In the context of the latest Sri Lankan crisis and thereafter, the Sri Lankan nation must offer its eternal gratitude to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Fernando for his foresight in making as he did, the timely call for forgiveness towards the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday violence. So many political and religious predators are waiting on the wings to take off to create mayhem in all aspects of our lives. This generous gesture of the Cardinal undoubtedly helped prevent the unleashing of counter violence on many innocent members of the Muslim community and whoever else may have got caught in the crossfire. The Easter Sunday violence destroyed the semblance of peace that was prevalent in the country even as it rekindled hostility among the ethno religious communities.
Can’t we use the Buddha’s teachings to bring about harmony among these warring communities within the country instead of letting Buddhism be used as a divisive influence as at present? Isn’t it better to make peace rather than war; isn’t it better to smile rather than scowl at opponents? Let us use the ‘philosophical heritage of Buddhism’ to build bridges and mend jarred nerves.
It is disturbing that to the hate component that destroyed relationships, professional and business jealousies have come into play, churning the present hostile atmosphere further by calling for the boycott of products from Muslim business ventures. The progressive development of the country will be affected adversely if productivity levels are stalled. The situation becomes more complex when the ‘as usual’ social turmoil based on Buddhism and Sri Lanka as a Sinhala Buddhist country splits the nation into majoritarian and minority conflict yet again. The protagonists use the Buddha ‘image’ to appease their narrow egoistical march. This line of thought and action that follow should be derided without reservation. In so doing, we need to be also aware of the more serious contention that a large majority of the people in the country lack a clear understanding of the word of the Buddha.
At this difficult moment in time let’s together delve into the Buddha’s teachings that offers us the guidelines to a peaceful, compassionate way of life. Hate, anger and violence have no place in Buddhist philosophy. It is an urgent need that we divest ourselves of the diet of hate around us and at the same time do away with the numerous uncorroborated ‘news’ in circulation that, once injected into the system, spreads like wildfire creating instantaneous heartburn and chaos within the Lankan society. To do this it would not only be preferable but essential that we collectively take a quick soak into the Buddha’s teachings to help review the situation in perspective; that is, to resolve the primary concern of distinguishing between the men and women who shattered the peace in this country and the innocent people who have had no truck with the extremists. Buddha’s teachings can be effectively used to sort out matters without prejudice.
A reference to the phenomenon of Mara, the symbol of evil spirit, who made several futile attempts to tempt the Buddha away from seeking salvation, his marked out path will not be out of place. Despite several attempts to distract the latter persisted and eventually won victory over the manipulations of the evil spirit. The Buddha finally overcame Mara’s affliction and in his wisdom pronounced that "he who perseveres will find the Truth and the Truth will enlighten him". The people in this country must not abandon the search for truth. They must persist in sifting through the diverse gossip channels to reach out to what is a viable possibility "By oneself is evil done; by oneself is one defiled".
One who is familiar with the words of the Buddha knows that we are responsible for our actions and the consequences that follow and that the state of "purity and impurity" depend on ourselves.
Since the mind is central to all decision making, it is vital to develop our minds free of narrow agendas because as the Buddha said "By mind the world is led, by mind is drawn, and all men own the sovereignty of the mind." We must develop objectivity in our reasoning prowess which is ours to develop.
It is therefore vital to realize that a controlled and guarded mind helps formulate right thought, speech and action. The present situation in Sri Lanka is proof of haphazard thinking and impulsive responses to situations that give rise to impetuous behavior causing disturbance to the peace in the country and much havoc in its wake. Such a state of mind needs to be avoided for in the final reckoning we are all responsible for our actions and must face the consequences-"whatever action I do, good or bad, I shall become their heir."
In one of his discourses, the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha said that it is quite in order to be doubtful of what one hears spoken, rumoured or handed down for generations. Just because something is quoted as coming from the authoritative source of teachers and elders it should not be accepted as the truth. But if after observation and analysis one finds anything agrees with reason and is beneficial to all one should accept it and live by it. Such stringent expectations for self- inquiry is expected before anything is accepted as the truth beyond doubt. However in Sri Lanka, at times like this we are driven by emotion, and we take action without pausing to check on the authenticity of the rumours doing the rounds. Consequently the country and people suffer both in the short term as well as in the long term.
The Buddha was firm in his conviction that evil words should not escape our lips; that people should radiate with constant thoughts of loving kindness, ample, expanding measureless, free from enmity, free from ill-will. It is so contrary to what happens in our daily life. People charge around us with unsavoury thoughts and bad intentions. They go unquestioned sometimes because they represent authority, sometimes because it comes from their spiritual leaders, sometimes it is because it is dictated by the mob. Consequently, their wayward actions tend to destroy the peace and amity among us. A studied effort must be made to avoid such rustlers of peace and harmony in society.
