New Book: Dhamma Aboard Evolution

I want to share some information on a free downloadable book that you may be interested in from well-known US Fulbright & Canadian Scholar Prof. Suwanda H J Sugunasiri.

Titled “Dhamma Aboard Evolution- The Breakthrough Research on the Aggañña Sutta,” this book features research that demonstrates that this sutta is not ‘satire’ or ‘parody’ as characterized by many Western scholars, but rather one which outlines the Universe, and the evolution of human society.

Here’s the abstract which provides even more detail:

Dhamma Aboard Evolution seeks to establish that segment # 10-16 of the Aggañña Sutta of the Dīgha Nikāya is no ‘satire’ or ‘parody’, as seen by scholars. Drawing upon Cosmology, Darwinism , Psychology (e.g., Freud, Piaget) and Linguistics, it paints a historically and scientifically accurate picture of Devolution and Evolution, going beyond the Big Bang, in which sentient beings emerge, defilements from craving to passion in tow, nourished by an evolving plant life. Compatible with Western Science, the breakthrough comes when âbhassara Beings are taken to be Photons, taking ‘âbhassara’ in a literal etymological sense of ‘Hither-come-shining-arrow’. Accurate as the picture may be, the Buddha’s point, however, is that knowledge of the Dhamma overrides it all, explaining the title. Resolved in the study are a ‘Chronological Paradox’ relating to ‘lingua’ appearing in Beings before ‘linga’ and a ‘Spiritual Paradox’ of Jhānic level âbhassara Beings indulging in sex. Among other topics treated are the Vedic Creation Myth, the intended audience and the structure of the total Sutta – not Jātaka but the Beast fable of Pañcatantra fame. The Appendix shows the Buddha as Originator of this Story Within Story literary genre. Going beyond the Sutta is an invitation to an ‘Academically Engaged Buddhism’, taking ‘Trust in the Buddha’ as a methodological imperative, just as Trust in God was for Western Science from the Greek times up until Einstein.

Visit this link to download the book.