By Muhammed Fazl –
Muhammed Fazl
“It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe that lures him to evil ways” – Gautama Buddha
Historians of Buddhism in Sri Lanka may or may not have interpreted historical scriptures based on facts or opinions… but none of it matter anymore since Buddhism has lost its value and its importance thanks largely to its ineffectiveness in matters concerning governance, rule of law and social justice. Bitter it may be to some to swallow, but Sri Lanka was never a Buddhist country. The need to look for alternative and effective sources of guidance in leading the masses towards spiritual enlightenment is now a matter of great exigency.
60% of the population claiming to be Buddhists or the belief in the legend where Lord Buddha supposedly had arrived in Sri Lanka centuries ago does not make this a Buddhist country. For it to be rightly called such, it need to be governed by teachings of Buddhism as in the case of Islamic countries where Islamic Sharia is the source of governance. Buddhism as a state religion in this country has been a failure since none of the governments in power paid any serious attention in being guided by its teachings. Sri Lanka with one of the highest cases of rape, suicide, murder, theft, racial intolerance, alcohol consumption and the addiction for gambling has also contributed in negating the influence of Buddhism.
The Thripitakaya, written 500 plus years after the death of Gautama Buddha with 80,000 plus sermons to follow, how it came to be written or questions of its authenticity is no more important as long as its teachings are useful, if followed that is. Whatever religion one may follow, the beauty of the Buddhist philosophy or its sensibility cannot be easily disputed or denied.
The state religion and a religion of tolerance, interpreted, distorted and disregarded by many and being used mostly for profits and politics in present chimes, seeing its teachings being relegated to mere rituals is indeed unfortunate. In order to attract the disinterested lot, copying ritualistic practices from the Hindu faith and construing it as divine ones makes it an even more pathetic sight.
What could have befallen in the ‘land of Buddha’ where erosion of values and practices have resulted in a sense of spiritual bankruptcy, especially amongst the flag bearers of its faith?
Lord Buddha expected his followers to discover the truth themselves and not just believe in what the scriptures say. But this ‘truth’ can be subjective and interpreted in many ways especially when living in a multi-religious country such as ours. Guidance it may be, but how many of our own monks have memorized or know the meaning of the entire scripture, let alone the ones in Pali or Sanskrit languages? As for the ordinary faithful, by and large, belief in Buddhism or the pagan ritualistic practices are somewhat a fashion statement to portray and justify one’s non-existent sense of piety.
Wearing a simple saffron-colored robe does not qualify one to deserve respect when attributes of old-age, wisdom, achievements in the service of humanity or piety does not exist. Rapists, pedophiles, thieves, murderers seeking sanctuary in temple premises donning monk’s robes is a common sight and more often than not, it is as a cover from their ‘colorful’ pasts and as a refuge from prosecution by the long arm of the law.
While the process of ordaining of monks as well as disrobing them are seriously flawed and non-existent in most cases, I always questioned the judgment of my countrymen in bowing down to nefarious characters wearing monk’s robes. Questions arising from centuries old practices such as worshipping or praying to lifeless sculptures/statues, Bo trees, chanting Pirith, tying threads around wrists, anointing oil on the head, and ‘religious’ processions (Peraharas) etc., seriously needs to be addressed when one’s proper conduct is absent or contrary to the teachings of Lord Buddha.
While Nirvana (Nibbana) can be achieved only when the fire of greed and hatred is extinguished, in practical terms, the state of Dukkha (complete peace) can be achieved only if no money is transacted, when detached from luxuries in life and worldly pleasures, when not in a state of intoxication or when non-violent or not dishonest among other positive attributes. Expecting majority of current day monks to abide by Vinaya (rules of discipline) would be unrealistic and herein arises the question of identifying the pious from the devious.
One’s piety is for himself/herself and for them alone the rewards for their good deeds. Their actions, sincere or otherwise, need not have a bearing on another or for it to be a reason for worship. The Muslims that I am, I believe only the God above knows the level of piety among his creatures. Hence, I seriously question the actions of my countrymen in bowing down to another mortal who in reality could be a child molester, rapist or a murderer etc.
Most of the Buddhist temples in this country are cash cows and havens for pedophiles and the deprived homosexuals. Little boys as young as six are left at the mercy of grown up men who supposedly have ‘denounced’ sexual relationships and who claim to live a ‘life of celibacy’. Men and women were created to love each other, so it is in line with nature for one to be attracted to the opposite sex. Deprivation often leads to the unnatural kind, mostly involving minors who are vulnerable and easily available in these situations. When little Samaneras (little boys) get used to living with the forced pleasurable pain, they too learn to impose themselves on the vulnerable when they grow up. The cycle continues with a strict code of silence largely due to abandonment by their parents when young and when left with no other alternatives for sustenance outside the temple premises. Research has taught us that sexual violence are perpetrated mostly by men who were themselves victimized when young.
Investigating activities of every Buddhist temple in this country would reveal the prevalence of misappropriation of charity funds, homosexuality, escapades of sex between monks and prostitutes and Tele-drama actresses, alcohol/drug abuse and child abuse among others. Inactions of the four Mahanayake chapters in eradicating the abuses and corruption would also make them complicit should they continue with their silence. Unfortunately, the relationship between every government in power and the Buddhist clergy is so strong, that an impartial investigation in to the activities of monks and their ‘places of worship’ would never see light of day.
Crusaders of justice that we all should be, this is my personal attempt in rescuing my Sinhala Buddhist brethren from the evil that has engulfed them all along. In the meantime and in conclusion, I sincerely hope concerned authorities would address the following issues and concerns,
1. Why Buddhist temples are allowed to collect funds when it is the responsibility of the State to protect and foster Buddhism? Is it also not a code of conduct in the Buddhist Vinaya for the monks not to handle money? And if they do, will it not lead to misappropriation and abuse of public funds? With so many accusations levelled at Islamic places of worship for raising money which could fund ‘Islamic extremism’ as allegedly, is it not evident with outfits like BBS linked temples instigating terror and violence against minorities only after raising vast amounts of funds?
2. What is the criteria in ordaining a monk and if exist a system to disrobe them when they act on the contrary to its teachings, has it ever been exercised? And if so, why wasn’t BBS general secretary Gnanasara not punished or disrobed for his despicable behavior?
3. Is it legal for children to be trained in monkhood when they are young as six and when their primary education should be made compulsory? Would it be correct to force religious teachings and religious teachings only when they are little kids and prevent them from having a normal childhood and dreams of a life of their choice?
4. Does the Child Protection Authority visit any of the temples if not all of them to investigate cases of pedophilia and child abuse? And would it be safe to leave them in the company of unrelated males with no women to look after them? Would it also not be advisable for the Authority to make regular visits to inspect the wellbeing of children in the care of monks?
5. What is the role of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana vis-a-viz temples? Shouldn’t they implement a code of conduct and also look into modern day Buddhist beliefs and practices?
6. If monks are allowed to dabble in politics, would it be unfair to other political parties since temples attract tax free funds and also enjoy many subsidized facilities since they are registered as charity organizations.
7. If monks are allowed to enter the political arena, would it not be a case of using religion (which is most dear to a sizable section of the ignorant voter base) to achieve power and wealth?
8. Why the age old practice of veneration of another mortal and the need to give prominence and priority in public places, buses, trains etc., when one’s faith is a personal matter?
*The writer is an independent social/political activist and can be contacted on muhammedfazl@msn.com and through FB Fazl Muhammed Nizar
Amarasiri / October 23, 2014
Jim softy and Fazl,
“Generations after generations Muslims have been prevented from thinking thus resulting in low IQ levels”
National IQ Scores – Country Rankings
http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
Jim,Softy, this is also true for other religions, including Buddhism.
It was the age of reason, that allowed, the break.
