(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor David Lai)

Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Maha Thera is widely acclaimed to have been one of the greatest luminaries amongst Sri Lankan scholars of the 20^th century. He was a fully ordained monk of the Theravada tradition, an erudite scholar and author of a number of important books on the Dhamma (or Dharma in Sanskrit).

In 1964, he broke new ground by becoming the first ordained monk, bhikkhu (or bhikshu in Sanskrit), to hold a professorial position in a western institution. In this case, it was Northwestern University of the United States of America. He became a Professor of History and Religions and he also held the esteemed position of Vice-Chancellor at Vidyodaya University, which has since been renamed to University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Aside from his career as a professor, he wrote prolifically on various aspects of Buddhism in Sinhalese, English and French. His seminal treatise, What The Buddha Taught, is widely acclaimed by fellow intellectuals, scholars and fellows to be the best resource ever written on Theravada Buddhism.

“Outwardly, he was a man of steel and for that reason, he was hated by many. But inwardly, he was a man of sympathy, consideration and understanding. For that reason, he was loved by all.”

~ W.A Wijeswardena, a former student of Vadyodaya University who witnessed the tenure of Dr Walpola Rahula as Vice Chancellor.

Everything began in 1907 when this master was born in a quaint little village in Southern Sri Lanka. When he was 13 years old, he left his family home to become ordained in the Theravada tradition. His education during that period included topics such as Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit, Buddhism, history and philosophy.

After that, he enrolled in Vidyalankara Pirivena and then at the University of Ceylon, where he was exposed to the greatest scholars of Sri Lanka — E.F.C. Ludowvk, G.P. Malalasekera, E.W. Adikaram and other brilliant minds. He also spent some years furthering his studies at Calcutta University in India and at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He then returned to Sri Lanka and was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University.

Aside from his scholarship, he was also widely known for his staunch socialist stance and surprising belief that monks and nuns have a civic duty towards shaping the political awareness of the public. He published a book entitled Bhikshuvakage Urumaya or Heritage of the Bhikkhu, which advocated a political message that had a great impact on the Buddhist Nationalist movement. It was this movement that brought about Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike’s 1956 victory at the elections. Then in 1969, Dr. Walpola Rahula left Vidyodaya University due to political differences with the ruling government. From then on, he travelled abroad to the West and worked in many academic institutions in Europe.

The casket bearing the remains of Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula was taken to the crematorium amidst a large gathering of Buddhist monks, relatives and dignitaries of other religions. Pic by Dunstan Wickremaratne

He only returned to Sri Lanka towards the end of his life and lived in a temple near the New Parliament in Kotte, where he passed away in 1997.

In accordance to his last will, the last rites were conducted in a very simple and dignified manner at ‘Ketumati’ Buddhist Study and Research Institute, Kotte and the cremation was held at Borella Kanatta crematorium the following day of his demise.

Titles and Accolades

Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula was awarded a number of titles during his lifetime. The highest honorary title called the ‘Tripitakavagisvaracarya’ (Supreme Master of Buddhist Scriptures) was awarded to him by the grand Sri Kalyapi Samagri Sangha-sabha (the Chapter of the Sangha in Sri Lanka) in 1965. He was also given the title ‘Sri’ (Gracious), a prestigious title held by only a handful of scholars in Sri Lanka. He was also awarded the title ‘Aggamaha Panditha’ from the Burmese.

“The question has often been asked; Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy? It does not matter what you call it. Buddhism remains what it is whatever label you may put on it. The label is immaterial. Even the label ‘Buddhism’ which we give to the teachings of the Buddha is of little importance. The name one gives is inessential… In the same way Truth needs no label: it is neither Buddhist, Christian, Hindu nor Moslem. It is not the monopoly of anybody. Sectarian labels are a hindrance to the independent understanding of Truth, and they produce harmful prejudices in men’s minds.”

~ Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada

Academic Career

Ven. Dr Walpola Rahula

Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula had pursued his higher education at Ceylon University, which has since been renamed the University of Colombo. He completed his PhD at the University of London and was awarded a B.A. Honours degree and then, a Doctorate of Philosophy due to his brilliant thesis on the History of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Thereafter at Calcutta University, he went on to study Indian Philosophy and then, he travelled to Sorbonne University in Paris where he studied the Mahayana tradition. It was in the 1950s, while in the midst of his studies at the Sorbonne, that he wrote his most famous book, What the Buddha Taught, an introductory book to Buddhism.

“First of all, Buddhism is neither pessimistic nor optimistic. If anything at all, it is realistic, for it takes a realistic view of life and the world. It looks at things objectively (yathābhūtam). It does not falsely lull you into living in a fool’s paradise, nor does it frighten and agonise you with all kinds of imaginary fears and sins. It tells you exactly and objectively what you are and what the world around you is, and shows you the way to perfect freedom, peace, tranquility and happiness.”


― Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada

In fact, Dr. Walpola Rahula became the first Buddhist monk to become a professor at the Northwestern University in Illinois, USA. He served as a Professor of History and Literature of Religions at a time when there was not even a single Theravada Buddhist Temple in the United States yet. He completed his tenure and became a Professor Emeritus at the University. Dr. Rahula also held similar teaching positions at several other American universities.

He later visited Swarthmore College and was appointed Regents Lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles, in order to give a series of lectures. He eventually became Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University (now Sri Jayawardhanapura University) in 1964. There, he was able to arrange visits by foreign professors to the university to conduct lectures for local students on the basis of his reputation alone.

Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula served as the Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University

It was a period of great turbulence within Sri Lanka’s university system but through all that, he was able to maintain discipline. He was a great administrator and also successfully quelled the student strikes at his university that swept through other major universities demanding better student facilities, earning himself the reputation of ‘Iron Vice-Chancellor’. Nevertheless, he built hostels for female students, a summerhouse for the students to relax and conduct academic discussions as well as numerous benches under the shade of mango trees on the main lawn of the university.

On the other hand, he also ensured that opportunities were created for local lecturers to go abroad to be trained. During his tenure, he implemented several diploma and post-graduate diploma courses, adding to the existing list of qualifications of study, creating new pathways for students to explore. Thereby, he laid the foundations for successive generations that took the University into the future. Just before resigning due to political intrigue, he advised the university students to be “independent thinkers capable of standing on their own two feet without being intellectual slaves of others and become the future leaders of the country.”

“As long as you are conscious of yourself, you can never concentrate on anything.”

~ Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada

He was also involved with the formation of the first Theravada temple in the United States, the Washington Vihara, and it was clear that his great learning was highly sought after. He continued to visit many other foreign universities to give lectures and talks for many years until he returned to Sri Lanka.

Professor Dharma De Silva (extreme left) with Vice Chancellor Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula (extreme right) at a book donation ceremony to Vidyodaya University by the US Embassy in 1966. Also in the picture are Deputy Secretary K.P.G. Wjayasurendra (second from left) and the US Embassy’s Commercial Officer Dr. Walter Simon (third from left)

World Buddhist Sangha Council

During the First Congress of the World Buddhist Sangha Council (WBSC) in 1967, the founder Secretary-General, Venerable Pandita Pimbure Sorata Thera had requested Venerable Dr. Walpola Rahula to present a concise statement that would unify all of the different Buddhist traditions. It was through his knowledge of the Mahayana acquired while he was studying at the Sorbonne that Dr. Walpola Rahula was able to produce the important Buddhist Ecumenical statement called The Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and the Mahayana, which was unanimously approved by the Council.

Buddhist Publications

During his lifetime, Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula wrote extensively on many aspects of Theravada Buddhism. Apart from his highly regarded and world-renowned book What the Buddha Taught, he published many research papers on Buddhist topics probably as the result of spending years lecturing in many great institutions of higher learning. Some of his most popular publications include History of Buddhism in Ceylon, Heritage of the Bhikkhu, Zen and the Taming of the Bull and Le Compendium de la Super Doctrine (French).

