Path to enlightenment

Sri Lanka celebrated 2,600 years of birth of Lord Buddha with colour and purpose – an event of immense importance to all Sri Lankans.

However, in this type of event and listening to the philosophy that is Buddhism, what is more important is understanding and practice rather than splashing colour and wearing masks and related paraphernalia (not advocated in any way as positive deeds!).

I had the pleasure of reminding a group of students last week that Sri Maha Bodhi tree is the oldest historical tree in the world and I am sure that many of them were not aware of the fact. I gently reminded them that these are the type of world records that we should be truly proud of.

Lord Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment is unique and we layman still seek that understanding. I am going to comment on more earthly aspects needing understanding in this country.

Winning the economic war

Winning a war is not an assurance that you can win all wars, however difficult and challenging that first one was. Definitely credit is given for that and election results are an indication. The war on the economic front is the current challenge that needs to be met and it is a beast of a different kind. The bonus of success here is that it will for sure stop the wars of the first kind in future.

Winning the economic war with a sustainability mindset and displaying compassion towards all things living and non-living is how we should take this challenge. Sri Lanka should demonstrate this and make a point globally.

It is not about pleasing only those who have and also not about pleasing anyone in all ways one wants. I am not sure whether the tools for successfully waging this war are still in place. Most important is networking for right impact with right vision – Samma Ditti and Samma Vayama!

State vs. universities

Today it appears that the State and the local university system are at logger heads, which really is an unfortunate development. People may have been surprised to hear that positions as headships in university departments were voluntary.

The awakening to such knowledge came with many of the academics resigning from their voluntary posts and requesting better conditions – a request that has been a standing request for a long, long time.

For many there is no understanding on what a university can do for a society and some are of the opinion that they are better closed or plain trouble (I have listened to that statement countless times when people get to know that I am a university lecturer) usually as the media is always quick to point out when a local university faces an issue.

In the same way, the local media splashes many pages exalting the virtues of the universities abroad. The enlightenment needed here is that the society-university nexus in Sri Lanka is almost nonexistent and must be reversed.

Just consider the California system or the North Carolina regions in USA. There is a vibrant university-industry-society nexus. Look around our university system – outside the boundaries that are treasured are boutiques of multiple types, communication setups or some mechanisms for accommodation. The two eco-systems are worlds apart.

It reminds one of what the son of Charles Darwin did. He set up the Cambridge Scientific Instruments Company in close proximity to the University of Cambridge, knowing the importance and growth opportunities. The rest is history as Cambridge Science Park shows.

None of our sides appear to work on these principles and are seeking redress with an absolute growth mindset. Our base of negotiations appears to be too simple and too narrow. There is a serious need for enlightenment on this earthly need of our country.

Technology change

Some show their environmental enlightenment by buying hybrids! We show our prowess in technology transfer mostly with vehicle purchases – we have graduated with ease from Pajeros to Monteros and to Prados.

Today hybrids have come to occupy a special place. The speed of technology change may soon bring lithium technology with batteries which could be rapidly charged and with the ability to deliver long mileages. That would spell the doom for hybrids as truly electric will be the way forward.

Those who migrate with ease from one vehicle technology to another have greater difficulties in migrating through process technologies. This change must come and not only should we purchase the ‘most cool,’ we must modernise our institutional systems.

With respect to some of the equipment and systems, we prefer to accept the status quo. We are at times proud of the 19th century equipment which we continue to use. Even the countries that originally produced those machineries no longer remember them. Factories should function as factories and not as museums. Sadly an aspect that is prevalent in most of our classical industrial establishments.

In India an interesting phrase has emerged – Jugaad technology. The euphemism really is for indigenous and creative solutions though in practice it means quick fix improvisation.

Jugaad originally is a practical transport unit which uses a generator as an engine on a vehicle (truck+pickup) made completely from junk to transport humans, luggage and animals. An Indian blogger has given a generalised explanation to fit practices of such kind in India – to fit, somehow, something from somewhere, somewhat correctly! When it works all are happy, celebrate and keep on using this creative plaster as a permanent solution.

Disruptive technology

Disruptive technology is a frequent term heard and we have seen many examples. Applied on a local sense the concept appear to be a misnomer as we see what is supposed to have disappeared for good surviving here quite well and nurtured.

These changes do not augur well for companies who stand still by refusing change or fail to adapt. The onset of disruptive technologies will make these firms disappear. As an example vacuum cleaners removed brooms and the personal computer showed the way out for the typewriter.

However, look at our economies – I have seen places where the vacuum cleaners are sold cleaned with brooms. Walk into any institution serving justice in our local environment, you will find it quite hard to spot a personal computer and the typewriter still reigns supreme.

We only consider the changes in classroom settings and walk out into the old reality. We lack the drive to bring about change or change organisations to accept change. As big machineries are at play, the presence of disruptive technologies does not bring about the demise.

The demise may well come not to components but to whole systems when so much has happened while we go through the ‘Rip Van Winkle effect’. It is important that we retire techniques and systems completely as what would happen with the presence of multitude of speeds and capabilities is that the speed of the overall system would be equal to the component with the slowest speed or performance.

That is what is seen on our roads – high horse powers cannot be exercised freely as three-wheelers dictate overall mobility, not to mention the occasional bullock cart. This simple law of chemical kinetics is valid with technologies and societies too.

Spending and saving

In Buddhist philosophy there is an interesting statement on spending and saving. It is stated that an individual should spend 25% of one’s income on essentials and living, 25% should be saved for the future and the balance should be invested in one’s upliftment – meaning investing back on goods and services that would enhance his or her prospects.

The same principle can be applied to an institute or a business. This would mean ploughing back profits to add capabilities to one’s line of work to get into the next level. Can we think on this and check what is happening? Do we see this reinvestment or we hear about shareholders clamouring for more returns?

CapEx is serious decision making in our institutional climate. Spending on CapEx is considered a luxury and something to be avoided if possible. There are many reasons for not going ahead with CapEx and part of the mechanism in dealing with a request is to delay so that the need disappears. This is why we do not see our institutions modernised or moving ahead with time.

The Buddha’s journey to enlightenment has not been easy but a one pursued with devotion and commitment. Our nation too needs to understand the difficulties in its path. Simple verbal salvos against each other will not bring success. Deeds and deeds of merit alone will. If we take up these lessons, the journey will be made easier. Let us meditate with such thinking.

(Professor Ajith de Alwis is Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. With an initial BSc Chemical engineering Honours degree from Moratuwa, he proceeded to the University of Cambridge for his PhD. He is a Science Team Leader at the Sri Lanka Nanotechnology Institute. He can be reached via email on [email protected])