However, Islam started being open during the First 500 years, and then the Mullahs took over.
The Erosion of Progress by Religions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oxTMUTOz0w
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thondamannar / October 23, 2014
Buddhism ………….. Introduce it to Canada………….
Harper / Baird under threat from you believers, Fazl
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Indra Kumarasiri / October 23, 2014
This extremely biased article is full of barely disguised hatred towards Buddhism and Buddhists .The writer’s real loyalities are made clear by his remark that “…does not make this a Buddhist country. For it to be rightly called such, it need to be governed by teachings of Buddhism as in the case of Islamic countries where Islamic Sharia is the source of governance”.Oh sure , tell that to the marines,we know a lot about the Islamic countires.We also know about the brain washing of young Muslims in the Madrasas.This ignorant man says that in Buddhism, Dukkha is the state of peace. He is probably hoping to get his seven virgins by abusing Buddhism and Buddhists.He is not an “independent social/political activist” as he claims but a man filled with unbridled hatred.Fazi, try first reforming Islam and Muslims if you can.
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Fazl Muhammed / October 23, 2014
No single English word adequately captures the full depth, range, and subtlety of the crucial Pali term ‘Dukkha’. Over the years, many translations of the word have been used (“stress, “unsatisfactoriness,” “suffering,” etc.). Each has its own merits in a given context.
Birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, death is dukkha; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, & despair are dukkha; association with the unbeloved is dukkha; not getting what is wanted is dukkha, and SEPARATION FROM THE LOVED IS DUKKHA can be defined Dukkha as well.
When I defined the word Dukkha as “complete peace” in my article, I meant the last one and implying a sense of separation and detachment.
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Rationalist / October 23, 2014
“When I defined the word Dukkha as “complete peace” in my article, I meant the last one and implying a sense of separation and detachment”
Fazl, I was with you until this last paragraph. This is not what the Buddha intended at all.
Search within yourself for the true meaning of Dukkha in its many forms. You will then be following the Buddha’s Path, “The Arya Astangika Margaya”
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sach / October 23, 2014
How can complete peace is the same as, separation from your loved ones? Unless if you hate your loved ones. If you made a mistake or error accept it humbly and correct it. Dont bring ridiculous excuses.
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Fazl Muhammed / October 24, 2014
Dear Sach and Rationalist,
Thank you for correcting me. Maybe I could have used different words instead of the two words ‘complete peace’.
My intention was to imply a sense of detachment from a materialistic life for the monk kind. And my understanding was that since the word ‘Dukka’ is also defined as ‘loss’ or a loss arising from separation, I believed it would result in a COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND!
Regrets.
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sach / October 24, 2014
Not surprisingly your understanding and ultimately transltion was wrong. so correcting it is your responsibility
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Native Vedda / October 25, 2014
sach, Nuisence, wathie, thresa, sarojini, Dawn Dale, mechanic, Banda, Jim Softy, Thonda, Ramu, hikz, nike, and Nishantha De Silva, K A Sumanasekere, Bla bl-Abhaya, ela kolla, ………….Double standards, Jay Chambers, Wee Thamizh D; Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon, Lal loo, …………
Living Sinhala/Buddhism in this thrice blessed island.
watch
Batticaloa Sumana Thero Attacks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kkZfb5uM0
or
http://www.tamilwin.com/show-RUmszARYKXnv3.html
/
Samuel / October 25, 2014
what about [Edited out] -Abhaya
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Samuel / October 25, 2014
what about [Edited out] -Abhaya ?
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Native Vedda / October 26, 2014
Samuel
“what about [Edited out] -Abhaya ?”
You mean bla bla bl-Abhaya?
Would I miss this bigot?
Please check the names above.
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Rarityminds / October 24, 2014
you are right. Lanken kind of Dukkha is connected with more melancholy than just sadness.Every time on my return to Europe, I feel so Dukkha (connected to desparity) when thinking about nothing much is easily changed with our people s way of thinking. Like they cant easily relinquish things as the way the other folks are familiar with. Whatever it is our people would not improve their thinking easily. I have no idea whether Colombo beautificaton turned it to be a better place today, but I get hurt every time looking at the manner the people are not encouraged to take care of their garbage. Now some would say many of them are rather on a struggle with their day today life than thinking of own garbage. And heaps of garbage can only lead the breeding of new kinds of mosquitoes that can even be more harmful than Dengue and other insects/mosquitoes.
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Amarasiri / October 23, 2014
Indra Kumarasiri
“This extremely biased article is full of barely disguised hatred towards Buddhism and Buddhists .The writer’s real loyalities are made clear by his remark that “…does not make this a Buddhist country.”
Religions do not like to be criticized for the errors in them. Inquisitions, Fatwas etc, are for punishing those who criticize the established theology.
Examples:
1, Christianity: Copernican Planetary Model, Giardano Bruno, Galileo, Kepler and numerous others. Many were tortured and killed, some escaped.
2. Islam: Far fewer, but they do kill apostates, if they do not stay in the closet and come in the open.
3, Buddhism: They do punish, but less severely than the Christians and Islam.
So, Fazl, can’t criticize Sinhala Buddhism, because he is a Muslim? Others cannot because they belong to other religions? What about Atheists and Agnostics? Are they except and find the truth?
I suggest you read, by Sharmini Serasinghe write up, Mahavamsa- An Insult To The Buddha! December 21, 2013 |
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/mahavamsa-an-insult-to-the-buddha/
Why Are Buddhist Monks Promoting Violence in Sri Lanka?
http://politicalviolenceataglance.org/2014/07/01/why-are-buddhist-monks-promoting-violence-in-sri-lanka/
“In a state marred by conflict, a wave of religious violence threatens the sovereignty of the nation, international actors talk of intervention, and commentators speak of a move towards authoritarianism or a slide back into war. What optimistic politicians once portrayed as fertile ground for Western-style democracy, realists now decry as a land of perpetual strife among extremist religious groups.”
I’m talking of course about Sri Lanka.
Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOfTGSADdY
Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcs2PSze0I
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Amarasiri / October 24, 2014
Indra Kumarasiri
Re Buddhism — ATHEIST POWER!
See how religions hinders progress. Good people and bad People.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsgcP65dDOg
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Amarasiri / October 24, 2014
Indra Kumarasiri
Wataraka Thero speaks to media for the first time after the incident
the good Sinhala Buddhist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RqtDCtkKIE
The Good , the bad and The Ugly Sinhala Buddhists.
A comment, by a GOOD Buddhist monk who follows Buddha.
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Ben Hurling / October 24, 2014
Indra Kumarasiri,
Fury you display towards Muhammed Fazl and his confirms beyond any doubt that you are no Buddhist either.
Practise more “Metta”.
Cheers!
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Rohan Martin / October 23, 2014
Who is this [Edited out]
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Fathima Fukushima / October 23, 2014
Rohan
It is me Fathima darling. Where are you.
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kali / October 23, 2014
Fazi my friend:
Charity begins at home. You are trying to throw stones from a Glass House.
Give some credit to the Buddhists. They don’t attack or kill their own for religious reasons. They only kill non Buddhists.
But how can you justify the following in the 21st Century. Is Shariya Law not primitive.
According to the Sharia law:
• Theft is punishable by amputation of the right hand (above).
• Criticizing or denying any part of the Quran is punishable by death.
• Criticizing or denying Muhammad is a prophet is punishable by death.
• Criticizing or denying Allah, the moon god of Islam is punishable by death.
• A Muslim who becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death.
• A non-Muslim who leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.
• A non-Muslim man who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.
• A man can marry an infant girl and consummate the marriage when she is 9 years old.
• Girls’ clitoris should be cut (per Muhammad’s words in Book 41, Kitab Al-Adab, Hadith 5251).
