Dr A T Ariyaratne’s life is a story of transformation. Born in 1931 in the Unawatuna, he was primarily educated at Buona Vista College and Mahinda College. He then pursued a career in teaching at Nalanda College Colombo until 1972 after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Sri Jayewardenepura University. He later received honorary doctorates from the same university and Emilio Aguinaldo College in the Philippines.
Ariyaratne’s true calling occurred in 1958 when he initiated the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement. It was a grassroots initiative grounded in Gandhian principles of community development. Ariyaratne reinterpreted the Sanskrit term Sarvodaya to reflect a Buddhist ideal of all awakening, highlighting holistic development and collective well-being.
He led forty high school students and twelve teachers from Nalanda College Colombo to an outcast village, aiming to improve living conditions through collaborative efforts. These experiments yielded remarkable success, laying the groundwork for the Sarvodaya Movement’s foundational ideals.
The Sarvodaya Movement is the largest civil society movement in Sri Lanka, operating in approximately 15,000 villages and attracting nearly a million volunteers annually. Its network of organisations has been hailed as the world’s largest participatory development movement driven by the people.
Buddhist upbringing
Ariyaratne was the third of six children in a middle-class family. Religion, notably Buddhism, played a pivotal role in his upbringing. Growing up adjacent to the village temple, Ariyaratne received education and guidance from revered monks. His application of Buddhist principles diverged from the mainstream narrative that emerged in post-colonial Sri Lanka, where religion, notably Buddhism, became intertwined with the national identity of the Sinhala-Buddhist majority. During the colonial period, the colonisers portrayed Buddhism as incompatible with modernity and subjected the Sinhala-Buddhist community to discrimination of some sort.
Ariyaratne’s interpretation of Buddhism highlighted its social aspect and potential for addressing contemporary societal issues. Grounded in Buddhist and Gandhian principles, the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement promoted village development and nonviolence.
In an article written for the Huffington Post, Anuradha K Herath quotes George Bond, a professor of religion at Northwestern University, who characterises Ariyaratne’s Buddhist philosophy as socially engaged Buddhism.
Ariyaratne firmly believed that Buddhist principles should not remain confined to ritualistic practices but should be actively applied to address social problems and alleviate human suffering.
Therefore, Dr. Ariyaratne’s pioneering vision represents a departure from the narrow confines of traditional Buddhism, advocating for a socially engaged approach that seeks to harness the transformative potential of Buddhist teachings for the betterment of society.
Ariyaratne’s dedication to community welfare uplifting made him a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics. His commitment to Gandhian principles of nonviolence, rural development, and self-sacrifice became the cornerstone of the Sarvodaya Movement. He enriched this philosophy by integrating Buddhist ideals of selflessness and compassion.
During Sri Lanka’s 30-year conflict, Dr. Ariyaratne was under the spotlight as a charismatic advocate for peace, promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and nonviolent conflict resolution. His commitment to peace-building earned him respect and admiration both locally and internationally. Ariyaratne received numerous awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, the Gandhi Peace Prize, and the Niwano Peace Prize. The pinnacle of recognition came in 2007 when he was bestowed the Sri Lankabhimanya, the nation’s highest honour.
Intellectual discourse
Ariyaratne’s legacy extends beyond intellectual discourse, reaching millions through intimate family gatherings and transformative meditations.
The Sarvodaya Movement believes in placing people at the centre of social change, with villages serving as the crucible of spiritual and moral vision. It advocates for political empowerment, Buddhist awakening, and rural development to replace structural violence with nonviolent spiritual revolution.
Ariyaratne’s influence extends beyond his organisation’s immediate sphere, with a large following and widespread recognition for promoting ethnic harmony between communities. His inspiration from Pacific leaders in neighbouring India, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave, shaped his commitment to nonviolent activism and community empowerment.
Through meditative self-training, Ariyaratne sought to transform negative states like hatred and greed, paving the way for village development and alleviating the suffering caused by poverty and social injustice. Impermanence, a cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy, is a guiding principle within the Sarvodaya Movement. Understanding the transient nature of existence encourages a deep respect for all beings, emphasising their interconnectedness. This recognition encourages individuals to extend a helping hand to others, acknowledging the interdependence that binds humanity together.
In his reinterpretation of the Second Noble Truth, Ariyaratne identifies the origins of suffering in factors such as egoism, competition, greed, and hatred. The Sarvodaya Movement endeavours to combat these root causes through social action programmes. Regarding the Third Noble Truth, Ariyaratne envisions the cessation of suffering on a personal level and within the context of village life. Drawing from the Buddhist concept of Nibbana, he believes in the possibility of villagers’ suffering coming to an end with the support of others.
Suffering alleviation
Ariyaratne’s reinterpretation of the Fourth Noble Truth involves applying the Eightfold Path to Nirvana to restore people within communities. Right mindfulness, for instance, entails remaining open and alert to the village’s needs, thereby alleviating suffering.
Central to Ariyaratne’s philosophy was Buddhist Economics, a framework that integrates Buddhist principles into economic solutions. This approach stressed the interconnectedness of all life and the moral and social dimensions of economic activity. Ariyaratne critiqued prevailing systems of consumerism and capitalism, attributing their negative impacts, including the widening gap between rich and poor, to Western influence and international institutions such as the World Bank.
Ariyaratne believed that true peace could only be achieved through dispelling the illusion of self and recognising the interconnectedness of all beings. His vision of social action is rooted in Buddhist principles of Truth, nonviolence, and Selflessness, serving as guiding lights in the quest for a just and harmonious society.Ariyaratne also emphasised the importance of transcending the ego and losing oneself in the service of others. He believed personal awakening is intricately linked with the collective endeavour to awaken all beings.
Dubbed the Gandhi of Sri Lanka, Dr A T Ariyaratne’s legacy continues to inspire generations, reminding us of the profound impact that one individual can have in shaping the destiny of nations and promoting a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Sachitra Mahendra