Cultural Harmony & Middle Path

By Kapila Abhayawansa –November 21, 2015

Prof Kapila Abhayawansa

The article  “Cultural invasion – in the wake of the Abaya” that appeared in the Colombo Telegraph attempts to justify make out that the phenomenon of  the Black Abaya accords with the Middle Path in Buddhism. The Buddhist Middle Path  constitutes  a rejection of  two mutual opposite extremist positions. Buddhism praises the middle way when it is practiced in human behaviour; it does not exclude even the acts of dressing and eating. ‘Black Abaya’ mentioned by the writer, Mass L. Usuf , if it wants to be to comply with Middle Path, should be a moderate dressing acceptable to all. However, people in Sri Lanka would perceive such a dress – form as extremist by itself since it goes overboard in covering  the modesty and simplicity of a woman. The Sri Lankan social context is different.

The writer correctly says that man in Buddhism is analyzed into five groups of aggregates known as Pañcupadanakkhandha one of which is the aggregate of perception (saññaā). Perception arises from form (rāpa). This explanation right. However, the intention of the writer by presenting this Buddhist principle appears to be to justify the Black Abaya by suggesting that it prevents the occurrence of inappropriate perceptions  (sanna) relating to the woman’s form (rupa). In this regard I have a doubt the that the writer has correctly understand the Buddhist analysis of Rūpa.

In Buddhism Rūpa does not mean only the outer form or shape, of a person, but it includes all the five sensory objects namely, rūpa (Form), sadda (sound), gandha (smell), rasa (taste) and poṭṭhabba (tangibles). Perception arises on all the five kinds of sensory object. If the writer accepts that the black Abaya can stop the perception arising from form, then how can one stop the other kind of perception arising from woman’s sound, smell, taste and tangibles. That is something like keeping close one avenue while opening out four other avenues.

According to Buddhism perceptions based on sensory objects cannot be avoided. as long as sensory objects come into the path of  sensory organs, namely eye ear, nose tongue, body and mind. Perception is a recognition, without recognitions people cannot maintain communication with each other. Perception itself is  not regarded as a “sin” in Buddhism. If the perception is leads to further proliferative activities, then only will that become harmful to the spiritual purity  recognized by middle path.         

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