• A woman can have 1 husband, but a man can have up to 4 wives; Muhammad can have more.
• A man can unilaterally divorce his wife but a woman needs her husband’s consent to divorce.
• A man can beat his wife for insubordination.
• Testimonies of four male witnesses are required to prove rape against a woman.
• A woman who has been raped cannot testify in court against her rapist(s).
• A woman’s testimony in court, allowed only in property cases, carries half the weight of a man’s.
• A female heir inherits half of what a male heir inherits.
• A woman cannot drive a car, as it leads to fitnah (upheaval).
• A woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.
• Meat to be eaten must come from animals that have been sacrificed to Allah – i.e., be Halal.
• Muslims should engage in Taqiyya and lie to non-Muslims to advance Islam.
• The list goes on.
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Goraka / October 23, 2014
Kali, you have “proved” that Islam is a wicked religion.
As Muslims, this is what we do:
We pray 5 times a day, how many times do you pray in your religion?
We have been compelled to give charity if we can afford, do your religion force you to help the poor if you are wealthy?
Nearly 100% of the Muslims do not eat swine or drink alcohol, what percentage of people in your religion do the same?
We fast 01 whole month without food or drink, do you do that?
We are forbidden from having sexual relationship outside marriage, does your religion do that?
We are limited to 04 wives, if we can afford? Does your religion allow that or can you one wife has many husbands?
God says if you kill one person it is as if you killed the whole of mankind (meaning 6 billion people). Does you religion say that?
If you rob, your hand can get amputated. What is the punishment in your religion?
We are told to dress modestly, in your religion what is the minimum requirement to cover?
I can go on and on, but the point is instead of reproducing materials from anti-islamic sites without knowing true Islam, we want you to look at your own religion first and ponder.
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kali / October 23, 2014
Goraka:
I take it that you have declared a Fatwa on me same as Salman Rushdie . Truth hurts doesnt it. You are no different to BBS and the Buddhist Thugs.
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sach / October 24, 2014
and the LTTE and its supporters
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kali / October 24, 2014
sach;
The Fatwa on the LTTE itself has been lifted by the civilised World which is a hard pill to take . But the Ban on 20 Million Sinkalams like you is about to begin after the report by UNHCR. Sinhala Lanka will grind to a halt. Take a lesson from Iran & Russia.
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Ben Hurling / October 25, 2014
Kali,
“Civilized World”..?
Do you mean European Union? Oh please..!
Cheers!
PS: Quit looking upto Europe as the ultimate civilized world. Just over 60 years ago they were killing each other like cavemen. No offence to cavemen.
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Native Vedda / October 25, 2014
Ben Hurling
“Do you mean European Union? Oh please..!”
Kingdom of God
Caliphate
Ram Raj
Buddhist Kingdom of Anuradhapura
Some people believe they could build a romantic past by killing each other however the question should be:
“It’s easy to find something worth dying for. Do you have anything worth living for?”
— Lorien, “Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?”
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sach / October 26, 2014
ISIS is the reincarnation of ISIS..
the incompetence of the gover and its stooges has lead to some short sweetmemories for LTTE facists. But things can and will change
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Kali / October 24, 2014
Kali, you make false accusations about Islam, but never replied about your belief.
No guts, eh!
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Native Vedda / October 26, 2014
Kali
Kali banistani worships sun god and lately Amma.
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Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Dear Kali,
Had you made your ‘concerns’ in the form of questions, I would have taken the trouble to answer all your questions. You making false statements about Islam says something about your mischief-making traits… nor do I think you are a student in search of the truth.
To make your life and mine easier, I suggest you Google it for your answers… Good luck.
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Shermal Fernando / October 23, 2014
HI .. i personally don’t think that the writer is anti Buddhist and usually writes some very intelligent stuff. .and even this article,,, the gist of it is True….but my point of contention here is that.. if u take away the word Buddhists, ,Buddhism and Buddhist relevant portions and insert any other religion including Islam and say Islam relevant portions .. it will remain true too even more so may be !
I dont know if Islam tolerates religious tolerance…. but as a person u should know that if u attack a persons religion or country .. you indeed are going to get a lot of flak.. { which obviously u are getting } especially when the religion that you profess is fraught with even as much / more deficiencies….
Those who live in glass houses after all.. should not throw stones they say.. as u defeat ur purpose which i believe is sincere..
However….good luck to you and more strength to ur elbow
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Amarasiri / October 24, 2014
Shermal Fernando
“i personally don’t think that the writer is anti Buddhist and usually writes some very intelligent stuff. .and even this article,,, the gist of it is True….but my point of contention here is that.. if u take away the word Buddhists, ,Buddhism and Buddhist relevant portions and insert any other religion including Islam and say Islam relevant portions .. it will remain true too even more so may be “
“Religion is the Opium of the Masses” -Karl Marx
“‘Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” Physics Nobel Laureate Steven Weinburg
Why Are Buddhist Monks Promoting Violence in Sri Lanka?
http://politicalviolenceataglance.org/2014/07/01/why-are-buddhist-monks-promoting-violence-in-sri-lanka/
“In a state marred by conflict, a wave of religious violence threatens the sovereignty of the nation, international actors talk of intervention, and commentators speak of a move towards authoritarianism or a slide back into war. What optimistic politicians once portrayed as fertile ground for Western-style democracy, realists now decry as a land of perpetual strife among extremist religious groups.”
I’m talking of course about Sri Lanka.
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BBS Rep / October 27, 2014
Shermal,
I can’t agree with you more. Fazl has highlighted a lot that is wrong with Sinhal Buddhism. He makes very valid points. However his problem is defending the indefensible – Islam.
As for me all religions are fucked. We only need to look at the horrors they continue to heap upon humanity. Religion stultifies science, intellect and good governance and tacitly promotes crimes, horrendous in scale. Buddhism is on the same path in Sri Lanka thanks to Gota and his BBS saffron robed hit squads.
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nike / October 23, 2014
who is this [Edited out] joker and what is this [Edited out] trying to be?
he is better off talking about cruelties and barbarism of Islam rather than commenting about other religions.
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Native Vedda / October 23, 2014
nike
“who is this [Edited out] joker and what is this [Edited out] trying to be?”
He is not [Edited out] joker he is Muhammed Fazl and writes regularly for Colombo Telegraph.
He is only trying to educate you on Buddhism and tell you the differences between Buddha’s teaching and Sinhala/Buddhism.
“he is better off talking about cruelties and barbarism of Islam rather than commenting about other religions.”
He wouldn’t mind talking about Islam in the fullness of time in the mean time lets deal with Sinhala/Buddhism. You need not to defend Buddha/Buddhism for its not Mahawamsa or Rajapaksa and Sinhala/Buddhist don’t own Buddha.
I have been trying to liberate Buddhism/Buddha’s teaching from Sinhala/Buddhists and need lot of help. Would you mind helping me?
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nike / October 23, 2014
vedda, have you become the mouthpiece of this clown now?
you should be ashamed of yourself for becoming a puppet under this muslim’s [Edited out].
birds of a same feather flock together
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Native Vedda / October 23, 2014
nike
Your observation is interesting.
Everyone who does not agree with you is a mouth piece, clown, puppet and they flock together.
Your classification of behaviour is very impressive since you have your own ability and logic which hopefully would help others to recognise patterns in this chaotic environment.
Will you teach your technique to other fellow forum sharers?
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nike / October 24, 2014
observation has been spot on the fact you are a puppet as same as this clown writer who is directing all his hatred and anger towards sinhalese and buddhists of this country.
both of you are better off looking towards the dirty teaching of islam. has islam been a peaceful religion, muslims wouldn’t be hated so much not only in SL but also in entire world
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Native Vedda / October 24, 2014
nike boy
“dirty teaching of islam. has islam been a peaceful religion, muslims wouldn’t be hated so much not only in SL but also in entire world”
And you love their money, oil, jobs, …. etc even though they abuse your women folks while you molest your under age daughters at home. All because you refuse to find a job while forcing your women to eke out a living under most appalling working condition so that you could enjoy good life here with the remittances sent from medieval middle east Islamic kingdoms.
