Christian missionaries. So no wonder the educated citizens were turning against the noble Dhamma.
Col. Olcott started strenuous lecture tours, accompanied by young Dharmapala as translator, reviving in the minds of the people the glory and the magnificence of their Dhamma and started a series of Buddhist schools for which he had to bring theosophists from the West. At the time of his death in 1907 the number of the schools rose to nearly 300. A noteworthy point is that none of his schools were named Olcott School.
This is one of the examples of his self effacing character which needs to be emulated by others, giving credits to the youngsters and encouraging them. Details of many contributions by Olcott, duly authenticated are given in the book ‘Buddhist and Theosophical Movements’ published by the Mahabodhi Society of India Saranath.
Forging unityCol Olcott did memorable service by forging unity not only within Theravadians but also with Mahayana Tradition as is evidenced by leaders of all the schools signing ‘Fourteen Fundamental Buddhist Beliefs.’ Col. Olcott is the only non ordained monk given the authority by high priests led by Ven. Sumangala Nayaka Thera to “Accept and Register as Buddhist Persons of any nation who may make to him application, to administer to them the ‘Three Refugees and Five Precepts.’ Col. Olcott had an invitation sent to Buddhists to send a representative to the World.
Parliament of Religions, Chicago in 1893 for which purpose the Theosophists paid fare, provided hospitality and all facilities to the 29-year Anagarika Dharmapala who led the so-called revival of Buddhism in India and elsewhere.
Out of very many remarkable contributions, two need special mention.
One is the ‘Buddhist Chatechism’ giving in brief the essential tenets suitable for youngsters and the Buddhist flag symbol of unity now adopted world over.
Dharmapala continued to appreciate the worth and value of Col. Olcott’s advice, as is evident from a letter he wrote on May 20, 1922 to the principal of the Mahabodhi College, Colombo. Lamenting that the advice of Colonel Olcott given forty years earlier to bring out a series of Buddhist readers had not been acted upon and urging that the books be brought at the earliest.
Unique distinctionIn recognition of the invaluable and selfless services rendered by Colonel Olcott to the cause of Buddhism, education and the Theosophical Society of Sri Lanka, the Parliament of Sri Lanka conferred on him the unique distinction of naming him as one of the heroes of Sri Lanka.
He is the only foreigner on the role of national heroes. Not only this, on February 17, 1967 the 60th Anniversary of Colonel Olcott’s passing away, a life size statue of him was erected at Norris Road, Colombo, which was renamed Olcott Mawatha. Another statue of Colonel Olcott was erected by the Cultural Department at Galle, where he and Madam Blavatsky accepted the five precepts in 1880.
A stamp was issued on December 9, 1967 in honour of Colonel Olcott, to mark the 60th Anniversary of his passing away by Dudley Senanayake, the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, paying tribute to Colonel Olcott on that occasion said, “At a time when Buddhism was on the wane in Ceylon, Colonel Henry Steele Olcott came to Ceylon in May 1880 and awakened its people to fight to regain their Buddhist heritage.... Colonel Olcott can be considered one of the heroes in the struggle of our independence and a pioneer of the present religious, national and cultural revival. Colonel Olcott’s visit to this country is a landmark in the history of Buddhism in Ceylon.”
Then Prime Minister R Premadasa, wrote in June 1, 1978. “The Buddhist Theosophical Society was the focal point of this movement against injustice and discrimination. With the assistance of Madam Blavatsky, and especially Colonel. H.S. Olcott, the Buddhists set up a newspaper, ‘Sarasavi Sandares,’ a Buddhist Publicity Fund and a Buddhist Educational Fund.
The Theosophical Society had many successes in these fields. They agitated on behalf of the Buddhists and won many concessions, such as the declaration of Vesak Day as a public holiday.
Prevention of cutting down of Bo Trees and celebrating Buddhist festivals.
In the fields of Education especially, they were very successful. The Theosophists were able to obtain the service of dedicated teachers like Leadbeater, Bowes Daley, Mary Musaeus Higgins and F.L. Woodward who built up prominent Buddhist educational institutions such as Ananda, Nalanda, Mahinda, Dharmaraja and Dharmashoka.
They were assisted by a band of local helpers drawn from both the Buddhist clergy and laity, outstanding among them were Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera, Anagarika Dharmapala and Sir Baron Jayathileke.”
In a message dated March 26, 1980 J.R. Jayewardene, the then President of Sri Lanka, wrote as the awakener of a nation out of a long slumber, as the crusader who campaigned to regain its due place for Buddhism, as the agitator who caused the colonial government of the day to declare the Vesak Full Moon Day a statutory holiday in Sri Lanka (1885) as the designer of the now internationally famous Buddhist flag (1885) and as the founder of national and educational institutions like Ananda College, (1886) Colonel lives forever in our memories.”
