Towards the Truth

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Foreword In the 1940’s the students of the University of Ceylon in Colombo arranged for a three-days debate between representatives of two great religions: Buddhism and Christianity. Their choice was the Rev. Clifford Wilson, M.A., the Vicar of Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo, and Bhikku Dhammapāla, a Buddhist monk from the Netherlands, a convert from Catholicism. The three days of the debate were fixed with a week’s interval, and the order of the speakers was decided by lot. It was thus that Rev. Wilson opened the debate, which on the first day would be limited to statements by the two opponents on each ones own religion. This order would be reversed the following week, when each speaker would have the opportunity to raise questions about the statements made earlier. The respective answers would be given again seven days later, when once more the order of speaking would be reversed. Enthusiasm was great, and although some “home” truths were exchanged, there was never any acrimony, while it was said afterwards, that a good time was had by all. But when a wish was expressed to have the debate published, this was made impossible as the text of the three papers read by Rev. Clifford Wilson were not made available. Now, after almost 40 years those students have grown up and old; but many still remember. And so it was suggested to publish 5
Page 3: Copyright Notice This work is licen
Page 8 and 9: 6 the text of Bhikkhu Dhammapāla
Page 10 and 11: 8 he can grasp with his two hands.
Page 12 and 13: 10 only can see any practical way t
Page 14 and 15: 12 There may be many individual pro
Page 16 and 17: 14 Even if one would be prepared to
Page 18 and 19: 16 without being commanded to so, a
Page 20 and 21: 18 tempt to give an answer to the p
Page 22 and 23: 20 make a selection? If the Bible i
Page 24 and 25: 22 Even when he declares himself
Page 26 and 27: 24 tion I am afraid that Saint Paul
Page 28 and 29: 26 nature are not rules laid down b
Page 30 and 31: 28 the process of retribution after
Page 32 and 33: 30 Now that soul is supposed to be
Page 35 and 36: Buddhism Vindicated Final address i
Page 37 and 38: 35 striving, i.e. non-attainment. A
Page 39 and 40: 37 change. That means that we have
Page 41 and 42: 39 “I know that I am here”, my
Page 43 and 44: 41 as his unsocial act prevents the
Page 45 and 46: 43 can do what my reverend opponent
Page 47 and 48: 45 Nirvāṇa caused the final diff
Page 49: is not made of brain alone, and tha

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