I do understand money is not Islamic to shameless hypocrites like you and you love it.
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Nike / October 24, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Ponkoh Sivakumaran / October 23, 2014
Fazl’s comments are counterproductive. Muslims should look within and reform themselves. The fact is that, as Native Veddah, points out, most of them came from India bringing a gentle Islam that had made an accommodation with other religions. They have now changed themselves and adopted an arabic religion that goes around condoning the commission of bestial acts against non-Muslims. This is what causes anxiety in others. For Sinhalese, it is the narrow concern that this religion poses a threat to their existence, however misguided this view be. For Tamils, these are people who sat on the fence and laughed at the misery of the Tamils and now are being paid off and dislodged from the fence into the fire. For liberals, the religion that is practiced in SL involves ridiculous practices such as the suppression of women, their exclusion from education and the view that other religions must not be tolerated. So, Fazl, do heal yourself and your kind first before looking at others.
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Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Once again, this article is not about me… nor am I the one who is on trial here. Would appreciate you discussing the issues mentioned.
Cheers
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Abhaya / October 23, 2014
[Edited out]
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nike / October 23, 2014
fazl fool, muslims of your kind are infected with hatred, barbarism and violence taught by islam. first treat your own wounds and teach other. you have already become a laughing stock in this forum.
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Double standards / October 23, 2014
this is the most racist article I have read. if the writer thinks he is anything else better go and take a look in the mirror. corruption in Buddhism is common to all other religions also – its simply because all are human beings driven by our selfish genes. to blame all that is happening in sl on Buddhism is the stupidest argument. if we sri lankans are so poor in intellect that we have to now stoop to read this type of stupidity is sad indeed.
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Goraka / October 23, 2014
Most of the contributors of the forum does not answer the issues raised by the author, but spew hatred towards everything else.
To solve problems, we should look at ourselves first.
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Aasif Kamal / October 24, 2014
Exactly Goraka,
we should look at ourselves first.
The whole Middle East is burning due to Islam and this fool of a comedian is pointing fingers at Buddhists who leave peacefully among themselves.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 24, 2014
One commentator says this Fazi piece is the worst racist write up he/she has seen here.
With all due respect to the commentator and his/her contribution I would add it is the worst racial and religious vilification of the Sinhala Buddhist inhabitants that I have seen on a public forum ,ever.
And it is definitely over par with anything that anyone has ever delivered.
The responses which have followed and still flowing are even worse .
Few example are, that only Sinhala Buddhist women are prostitutes
They practise their craft even in Buddhist Heartland of Anuradhapura.
Sinhala Buddhist parents rape their young ones.
And it is common everywhere.
These Sinhala Buddhists who are being accused come from the great majority of our inhabitant population which is in fact constitute tover 70 % of the total.
They are maily rural poor and the some urban dwellers.
The accusers are the same people who are fighting tooth and nail for the Opposition to put the UNP and TNA into power.
They even have the support of the JVP lead by Anura Kumara,and Venerable Sobitha ‘
May be the latter two can’t understand the lingo of the ELITE, Anglican and Vellala supporter base.
May be last two either can’t read or understand the dialect.
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ken Robert / October 24, 2014
Athal sumane!
As usual you comment tangentially on selected lines rather than the main theme of the article. your buzzwords (Vellala anglican wiggie colombo-06) are becoming ad nauseum.
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Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Dear Mr. Sumanasekara,
Truth sometimes has a tendency to hurt…
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Ben Hurling / October 25, 2014
Dear Sumane,
“the worst racial and religious vilification of the Sinhala Buddhist inhabitants”?
Oh please..!
That has already being delivered in ample portions by your Boss Gota’s lapdog Gandasara.
Nobody has tarnished the image of Buddhists more than BBS monkeys.
Cheers!
/
Native Vedda / October 25, 2014
Ben Hurling
Hear, hear
/
Jay Chambers / October 24, 2014
The Sinhalese should take note of what the Moslem [Edited out] say about them. After making the most of the Buddhist kindness, now they are preparing for the elimination of the Buddhists, emboldened by the fall is Gandhara Buddhism, Nalanda, Indonesia, etc. Silently the devil has reached for the jugular of the innocent, unsuspecting Buddhists.
Only a lethal, annihilating, death blow of vedic Mahabharat proportions can vanquish the Moslem fanatics now. Sinhalese cannot do that by themselves, and hence the need to build bridges with the Mossad, RSS, Shiv Sena, and the fast emerging anti-Moslem forces of the West.
With that you can bring the Fazls of the world to worship at your feet, or send them to meet their creator who has those [Edited out]. Traditional Buddhism should give way, at least for some time, to the version that helped the Sinhalese heroes of the past- this time without remorse of mercy, to wipe the scum off the face of the country.
/
Marwan / October 24, 2014
If Buddhism that was practiced in ancient times was any good, it would have survived the ravages of time. As we can now see what the Saras and Jothis (both Buddhist monks) are doing in our own country to destroy Buddhism, thinking that they are doing it a favor, just like lay Jay tries his best at stoking the flames of hatred towards others (Muslims and Islam), whilst trying to portray himself as fighting for the Buddhist cause.
When the Truth of Islam was born into the world, falsehood and darkness of everything else just faded away, leaving behind remnants of many religious cultures of the past. It just could not survive alongside with the new message that Islam brought, and the rest is history. There are thousands of undiscovered Muslims living today even in China. Read Islam in China – Wikipedia, to realize the true depth and breadth of Islam and its many influences in the Communist state. If Islam was a religion of hate, as some portray it to be, then Buddhism should have had a better survival rate, or at least made a healthy comeback after its initial relapse. But it never recovered but simply got totally wiped out in those now Muslim countries. Islam on the contrary gained momentum and went from strength to strength and spread wide and far to many of the neighbouring and far-eastern countries as far as Indonesia. Surely there must be a message in that for all to ponder.
Present day Islam is not only in Mid-East, but Far East and Western nations as well. Why, becomes Muslims have only one thing in common – Faith (Iman) belief in the existence of an Almighty God – Allah, and believe in His Messenger Prophet Muhammed (Peace and blessings be upon him). Everything else in life becomes secondary. Muslims don’t depend purely on the money or the wealth and properties they possess, in order to achieve their goals and ambitions in life. They only yearn to achieve it only through regular prayers and dependence on the blessings and help of Almighty Allah. This is the real secret behind their success. That is the biggest difference between Faith based (belief in the unseen) religions, and seeing is imperative to believe in some form of existence religions and ideologies.
/
Taraki / October 24, 2014
‘If Buddhism that was practiced in ancient times was any good, it would have survived the ravages of time’
Listen you fool, Buddhism spread peacfully accross the world from Greece to China. Islam and Christanity were carried by fire and sword. That is why they have survived longer but they too will decay and die out.
/
Marwan / October 25, 2014
Taraki, you are the bluff not me a fool. No need for personal insults. May be you cannot stand the heat when the truth be told. Just use your God given grey matter if you have any still left.
No one can be forced to follow a religion against their will, let it be by death threat by the sword or imprisonment. These are all false notions and propaganda material, and this is probably what you have read and still clings onto your imagination. How did they do it? Just think of it, can I force you to accept Islam by death threats? You will of course rebel against me and move further away from Islam and consider it a barbaric religion. But on the other hand if one day you decide you want to become a Muslim due to your own research and discovery about the originality in its teachings, or whatever other factors most appealing to you, then it becomes obvious you will try to get closer to Islam to learn its basic foundation, until you are finally comfortable enough to accept Islam as your religion of choice. Which is the more approachable or appealing way to draw people towards accepting Islam? Is it by the sword or by revealing of its teachings, listening to preachings and observing Muslim practices?