The famous quote on the ignorant mind from the Buddha carries weight for all times- ‘No other thing do I know, O monks, that is so intractable as an undeveloped mind …. No other thing do I know , O monks, that brings us much benefit as a mind that is tamed, guarded, protected and controlled.
Such a mind, indeed, brings great benefit." The Buddha said that where the mind is refined there will be no place for the concept of ‘I’ and ‘mine’. There will certainly be no place for the conversation on the right to ownership of the nation - to whom should it belong; to the majority or to all of us who live in the country. Most Buddhists, young and old, educated and uneducated, repeat daily- as a routine - that all beings should live happily, free from hatred, free from sorrow, and free from fear. An addendum to this is that "hatred does not cease by hatred, hatred ceaseth by love…." In Sri Lanka we need to digest this in earnest as people for a variety of selfish reasons are spewing the place with enmity and hatred of the other. The country will be a better place if we stop looking for reasons to hate and look for the ingredients to a carefree life of happiness as given in the Buddha’s words.
According to the Buddha dhamma speech that is timely, true, gentle, purposeful and spoken kind heartedly will be wise and above reproach. It is claimed that "mean thoughts, trivial thoughts, come tempting the mind and fly away … a man understanding these thoughts in his mind expels them with vigorous mindfulness …." How far removed are we all from these simple but lofty ideals? The tendency today is for aggressive behavior to score a win over others, the more vocal one is the greater the expectation to amass more and more followers to one’s point of view, be it right or wrong. ‘mean thoughts, trivial thoughts, do not merely tempt but they get housed in our minds and not often attempts are made to expel them. We become harbingers of troubled state of mind.
It is clearly stated that the Buddha did not project a superior status for the monks. He went to the extent of saying that by the mere act of wearing the robe, a monk is not set apart from the laity as a mark of spiritual distinction… "a man that dwells in lonely woods and yet covets worldly vanities is a worldlin, while the man in worldly garments may let his heart soar high to heavenly thoughts". This is to say that by virtue of being a recluse one cannot be considered superior or holy. Today, we erroneously give much emphasis to outward appearances even though the Buddha has clearly enunciated that outward appearance is no indication of the inner person. It is however an expectation that those who take to the robes do lead a life of ‘purity’. This is the expectation in this country too. But is it even remotely fulfilled?
Once a layman visited the Buddha and asked him, "Venerable sir, we are ordinary laymen, leading a family life with a wife and children. Would the Blessed One teach us some doctrines which will be conducive to our happiness in this world and hereafter." The Buddha’s response was that a layman should apply himself with diligence to his work, secure his earnings with prudence and learn to live within his means. He should have companions who are liberal and intelligent and most importantly that one’s livelihood should be based on socially acceptable norms and used wisely. Is there any flexibility to get together with all and sundry for narrow political and personal agendas and for that matter to make ill-gotten gains? In today’s commonly understood parlance the word we are looking for is corruption. Corruption has become a way of life for many in this country that yields an easy lifestyle on ill- gotten gains. Where there is money power becomes the twin force and flagrant respect from the community an accepted stance. There is no shame at least not for the moment!
How many of us follow the Buddha’s dictates to see holy men and participate in religious discussions that will earn for us the highest blessing. Most of the time so many participate in religious functions as a habitual undertaking or with pretentious humility for spiritual undertakings without the spirituality content in the system or within them.
In dealing within the context of aggrandizement, of me and mine, violence, death and destruction had pervaded our country. Mercifully, today, many of the Sri Lankans be they from religious denominations or liberal thinkers from among the laity have ventured out to give leadership to quell the violence and douse the hate speeches. Let us hope that some semblance of normalcy can be brought in to get back to days of peace and harmony only so recently earned, post the 30 year war. Let us hope that over enthusiastic individuals do not try to cover up for their earlier failure to arrest the movement of terror and will now attempt to have numerous persons arrested to make the statistic on numbers arrested or detections made sound feasible vis a vis efficiency. One gets alarmed at the swiftness with which discoveries of lethal weapons and ammunitions and arrests in alarming numbers are made. Let us hope that they apply some of the Buddhist strategies - listed earlier- to make a detached objective assessment of what is perceived as justice and do not let emotions or political exigencies be their inspiration. It is our hope that those who have got hyper active to bring the situation in the country under control can in honesty echo the Buddha’s words: "… puts the teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind clinging to nothing of this or any other world …." The path to peace and reconciliation rests on this for the future of this nation.
by Gnana Moonesinghe
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