During this 2550th Buddha Jayanthi year, it is of immense importance to remove the ultimate barrier obstructing path attainment by a Bauddhaya and resolve the misunderstanding that has confused their mental process, impeding their progress to proceed on the Noble Eightfold Pathways outlined by the Buddha.

It should be highlighted here that there is a world of difference between the of the terminology SEELA in the Anathma (no Soul) concept outlined in the Noble Eightfold Pathways and that of SEELA reflected in the: Arthma (Soul) concept within the context of the pre Buddha Codes of moral conduct outlined below as:–

DANA ( Donation)-> SEELA (Five Precepts)-> BHAVANA (Meditation), (which promotes births in Deva, Brahma’ or Human worlds without ending the Sansaric Manifestations.)

This process leading one to temporary emancipation and attainment of Dyanas or mystical powers existed in almost all civilised societies even before the advent of the Buddha to preach the Dhamma. Thus the confusion of terminology between Dhamma Seela and the above mentioned Five Precept Seela may have been created with sinister motives by those who used the same word SEELA in both Paths which facilitated the questionable and incorrect categorisation of the Dhamma Eightfold Pathways in to three, as:–

Here two gross mistakes have been made, probably intentionally, first by placing PANNA (Dhamma Wisdom) last and putting the term SEELA ((Right Action, Speech and Livelihood) first in the above sequence without properly qualifying the: SEELA potion and secondly deviating: From the Buddha’s own categorisation of the Pathways in the order of respective precedence and importance which have been outlined and listed below as actually appearing in the Dhammacakkapawattana Sutta, Buddha’s first sermon preached to the five Ascetics.

Hence the correct order of classification or categorisation of the Noble Pathways according to the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta should be as follows: –

(Dhamma Wisdom) (Dhamma Morality) (Progressive Mental! Development) (Following these, pathways promotes birth in any chosen elite Sansara and leads one to path attainment and finally, on following two extra paths of Samma Gnana and Samnw Kmutd, to Nibbana of ones choice).

Whereas in the pre-Buddha Patti illustrated below containing the Pancha Seela or Five Precepts with its belief in, a permanent. Trans-Migratory Soul, Will being practiced by those ignorant of the. Dhamma to attain solace for their souls as well as mystical powers or a safe heaven of their choice, not knowing that it is only a temporary respite, have been classified as:

The observance of five precepts of the above process were the bare requisites - or norms acceptable to God or Creator fearing humans in any civilised society even before the advent of the Buddha and are listed as: - Abstinence from - (1) Killing; (2) Stealing; (3) Illegal sexual conduct; (4) Lying; (5) Use of Intoxicants.

These were considered as the pre requisites for a person to lead a trouble free, meritorious life and ensure a better life for that person after death by taking the person’s soul to heaven or the arms of a God or Creator, whilst for those who do not abstain from the above Five Precepts (Pancha Seela) there was no such salvation for their souls and were condemned to hell and damnation for ever.

The Buddha in his choice of followers did not show any partiality to those who had not previously strictly adhered to the above five precepts (Pancha Seela). Since among his Sangha Order there were previous, criminals, prostitutes, serial killers, robbers, persons from the lowest castes, poorest of the poor as well as nobles and royalty, who had equal access to the Sangha Order on giving up their past bad activities.

Thus resulting from the above clarifications it is clearly evident that the present day lay Bauddhaya have been cleverly outwitted and led astray by this presently accepted, unjust and unnecessary, categorisation of the Noble Eightfold Pathways outlined in the Dhamma erroneously into three as Seela-> Samadhi-> Panna. Where as it is a Trans Sansaric Dhamma Magga a formulated by the Buddha starting with Dhamma Wisdom of PANNA -> SEELA -> SAMADHI -> ... leading one to Path Attainment en route to Nibbana during this or a subsequent birth.

The Dhamma. Vivarana Movement (Movement for mindful understanding of Dhamma using ones own Wisdom) is hopeful that there will be many Path Attainers among the laypersons after these mental impediments are removed and this important issue is resolved by the Members of the Maha Sangha, who are most graciously requested to unravel the mystery surrounding the correct order of precedence of the Dhamma Pathways as outlined by Gotama Buddha.