When both Hinduism and Buddhism have a caste system in place, whilst Islam considers all of humanity as being equal in the presence of God, which then would everyone prefer? When the curse and addiction of alcoholism, ruination of all human values due to gambling, the giving and taking money on interest are all totally banned (Haram), which religion do you think people would prefer? Instilling honesty in dealings in Weights and Measures, taking back returned goods, humility in words and deeds, looking after orphans, feeding the poor, giving charity through a system of self-assessed taxation, all these combined is what drives a good Muslim, then why should they resort to the use of the sword to convert the masses to Islam, when these actions alone were sufficient to prove true Islamic values? Swords were used only in battle against enemies, (in those days no guns and ammunition were invented and available). Swords were also used to carry out capital punishment as in the case of carrying out final judgment in a Court order. But the conversion to Islam by the sword is only a myth. No one can be permanently converted against their will for too long, as they will eventually revert back to the religion of their fathers and forefathers. But if they converted to Islam on their own choice and free will, then don’t you think that is more plausible why they remained so, and thus those countries too remain and will continue to be Islamic countries to this day and age, whilst all the rest is history?
/
Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Ouch… you hurt my feelings.
When you referred to Buddhists as innocent and unsuspecting, were you referring to some one like you who advocates vanquishing people with different opinions with ethal, annihilating, death blow of vedic Mahabharat proportions??
I guess like-minded ‘teachers of Buddhism’ failed to teach you lessons of Metta (loving-kindness), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (the joy in other people’s well being) and Upekkha (spiritual state) of the Buddhist philosophy in your days… But it is never too late learn though.
May Lord Buddha’s teachings enlighten from now on at least…
/
Tilak Samaranayaka / October 24, 2014
Some people say that Koran preaches peace and tolerance, but I cannot say whether this description is correct or not because I have not read the Koran. Despite these claims, what I see and what I hear when I look around the world is disturbing and frightening. Barbaric acts such as honour killing, forced marriages, genetal multilation, or executions for infidelity exercised by the Islamists are said to be part of Sharia Law. I laso read about mass scale abductions in Nigeria by Bokoharam terroists and persecution of the believers of Christianity in countries such as Pakistan, Iraq, and Indonesia. The Buddhists and Buddhists monks are also facing similar treatments in Bangaladesh. In view of this mass destructions committed by radical Islamists, I do not intend to read the Koran because I cannot imagine a particular faith can create so much pain and suffering on the humanity and still be a religion of peace.
Moreover, I don’t know which Koran to read because some carry out these braberic acts more violently than others. On the basis of different interpretaions of the Koran by different groups of Isalamists such as Jihadists, radical Islamists and the ISIS, It appears that there are many different Korans. I am not sure whether there are different Alla’s as well.
/
Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Dear Tilak,
Your hypocrisy is evident when you say “I do not intend to read the Koran because I cannot imagine a particular faith can create so much pain and suffering on the humanity and still be a religion of peace”
If you can’t imagine, PLEASE DON’T IMAGINE! But if you wanna know the truth, you need to study the Quran and Islamic traditions.
And you say “Barbaric acts such as honour killing, forced marriages, genetal multilation, or executions for infidelity exercised by the Islamists are said to be part of Sharia Law”….
Well, once again assumptions…. honor killings, forced marriages, genital mutilation has nothing to do with Islam. Executions by Islamic governments for INFIDELITY (only if one is married) ARE EXTREMELY FEW IN NUMBERS COMPARED TO THOUSANDS OF MURDERS/HOMICIDES RESULTING FROM INFIDELITY IN THE CHRISTIAN WEST AND IN PLACES WHERE PAGAN RITUALS ARE CONSIDERED RELIGION!
Check the stats before you make your ignorance public. God bless…
/
BBS Rep / October 27, 2014
Fazl my friend,
You must stop trying to defend the indefensible. There are far too many hypocricies in Islam, especially in the Koran. In some Suras pacifism is espoused. But in others annihilating the enemy and decimation of percieved enemies are espoused. Sharia law always favours those in power. The Saudi Royal family is robbing all the money from the oil fields to sate their lavish lifestyles – money that belongs to all the people. But no one will chop their hands for such mass robbery. To get a good understanding of what Islam is, (I repeat in this column)you must read “Why I am not a Muslim” by Ibn Warraq.
However I agree with all what you say about the misuse of the Buddhist faith in Sri Lanka by people who have merciless hearts and horrible agendas.
/
Fazl Muhammed / October 24, 2014
Dear Commentators…
Appreciate all your criticism and kudos directed at me. But my real expectation here and that of other readers would be to discuss the 8 points I have mentioned and how we can best address it.
God bless …
/
nike / October 24, 2014
why don’t you take your time to discuss and address issues in islam and cruelties committed by muslims in the name religion before you discuss and address issues in other religions?
this clearly shows that you’re a hypocrite and have a hidden agenda. having the skill to use the pen doesn’t make you a writer nor the authority to address issues in other religions.
you’ve failed miserably in that regard
/
Nishantha De Silva / October 24, 2014
fazl, what makes you think you are qualified enough to criticize buddhism?
suggest you to clean your house first before trying teach others.
sugeest you to have a good look in front of the mirror. The whole arab world is burning in flames due to Islam and this standing joke is pointing fingers at others and made a fool out of himself.
people like you make traditional muslims suffer.
/
Native Vedda / October 24, 2014
Nishantha De Silva
“fazl, what makes you think you are qualified enough to criticize buddhism?”
What makes you think he is criticising Buddhism or Buddha’s teaching? This article is about Sinhala/Buddhism which has nothing in common with what Buddha taught or Buddhism.
Fazl is not from Saudi Arabia nor a Middle Easterner.
“The whole arab world is burning in flames due to Islam and this standing joke is pointing fingers at others and made a fool out of himself.”
You have stupidly raised a stupid question. He was born to a Sri Lankan Muslim parents, does it make him the saviour of Muslim all over the world?
Here is a man who has put his neck out and says something that Sinhala/Buddhists do not want to hear about, think about, and refuse to discuss their hypocrisy. You are fortunate to have him as a writer who is trying to educate you. You should be grateful to him and others who point out Sinhala/Buddhist false belief, practices, …….. hypocrisy, etc.
Don’t confuse yourself with not knowing the difference between Sinhala/Buddhism and Buddha’s teaching.
Sinhala/Buddhism teaches and conditions you to believe in and practice:
Sunday Sil and Monday kill
Kill the Veddah Rob the Buddha and Blame the Sudda.
A dead Tamil is a good Tamil
A dead Christian is a good Christian
A dead Muslim is a good Muslim
Sinhala/Buddhists are the chosen race.
This island is Sinhala/Buddhist country/kingdom.
You should be checking your face in the mirror to see whether you have been a living lie.
/
Nishantha De Silva / October 24, 2014
vedda, you’re a clown of same breed of the joker who has written this crap article.
your load of rubbish is as good as the article
/
Native Vedda / October 24, 2014
hikz, nike, and Nishantha De Silva
It seems all of you have the same script writer.
/
Hikz / October 24, 2014
Very funny
/
K.A Sumanasekera / October 24, 2014
Dear Native,
He would be a good tutor for you ,to sharpen your Sinhala Buddhist Bashing skills.
Because your recent low blows to poor Sinhala Buddhist rural Mums and Dads and their beloved kids are certainly not worthy of a man who stands for the Human Rights of 2 Million Diaspora , according to your own stats.
