Venerable Soma Thera's last letter*

Translated from Sinhala into English by Mohan Senaratne, Ontario, Canada, An important note from the translators: This is the last letter written by the late Ven. Soma Thera. Originally written in Sinhala, the letter was specifically directed to the people of Sri Lanka, who are facing a crisis arising from unethical conversions. It should be read in that context.
Published on the Buddhist News Network, February 19, 2004
* Soma Thera’s natural but unexpected death in St. Petersburg in late 2003 caused wild speculation as to the cause and led to a rash of anti-Christian attacks and church burnings.
Virtuous people,
One is identified as a good person, not only because that person goes about maintaining an erect posture but also because this person can clearly differentiate between the wholesome & the unwholesome action to follow a path that is wholesome.
However we know that only a few of us posses that natural ability to command such clarity in thinking. Nevertheless we can see that all human beings posses the ability to further develop mental faculties, it could be said that "Manu" mental faculties - "ussana" elevate, when taken together as "Manussa" as said in Pali, refers to human beings, who have this inherent ability to uplift their mental capabilities. I hope that one would not reject the idea that people need a religion to elevate their mental states by drawing them away from unwholesome acts & to engage them in wholesome action, but not to retard their mental capacity by blunting their thinking power.
Therefore think O wise men. Think well. Think what is good for you. Is there a better choice in this life other than to satisfy one's five senses & live without any physical or mental ailment?
If that were the case I strongly believe that you would consider all other sentient beings also would prefer to live in such mundane contentment. The message contained here is for such virtuous people, who could agree with this trend of thinking. Others may choose to ignore this message.
It cannot be refuted that all religions are based on the principles of the liberation of beings from suffering. However it is not incorrect to state that a religion should be chosen after examination of all religions & their teachings to determine if the principles are based on the proper understanding of suffering, if such teaching truly leads to the liberation of beings from suffering.
All beings are subject to decay. Decay of sense organs creates suffering, due to the inability to enjoy much desired sensual pleasures. Sickness & death gives rise to suffering. Loss of youthful pleasures can cause intense suffering, as a result of loosing abilities, which were taken for granted. This is the explanation in Buddha's1 teachings. Other forms of religious thinking cannot refute this explanation.
The above-described suffering is caused by physiological & psychological decay, which comes to us in the form of a natural life cycle. This being not to our liking, we seek liberation from such suffering. Suffering is caused by craving associated with the five aggregates (Skandas) namely, matter or form (Rupa), sensation (Vedana), perception (Samjna), mental formations (Sankara)& consciousness (Vijnana). Suffering is the effect of this cause. The Buddha's philosophy explains that removing its cause can eliminate suffering. Dhamma also teaches the path that should be followed to eliminate cause for suffering. (Buddhism should be learnt through extensive examination).
It is not a wonder why early man found it difficult to comprehend the workings of the universe (nature), which impacts on the life of man. The attribution of universal activity (which include both good & bad) to God was the result of an inference of the early human. However how & why suffering creatures came into being was a puzzle to the intelligent man. Man, who could not understand the origin of beings, therefore believed that the origin of the world & its beings are the result of creation by an omnipotent God.
The basis of the world we live today is not mere belief. Rather it is one where matters are determined by investigation & research. On one has conclusively established that the world & its beings were a creation of a God. Such thinking is based entirely on belief. A system of belief based on inference or faith, is referred to as a religion in dictionaries. Hence this definition is a universally accepted one & not something conjured up by us.
The Buddha's philosophy about the world & its sentient beings is not a belief. It is a realization achieved through an extensive analytical investigation. The Buddha is called such because of his enlightened comprehension of the world & its beings. Therefore the acceptance of the Buddha's teachings is an acceptance of the truth of the world & its beings. The external world is sensed by the five sense organs - sight, sound, smell, taste & touch, is called by man as the world. However the Buddha explained that this external world is not the result of a creation but it is simply matter, which consists of the combination of the four universal physical elements, namely solidity (Patavi), fluidity (Arpo), motion (Thepo) and heat (Vayo)) which appear, temporally exist & then disappear in a continuing cycle.
The fact that the Buddha's word in this regard has been thoroughly confirmed by today's scientists clearly illustrates its validity. The Buddha has explained how sentient beings came to exist. " Thanha Janathi Pruisung Chithamas Vibawathi" meaning craving or desire gives rise to beings. The Dhamma explains that this craving mind runs amok, causing the cycle of becoming & passing away of beings in their journey through the cycle of continuity (Samsara).
Although religious thinking based on an omnipotent God state that, beings are a creation of such a God, the Buddha declares a "being" is simply a label given to that, which arises from the combination of five aggregates.The "Dhammika Sutta" explains that the 'form' of a being appears from the four universal physical elements - solidity (Patavi), fluidity (Arpo), motion (Thepo) and heat (Vayo) obtaining the bases for contact through the conjugation of Mother & Father. Therefore the God who precipitated the form would be the Mother & Father. Even at the time of the Buddha's birth, the belief that the world & its beings were the creation of the all-powerful Brahma prevailed. Ishwara and Vishnu are also names attributed to Brahma. If Brahma created beings, then it is stated that " Brahamathi matha pitharo" Father & Mother are indeed the Brahma.