1. What The Buddha Taught

(1959, ISBN 0-8021-3031-3)

In this simple yet detailed book, Dr. Walpola Rahula presents the reader with basic teachings by the Buddha that were extracted from the earliest surviving texts, the Tipitika of the Pali Canon. He covers core teachings on the Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the concept of no self and of meditation on it, as well as the relevance of what the Buddha taught in today’s world.

Download Free PDF Version

2. History of Buddhism in Ceylon: The Anuradhapura Period, 3^rd Century BC – 10^th Century AD (1966)

This book covers what historians know as the Anuradhapura Period, from the 3^rd Century BCE to the 10^th Century CE. Dr. Walpola Rahula traces the history of Sri Lanka or Ceylon through a variety of ancient scriptures and documents from the Pali Canon, Asokan edicts, Ceylon inscriptions, Pali Chronicles, Pali Commentaries, folk tales and other miscellaneous documents. Therefore, he is able to draw a clear picture of the socio-religious conditions of the period as well as the history of great monasteries that were established then.

Download Free PDF Version

3. The Heritage of the Bhikkhu

(1974, ISBN 0-394-17823-8)

The Heritage of the Bhikkhu draws upon the role of a Buddhist monk in becoming subservient to the people’s spiritual needs, and as an adherent and teacher of basic Buddhist principles. In this fascinating and informative volume, Dr. Walpola Rahula emphasises the Buddhist teachings as a practical doctrine for daily living and to attain spiritual perfection, not simply just as a source of monastic discipline.

4. Zen and the Taming of the Bull: Towards the Definition of Buddhist Thought: Essays

(1978, ISBN 0-900406-69-0)

Dr. Walpola Rahula explains in this book that Zen and the traditional Theravada practice are essentially the same. This book is fundamentally an explanation of the “Ten Ox-herding Pictures“, very familiar to all Zen practitioners and attributed to the Sung dynasty Zen (Chan) Master Kaku-an Shi-en, which are said to have their roots in early Buddhist Pali sources. The ox-herding pictures allude to the various stages of meditation.

5. The Heritage of the Bhikkhu: A Short History of the Bhikkhu in Educational, Cultural, Social, and Political Life

(1974, ISBN 0-394-49260-9)

This is a book that was written very much to reflect Dr. Walpola Rahula’s socialist ideals of the monastic’s role in society and especially in shaping the public’s view of politics. In real life, he demonstrated this during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya, in which he had openly criticised a minister. His political views led him to resign from his position and he gained fame for it.

6. Humour in Pali Literature and Other Essays

(1997, ISBN 955-650-000-6)

This book contains a collection of Pali stories from the Buddha’s time that emphasised humour as a means to deliver a message or a teaching in a non-confrontational manner. The Buddha seems to have approved of humour that would raise a smile or lighten the mood so that delivery of the message or teaching would become more effective.

7. Le Compendium de la Super Doctrine

(1980, ISBN 978-285-53906-28)

Dr. Walpola Rahula translates a Mahayana text called Abhidharmasamuccaya or Compendium of Abhidharma by the ancient Indian master, Asanga, into French. This text is one of Asanga’s most essential works and also one of the most psychologically oriented. It provides a framework as to how a practitioner is to follow the path, develop oneself and finally attain Buddhahood.

Conclusion

Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Maha Thera was in essence a strict and learned monk. His whole life was spent uplifting the understanding of Buddhism in the world, particularly that of the West, through publishing books and articles, delivering lectures and speeches and also teaching at various universities throughout the world.

Back home, he was particularly dedicated towards uplifting the level of education in Sri Lanka by advocating the free education movement of the 1940s and via his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University. By the time he passed away, he was 91 years old and had left a legacy of tremendous impact on the West’s initial understanding of Buddhism. Thus, his books today are legendary in that they deliver the fundamental understanding of the teachings.

Video Teachings by Dr Walpola Rahula

We Are All Caught in the Idea of Progress

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/VenWalpolaIdeaOfProgress.mp4

Does Free Will Exist?

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/VenWalpolaFreeWill.mp4

Truth

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/VenWalpolaTruth.mp4

Death

Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/VenWalpolaDeath.mp4

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