At a time when global political and economic structures are facing a massive collapse, a profound dialogue has emerged between Emeritus Professor H. Sriyananda, often hailed as the “Invisible Sage of the Sustainable Era,” and political analyst Eng. Ashoka Abeygunawardana. This conversation offers a radical shift in how we perceive human civilization’s next leap.
The Failure of Industrial-Age Ideologies
Professor Sriyananda argues that our current dominant ideologies—Capitalism and Marxism—are both “children of the Industrial Era,” ill-equipped for the realities of the 21st century.
- Capitalism as a Sinking Ship: “Capitalism is built on the myth of ‘infinite growth.’ On a planet with finite resources, any system attempting infinite growth is destined for destruction by the laws of nature,” the Professor notes.
- Marxism as Another Room on the Same Ship: While Marxism appears as an alternative, it remains centered on production and consumption. While the capitalist focuses on ownership, the Marxist focuses on distribution. Neither, however, accounts for resource depletion or ecological collapse.
A Provocative Critique of “Cultural Buddhism”
Perhaps the most controversial point of the discussion was the Professor’s claim that “there are no true Buddhists in Sri Lanka. “He distinguishes between the Buddha’s original philosophy of Minimalism and today’s “Cultural Buddhism.”
- Greed vs. Need: Buddhism is fundamentally about reducing desire. Yet, modern adherents have become massive consumers, driven by ostentation rather than simplicity.
- Ecological Footprint: A true follower of this philosophy should not leave a footprint that the Earth cannot sustain.
The Call for a Systemic Change
Eng. Ashoka Abeygunawardana emphasizes that Sri Lanka’s crisis is not merely economic but systemic. Replacing leaders is a cosmetic fix; what is required is a new “Social Contract” between humanity and nature. He suggests that the Sustainable Era must be a synergy of technology and humanity, where technology serves to harmonize with nature rather than dominate it.
The Path Forward
The message is clear: the solution to our crisis lies not in securing more loans or switching political parties, but in changing our Worldview.
“We do not need another political party; we need a new human philosophy.”
By moving beyond the extremes of Capitalism and Marxism and embracing the Middle Path of sustainability, we can open the doors to a viable future. It is a tragedy that such “Invisible Wisdom” is often sidelined in national policy-making.