Sunday Times 2
The middle path to peace and prosperity
View(s):“The Buddha – Word as Cosmic Doctrine”, a book authored by Dr. Herath M. Goonetilleke, a former university lecturer, senior media personality, and retired public servant, has been published as a self-publication at Amazon.com.
The book clearly and properly describes the middle path (majjhima patipada) which includes the universal message preached by the Buddha for peace, welfare, progress, and the betterment of humankind.
The book spreads the Buddha’s message of peace as a practical doctrine for people to spend their lives peacefully. Hence it could be considered an outstanding achievement on world peace.
The present world is suffering from many crises such as terrorism and violence, including war, while most people across the world are faced with the threat of famine, food shortages, and numerous epidemics. People undergo many difficulties and have become helpless and their suffering continues due to the present social-economic decline.
Society, according to Buddhism, like every other process in nature, is liable to change from time to time. The factors that determine this evolution are economic and ideological, for men were led to action by their desires and beliefs. Therefore, according to the teachings of Buddhism, there are two main reasons for social evolution.
1. The decline of the human economy occurred due to the depreciation of limited resources as a result of competition and massive consumption with unlimited greed and craving of man.
Book facts: The Buddha - Word as Cosmic Doctrine Author - Herath M. Goonetilleke Published on Amazon.com
02. The other reason is political or religious extremism derived from false and wrong ideologies. The most important point depicted in this book is the possibility to achieve peace and prosperity. This is through the internal spirituality of man and by following the middle path shown by the Buddha while discarding extremist, false and wrong ideologies. This is the way to achieve social well-being and economic development.