The mind was not present in the paternal semen nor was it present in the maternal egg. If so how did the fertilized egg which would eventually become a being, acquire its mind? Did God give that mind?
The mind is formless. It arises from the four formless aggregates, namely (Vedena) sensation, (Sanjna) perception, (Sankhárá) mental formations (Viññana) consciousness. With the contact of five spheres of sense organs (eye, ear, nose, tongue, touch and mind,) through sensation there arises perception. Recognition of perception is consciousness. Although positive & negative sensations give rise to relevant perception & consciousness, they are caused by desire. Mental volition (Karma) arises due to desire & craving (Tanha) of beings. If one were to realize the impermanence (Anicca), suffering (Dukka) & selflessness or soulless ness (Anathma) of the mental & external world thus leading to the extinguishing craving or desire with respect to that world, then resulting from the extinction of mental volition (Karma) - the effect of desire - the cessation of the arising of five aggregates & certainly at that time the arising of this fathom long form would also cease.
Desire causes the manifestation of the three defilements namely "Lobha" lust or craving, "Dosha" hatred or ill Will & "Moha" delusion. Such states of mind causes man to commit unwholesome acts of causing grief to one another, killing each other, plundering other nations. Would you believe that God gave these unwholesome thoughts to man & created such an evil world? Because of weak thinking abilities, man with an under developed mind engages in action without proper examination thus confirming his evil nature.
A religious thinking is necessary to man, to enable him to accomplish a peaceful life by illuminating his mind through the elimination of unwholesome thoughts. It certainly is futile to harbour thoughts that "God will take care of me". Intelligent people in the Christian world have arrived at the realization that, it is not true to state that, the world is a creation of a God. If there is a God who gives refuge to those who lie, embezzle, conspire to steal, commit sexual misconduct, harm animals or in short are engulfed in unwholesome thoughts/acts, then it has to be the duty of any intelligent person to eliminate such a God. Intelligent people from the western world, on realization of the benefits of the Buddha Dhamma seek refuge in Buddhism. So called Buddhists in Sri Lanka, while wallowing in unwholesome deeds, look to God's for deliverance from abject poverty or difficult circumstances. They wish for full emancipation from their difficult situations from these Gods In the end they embrace other religions disavowing a Dhamma that cannot be logically challenged.
Christian & Muslim religions teach that man was created from the soil from heaven & that woman was created from a bone in the rib cage of man. Accordingly unless their human brains are full of soil, there is no other reason for people to believe in these stories of creation, simply because it is in the religious books & attack Buddhism which actually shows the way out of suffering.
Refrain from harming/killing animals; take not what is not yours, refrain from sexual misconduct, refrain from uttering lies and gossip, refrain from consumption of intoxicants. Then wisdom will grow. As a result you will live comfortably, protecting your earnings living a life full of wisdom achieving blissfulness.
It is only a foolish person who would propound on the merits of a virtuous life while continuing to engage in unwholesome acts. I won't be surprised if such a foolish person were to perpetuate that their evil thinking is good. Such foolish persons arise because of an undeveloped mind, causing them to wallow in unwholesome acts. Persons with an evil mind do not have the ability to think straight. How does one confirm wisdom? Simply wise people do not engage in unwholesome acts. If there were a God or Gods, they would indeed give their blessings to a virtuous person & not an evil person.
Engaging in a belief system that encourages animal/human slaughter or promoting a religious teaching that suppress the wisdom of man by invoking the wrath of God, one would certainly attract the curse of such Gods rather than their blessing. Surely one would understand this fact unless one's mind is full of soil or mud!
It is foolish to think that God could forgive one's misdeeds. One should seek forgiveness from the person wronged, not from God. It is quite clear that damage or harm was done to the victim of the misdeeds not God. Whether or not one receives forgiveness from the victim for a misdeed, by not repeating these misdeeds & promoting good deeds, Buddhism has shown the way to cleanse your mind of defilements that arise from unwholesome acts.
Would you choose the foolish way of seeking forgiveness from an unseen, unknown God or follow the Buddha Dhamma, wherein the process for salvation is clearly explained?
Christian brethren in Sri Lanka, kindly bear with me without enmity, I will show you the truth. Portuguese introduced Christianity to Sri Lanka in 1505. From that time for a period of 450 years, because of the many atrocities committed by the Dutch & the English invaders up to 1948, only a 4.5% of the people in Sri Lanka embraced Christianity. We are very well aware that those people who embraced Christianity did not do so because it was a superior philosophy in comparison to Buddhism, but because of their greed for economical & social benefits from the foreign invaders.
If Christianity were a successful religious doctrine in comparison to Buddhism, Sri Lanka would have been a wholly Christian nation, much earlier. Please consider that you are immorally trying to delude & attempt to convert the simple & poor citizens of this country through material inducements, because Christianity by it self has nothing good to offer.
Wise Christian faithful please think - because of the betrayal of your forefathers you are now a Christian. Or you have done so yourself. A betrayal of a natural law is an unwholesome act, which causes grief. It is evil to betray a wholesome philosophy. Evil will condemn the evildoer. I urge you to return to the Buddha's Dhamma - which is the wholesome philosophy. May you be blessed by the Dhamma.For the emancipation of all beings,
Gangodavila Soma Thero.