/
Native Vedda / October 25, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“He would be a good tutor for you ,to sharpen your Sinhala Buddhist Bashing skills.”
I love to have a bash at Sinhala/Buddhists, they truly deserve it and you are rest assure every opportunity that presents itself would not be wasted.
“Because your recent low blows to poor Sinhala Buddhist rural Mums and Dads and their beloved kids”
I have no issues with Sinhalese or Buddhists, all in all they are stupid people who need love and care above all they need wise counselling. They need urgent help. We need to rescue them from Sinhala/Buddhists, sort of largest hostage rescue operation.
“certainly not worthy of a man who stands for the Human Rights of 2 Million Diaspora , according to your own stats.”
Don’t put words into my mouth. Of course I stand for the human rights of all people, including the stupid Tamil and Sinhala speaking people. The diaspora is Sinhala/Buddhist’s baby and they are your brethren, not mine.
When did you last meet a disabled or mentally screwed up soldier? Meet them and help them. If you really want to contribute to the people, get some NGO funds and rehabilitate the needy, including the soldiers, sexually abused children and prostitutes.
If you are a honourable person (I don’t think you are) you would find alternative employment for the maids who are being sexually, mentally and physically abused. Those poor inhabitants do not need petro-dollars, but a decent job.
Rope in your rich Diaspora brethren am sure they would be duty bound to help you. Make sure you account for every cent that you receive from NGOs.
Help the poor to help themselves.
Therefore you must first stop talking nonsense. I know it is difficult nevertheless give it a try.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / October 26, 2014
Dear Native,
You seem to be pretty good at delegating.
Most of our Dalit women in the Middle East are Muslim And your mate/ tutor / mentor, Fazi Mohammed can certainly rescue them.
Your Diaspora mates should chip in to rehabilitate our disabled soldiers,
Because it is the Diaspora dosh which c delivered the lethal blows, causing the damage to their limbs and life.
I thought your NGO mate Pakiosothy is already in to bookkeeping after CT held the Blowtorch to his Belly .over the botched Booze e Bill.
/
Native Vedda / October 26, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“Your Diaspora mates should chip in to rehabilitate our disabled soldiers,”
My diaspora mates are from all communities. Which one did you exactly mean? If you keep your mouth shut, all of them would consider contributing to all disabled people including soldiers. They specifically mentioned few people namely, K A Sumanasekere, Gota, Gnanasara,Weerawansa, Champika, Fonseka, ……
You should ask Nonis, isn’t he the professional you are proud of few months ago, who was supposed to have sprung miracles while in the service of MR, Gota, GL, Sajin, ….. Now is the time for him to look after the Dalit kids who go to sleep on an empty tummy, soldiers who need counselling and other amenities, women who needs protection from ex and serving soldiers, ……… and thugs turned politicians, …. police men.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / October 26, 2014
Dear Native,
The way you carry on since late , wonder whether Fazi and You will form a NLTIH..
It is something like Nadu Lanka State of Hindian Islam ..
But your new mate Modi wouldn’t be impressed … Would he ?….
/
Native Vedda / October 26, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“But your new mate Modi wouldn’t be impressed … Would he ?….”
He is doing wonderfully well to integrate this island into Akhand Bharat:
Excerpts:
India issues stamp commemorating Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist
Sat, Oct 25, 2014, 07:43 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 25, New Delhi: Indian president Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday released a commemorative stamp on Anagarika Dharmapala, the Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist and writer, at the official presidential residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Speaking on the occasion, the Indian President said release of the commemorative postage stamp on Anagarika Dharmapala will contribute towards further strengthening the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka and bring the two nations closer.
http://www.colombopage.com
‘Confer Bharat Ratna on Rajapaksa’
CHENNAI, October 21, 2014
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to confer the Bharat Ratna on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for eliminating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. In his letter, Dr. Swamy said that the LTTE was eliminated because of the resolute leadership of Mr. Rajapaksa, and that the outfit’s elimination must be recognised as a welcome contribution to India’s security.
http://www.thehindu.com/
Sri Lankan Navy Chief to leave for India tomorrow on official visit
By ANI | ANI – Sat 25 Oct, 2014
Colombo, Oct.25 (ANI): Sri Lanka’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera, will leave for India tomorrow on a five-day visit.
The Colombo Page web site quoted Navy media spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya, as saying that Vice Admiral Perera is visiting India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Admiral R.K. Dhowan.
Vice Admiral Perera’s visit to India will be taking place soon after the visit of Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s meeting with the Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley on October 20 in New Delhi.
Commander Warnakulasuriya said that after the visit ends, the Sri Lanka Navy will purchase two naval ships from India.
India is reportedly planning to supply two naval offshore patrol vessels and other military equipment to Sri Lanka.
Officials of the Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Navy will also participate in discussions to further strengthen bilateral ties between both Navies.
Tamil Nadu Tamil political parties have expressed opposition to Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera’s visit to India. (ANI with inputs)
in.news.yahoo.com/
This island has already become the Sinhala State of Hindia.
See for yourself how inconsistent you are with your thought process, if you have one.
“The way you carry on since late , wonder whether Fazi and You will form a NLTIH.”
“But your new mate Modi wouldn’t be impressed … Would he ?….”
/
Prasad / October 27, 2014
“Most of our Dalit women in the Middle East are Muslim”
K.A Sumanasekera
Why are you living in denial? You know the truth but believe in (want to believe in) the lie.
Everybody in Sri Lanka knows very well that the majority of Sri Lankan women who end up in the Gulf as menial labor/modern slaves are Sinhalese. More than 1.2 million Sri Lankan women (majority of them Sinhalese) now work in the Middle East as house maids, cleaners and nannies, some of them working 18 hours a day for a mere salary of US$ 300 per month.
If Sumanasekera happens to visit the major cities in the Middle East, he will be able to speak to the women who clean the toilets and floors in his own mother tongue because most of the public institutions such as the Airports, Hospitals, Schools, and other major malls where multi nationals from all over the world live and work, the Sri Lankan women are the only Janitors and most of them are Sinhalese.
The economy of the country depends mainly on this slave trade, exporting the Sri Lankan women as House Maids, Janitors/Cleaners and Nannies to the Muslim (Arab) world, selling them for just three hundred US dollars a month, to be exploited, abused, raped and humiliated. 20 to 25 percent of these Sri Lankan women face abuse or nonpayment of salary, or get drawn into illicit people trafficking schemes or prostitution (mostly Sinhalese). Some of them become pregnant, often after rapes, producing children who, until Sri Lanka’s Constitution was recently amended, were stateless because their fathers were foreigners (Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, etc). More than 100 women come home dead each year. Back home, their families are left in shambles, children go astray, fathers become drunkards and some of them rape their own daughters.
Our neighboring countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, etc have banned this kind of slavery long time ago. May be due to their fair skin, the women from Philippines, Indonesia, and Nepal who work as maids are treated very much better than the Sri Lankans and none of them work as Janitors.
Instead of uttering rubbish and living in denial, K.A Sumanasekera should think how to save these poor Sinhalese women from this kind of slavery.
/
ken Robert / October 28, 2014
Middle eastern workers
Most of the house maids from the sinhalese community, because statistically there are more sinhalese than other communities. I also found they are from remote areas of srilanka, very few of them came from Jaffna.
/
Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Native,
You are a funny guy…
Some of ’em what you said is indeed funny. Thanks for the humor…
/
Pramod / October 24, 2014
My honourable friend Fazi.When the whole world is baffled by the menace of extremism of Islam(with due respect to millions of peace loving muslims),you are trying to address the issues of ”Buddism”. What qualification or right do you have to do that.It would have been nicer if you have addressed the issue of growing extremism and intolerance of various ethno religious groups in a balanced manner. The impact of such negative development on the peace loving general public irrespective of their race religion or status.That would have been much nicer and appealing to many.You have good writing skills but you have a long way to go. You should improve yourself as a balanced human being and should raise above the boundaries of race and religion to be critical of others.As many have pointed out in this forum it is difficult to throw stones at others when you completely ignore that your house is made out of glass.
Best of luck mate.
/
Native Vedda / October 24, 2014
Pramod
Muhammed Fazl’s article questions the validity of Sinhala/Buddhism as it is practised in this thrice blessed land. As someone who practises Sinhala/Buddhism as opposed to Buddhism you are annoyed and angry which is of course understandable.
However he did not set out to question Buddha’s teaching which is essentially a way life, of tolerance, compassion, non violence, …. dealing with cycle of birth. Now you foolishly expect him to address problems in countries where Islam is practised according to their beliefs, circumstances, economic conditions, foreign interference, ……….. which is beyond his control and outside the scope of his article.
As a Sri Lankan born Muslim he has every right as any other person to question the practices of any religion especially the religion that is protected by the state.
Please focus your criticism on the merit of his article. Lets deal with Islamic tendencies in other countries later. If you have issues with how Islam is practised in this country please do write a thesis and publish it here in CT.
We will welcome it.
There is no such thing as sacred cows in this island nor anywhere else.
/
Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
Will remember your words when writing the next time…
:)
/
Ben Hurling / October 26, 2014
Pramod,
“What qualification or right do you have to do that”.
Fazl does not need a qualification. He is a Sri Lankan citizen. His right to express his opinion is guranteed by our constitution. Period.
Wake up and smell the coffee!
Cheers!
/
ela kolla / October 24, 2014
[Edited out]
/
Chris / October 26, 2014
Farzi
For a moment no one should think you put forward these 8 points because you are a racist muslim.How dare them to think like that.You are worried about decline of standard of buddism in Sri Lanka as a true patriot.
If some one thinks you are agitated about the growing sentiments of ani-muslim feelings in Sri Lanka and where ever else and thought of formulating a mechanism to combat that,they are nuts my friend.Just ignore them.
If some one says you have recognised the importance of silencing monks and that is why you have put forward these requests ,they are simply racists Farzi and they will face the fire of hell.Not the 72 virgins.
One other idiot might suggest that you are worried about the development of Gnanasara and BBS and that is why you want to stop money coming to them by preventing monks handling money (Something has nothing to do with buddism) to weaken them and stop them from organising against growing threat of Islamization ,that person must be submerged in Beire lake as we have no deserts and should be punishe by stoning to death in the most civilized manner world has ever seen.
You are obviously worried about the welfare of little samanera monks.But the stupid Sinhala might think you are planning a strategy to prevent monks from coming to monk hood by creating fear psychosis among the rural parents about the potential fate of their kids. Hence no monks for temples situation will accelerate the demise of buddism from this land for much of your delight and they are mistaken my friend,may peace be upon them for their ignorance.How cruel are they to misunderstand your genuine gesture.
Farzi I am impressed how much trouble you have taken to fromulate this account.Mate un believable the passion and feelings you have for your Sinhala buddist brethen.
At this crtical juncture may I suggest your name for the forthcoming presedential elections when the opposition is struggling to find a candidate to fulfill the aspirations of Sinhalese buddist masses.Mate you can become a true champion.Shall we…
/
Native Vedda / October 26, 2014
Chris
“At this crtical juncture may I suggest your name for the forthcoming presedential elections “
You are asking his head on a platter must be a very angry practicing Sinhala/Buddhist.
/
Nirmal Perera / October 24, 2014
How can you accuse monks of abusing children when your womanizer prophet mohammed sexually abused a nine year old child.Get a life man.We will look after buddism .You go and look after your home front.Ten issues …Bloody idiot.
/
Marwan / October 24, 2014
Fazl has expressed clearly his concerns for the state of Buddhism in our country. The way he sees it, Buddhism has been hijacked by thugs in Safron robes, who try to identify themselves as true Buddhists, but preach hatred and violence towards non-Buddhists, tell lies profusely, get drunk in privacy, get caught for drunk driving, use filth and cruel words on their own police officers and still manage to get away with it. As a non-Buddhist, Fazl is only trying to reason out and be informed why certain mal-practices are allowed to be carried out in the name of Buddhism, when he clearly sees it as diametrically opposite of true Buddhist teachings. But so far no one has been able to meet the challenge. Fazl knew what to expect when he embarked on this project, and true to form he has received the response that was expected. But this only proves one thing. The standards of stupidity and degradation that monk hegemony has done to the country and its people’s thinking. They have lost the ability to think independently and act reasonably, but ready to throw a tantrum at the slightest provocation without really understanding the issues at hand.
/
ela kolla / October 24, 2014
marwan, get lost you stupid minority scum
/
Dr.Goebells / October 24, 2014
It is heartening to note that many readers have identified ‘ Fazl Muhammed ‘ for what he is – a charlatan intent on sowing disharmony amongst an otherwise peace loving people .Fortunately his veiled insults and cheap shots are limited to the CT which has very limited readership .
/
Native Vedda / October 24, 2014
Dr.Goebells
“a charlatan intent on sowing disharmony amongst an otherwise peace loving people”
Who are these abstract peace loving people? Where do they live? Where did they come from?
I know only the piece loving people, both the descendants of Kallathonie Tamils and their brethren kallathonie Sinhala/Buddhists who love a very large piece of my ancestral land.
“.Fortunately his veiled insults and cheap shots are limited to the CT which has very limited readership”
Crocodiles do cry.
/
hikz / October 24, 2014
vedda, i’m afraid i have to tell you that whenever this idiotic writer is criticized for his childish article, you’re there to protect him with some stupid excuses. your excuses are as lame as you seem to be.
are you being paid to be his mouthpiece?
/
Native Vedda / October 24, 2014
hikz, nike, and Nishantha De Silva
It seems all of you have the same script writer.
/
ela kolla / October 24, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
/
hikz / October 24, 2014
fazl, i feel sorry for your sorry soul. get back to your house and get it in order rather than poking into other people’s religions. you, as a muslim represent the worlds ugliest and most barbaric religion. don’t try to be a hero by bashing buddhists in a forum like CT which has very limited readership. you have become a big zero by trying to be a hero.
/
Goraka / October 24, 2014
If you think the issues raised by the author is wrong, WHY DON’T YOU ANSWER IT instead of trading insults?
And we call ourselves very civilised!
/
American Mama / October 24, 2014
Mr Muhammad Fazl
Let us not play games and deal with the facts.
1). Islam is not a friend of Buddhism. Why do I say that ? Because the ultimate goal of many religions is to spread their faith. Therefore Islam – and to some extent Christianity – has the ultimate goal of REPLACING Buddhism as a faith all over the world. In other words, Islam can be considered as an enemy of Buddhism.
2) Therefore, whenever a follower of Islam starts to be concerned about the welfare of Buddhism, intelligent Buddhists have to worry and that is why you notice that many Buddhists here are agitated by your very vitriolic comments on Buddhists in Sri Lanka .
3) When I notice you exhibiting an unusual interest in the welfare of Buddhism, the phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” comes to my mind.
4) Is your article written out of genuine concern for the welfare of Buddhism or a thinly veiled attempt at ridiculing and degrading Buddhism in order to demonstrate the superiority of your own religion ? That is a question that began to bother me.
5) When I noticed that you don’t even care to understand the fundamentals of Buddhism and just sprinkled some words like “Dukkha” etc., to support your “article”, I realised that your intentions were not all that good.
6) I too can write a very scholarly article about the decline of Islam by questioning the conduct of Muslim priests and ordinary Muslims as well as the many problems with the sharial law etc., I am sure I can point out a lot of shortcomings among muslim priests and their priesthood too. But I, for one, do not wish to waste my time worrying about an alien faith.
7) Lastly if you wrote this article in response to the personal pain caused to you by the attacks on Muslims all over the world including Aluthgama, Gaza, Myanmar etc, please be informed that there are bad and good individuals among followers of all religions. After all we all know what happened to the Bamyan Buddha statues in Afghansitan
If all followers of the many religions practiced there religion to the letter the world will be a perfect place. But the world is NOT perfect and never will be.
/
Native Vedda / October 25, 2014
American Mama
Here is live demonstration of Sinhala/Buddhism in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kkZfb5uM0
Let us talk about Sinhala/Buddhism now and the rest later.
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gamini / October 24, 2014
The envious positions that all Religions held with their flock in the past is no more, where everything said was believed without question. No Not anymore with the development of the media. Today everyone questions everything and only some have blind faith. The irony is when the character of some or if not most of the Priests of all Religions are corrupt, how there could be divine power bestowed on such individuals and what of such places of worship to start with?
Muslims are rigidly held under force and if any question the Koran, fatwa would be declared on him by the fanatics and not by the God Allah. If God Allah has any power according to the Islam believers, should have by now dealt with Salmon Rushiedi, Nasrin and crowd for so called Blasphemy. The fact that the Western societies had to save them, proves that the society is more powerful than God Allah saving them from the fanatics if not they would have been killed by now by some crazy Jihad. I personally know a few Muslims who are in doubt of Islam, but are forced and feared of reprisals. It is a matter of time before many follow Asker Moosajee.
Fazl Muhammed should be thanked for taking Sinhala Buddhism to the cleaners and he has assured me that he will focus on the extremes of Islam also. My advise is please do not as Fatwa would be declared on you and it is a shame to lose someone like you. Take care.
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Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
MUST WATCH – NEED I SAY MORE…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2kkZfb5uM0
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Prasad / October 25, 2014
http://youtu.be/fPLD81dyDUc
Watch this and cooment Farzi
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Native Vedda / October 26, 2014
Prasad
“Watch this and cooment Farzi”
Thanks I did watch the clip. What is the message?
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Nishantha De Silva / October 27, 2014
you’re paid well enough not to understand the message
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Prasad / October 26, 2014
[Edited out] watch this please as well.
Alla hu akbar
http://youtu.be/JBdE4SwDNYs
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Upali Wickramasinghe / October 25, 2014
Mr.Fazi more people had been killed due to instigation by the priests than based – land, water, and economics. That includes the two conflicts in Iraq conflicts in Europe and Africa in the recent past – Ruwanda.
When can we have a world where the state is independent of the temple/ church/ mosque or even the kovil?
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Fazl Muhammed / October 25, 2014
When you start believing in what I write… at least it would be a start.
:)
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Raj / October 25, 2014
Mr Fazi, you seem to know more about real Buddhism than the average Buddhist in SL. It may be uncomfortable reading to Buddhists in SL because they have their heads buried deeply in the sand and unfortunately most are hypocrites and even racist but I agree with you most wholeheartedly. While I have very little faith in active SL Buddhists in general, Buddhism does flourish outside SL in temples like Amarawathie in UK which was founded by a Westerner with the support largely by the Thai Govt. at the beginning. Amarawathie monks do not handle money, instead a Board of Trustees manages the affairs of the temple, whereas the SL Buddhist temples are run by enterprising monks which are no better than commercial establishments & your observations are very much applicable to them. It is indeed refreshing to see the monks of Amarawathie behave in the manner so true to the teachings of Buddha.
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Native Vedda / October 25, 2014
Upali Wickramasinghe
“When can we have a world where the state is independent of the temple/ church/ mosque or even the kovil?”
You should make an effort to find the culprits who framed the Sinhala/Buddhist constitution of this island.
If you are really worried about Kovils instigating ethnic disharmony please speak to the Hindian Modi.
As to the Churches, please approach Pope if and when he visits this thrice blessed island.
About the recent violent conflicts in the rest of the world could you contact CIA, Saudi and its satellite serfdom, US and British policy makers, USSR, Israel, Pakistan (father and mother of Taliban and Al Quida).
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jps / October 26, 2014
Being a Mohammad why did you choose to criticize Buddhism. If you are a free thinker, you must see the enormous inhuman activities prevalent amply in Muslim society which is based on Islam.
You are sure to be served with death sentence by a fanatic religious head if you criticized Islam in a similar manner.
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Prasad / October 26, 2014
The underage poor Sinhala village boys, too young to understand religion or politics are being coerced into joining the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist sects. Animal sacrifice is cruel but let us save the children before saving the Cows and Goats.
The child monks are torn away from their poor Sinhala Buddhist parents by radical Buddhist sects to serve as foot soldiers in their attempt to foist Sinhala chauvinism upon the country. Rampant Buddhism, violent and self-seeking political monks have been the bane of Sri Lankan politics.
The poor Sinhala village boys, mainly underage to understand religion or politics, are being coerced into joining these Buddhist chauvinist movements with the lure of street power, economic betterment and a secure life. The child monks with their cherubic faces and indoctrinated minds will appeal to these masses on the emotional and fanatically religious plane.
Gananath Obeyesekere, an anthropology professor at Princeton University, says the campaign targets children as young as 5 years even though Theravada Buddhism doctrine states that a boy must be at least 15 years of age to become a monk.
Dr. Obeysekere says in his article, `my concern here is with the whole problem of child monks because this seems to be a violation of both the letter and the spirit of Theravada Vinaya …`
The Buddha himself ordained his only son Rahula at just 5 years old, but this was regarded an exception rather than a rule, Obeyesekere said.
The Buddha himself ordained his only son Rahula at just 5 years old, but this was regarded an exception rather than a rule, Obeyesekere said.
After being rebuked for the act by his own father, the Buddha specified that one must not only have parental consent to ordain a child, but that the child must be 15 years of age. If not, the youth must have the `PHYSICAL MATURITY` of a 15-year-old.
But one major reason Obeyesekere, himself a Sinhala Buddhist, opposes child recruitment is that the very young are vulnerable to sexual abuse, which he says is `NOTORIOUSLY ASSOCIATED` with all forms of institutionalized monasticism. Giving a child to a temple is a coping mechanism of the poor Sinhala Buddhists of Sri Lanka, By letting children `go forth`, parents also hope that the child will grow up in a disciplined, spiritually refined environment.
The possibility of CHILD ABUSE IN BUDDHIST MONASTERIES` `must be faced HONESTLY and SQUARELY,` he stressed. Unlike adult monks, children have little chance of resisting sexual advances, the professor added. `Even the presence of guardians, or sponsors is not protection. How does the guardian inquire into such possibilities when the mere talk of homoerotic practices is taboo` Obeyesekere asked.
He also asked why those politicians promoting child monk recruitment have not set an example by being ordained themselves or having their own children or grandchildren ordained.
Let us Stop the child abuse and save the poor Sinhala children before saving a bunch of goats from a function once a year.
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Messenger / October 26, 2014
Discussing child abuse, particularly in Buddhist temples is taboo in Sri Lanka, as it is in many conservative societies in South Asia. However, children have a universal right to be with parents, siblings and friends until they reach the age of 18. I think it is our duty to oppose ordaining children as monks as it is a clear violation of children`s rights. Why should these little boys (kid monks) who should be playing cricket have to lose their childhood by living in the temples and get sodomized by the older monks?
Buddhism has totally failed for 2500 years in countries such as Sri Lanka. It has not been able to contribute in any way toward solving the basic problems of the people for 2500 years. That may be one reason why India which was Buddhist at one time went back to Hinduism.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 27, 2014
Wonder whether Fazi found any mention of Fatwas and Martyrs with Virgins when he was browsing through the Thripitaka…
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