By Tiran Kumara Bangagamaarachchi –
Tiran Kumara
It was heard last week that a novice monk had been sexually assaulted and admitted to the Matara general hospital. But the temple, the hospital, the police and all other responsible authorities took very good care to cover up the incident. Newspapers that usually sensationalize the incidents of sexual assaults on women and children were totally silent on this act of violence. Why?
Perhaps, it is better for the young monk’s anonymity not to get into a media uproar. Yet, total silent is not healthy either. While the Buddhist temples are known to restrain and tame sexual desire, there are also numerous stories about sexual misconduct at temples and their environs. Unless those ‘misconducts’ reach the point where the victims are required to hospitalize, such incidents get hidden behind the loud sounds of “sadu” in ritual chanting. The criminals hidden under yellow robes continue to find the safety of those sacred robes.
One exits the Southern Express Way at its end at Matara, to little village called “Godagama” in which the temple in question is located. The temple is Paththarama. This monastery, to be sure, is not responsible for a shameless crime committed by two monks and a layman. The abbot and the other monks residing at the temple should not be held exclusively responsible for this. Yet, incidents of this nature that routinely take place bring so much disgrace upon Buddhist temples. Such criminal acts must not be covered up by the sound of ‘Saadu’, the ritual chanting. Sin is sin no matter where it happens.
Story of the Hospital
The novice monk, 14, was violently raped and a hospitalization could not be avoided. On May 16th he was brought to the Matara general hospital. The doctor at outpatient unit diagnosed that the young monk had been sexually assaulted. Since he was referred to the Unit on sex-related illnesses, the hospitalization was temporally avoided. An important medical officer at the hospital has his ‘private practice’ joint in front of the temple, Paththaramaya, and it is quite natural that he wanted to ‘help’ the temple. That was another reason as to why the young monk was not admitted to the hospital right away on the first day.
Even though the young monk was sent back to the temple, there was nothing the temple could do. Even at the risk of being ashamed, the monk was eventually admitted to the hospital. Then, the news reached the ear of the monk’s mother.
The Mother’s Story
“This is my elder son. I have two other children. My husband does not live with us. It is difficult for me to raise three children all by myself. That is why I gave my son away to the temple. I thought he would be fed well and educated. But a mother cannot bear what has happened to him.”
“I was told by the temple that my son was in the hospital but didn’t tell why. That was a Sunday. May 22nd. I went to the hospital on that very day. What had happened to him was something difficult to talk about and also to look at. My poor child! Three people are involved in this crime.”
“I told the police about this. But the police took three days to record my complaint. The chief monk at the temple pleaded me not to make the incident public. He said he would kill himself if I did. It was I who should commit suicide. Anyway, when they couldn’t avoid it any longer they[accused] handed themselves to the police on May 29th. They had been remanded by the courts. On June 6th, they were brought to the courts again. We are poor people. We cannot fight legal battles with powerful people. But my child needs justice from the courts because we are powerless people.”
“Everyone sided with the temple after incident. We were left alone. I am disappointed with all the temples now. I am disappointed in all the monks. I have decided not to keep my son in robe anymore.”
No matter how powerless she is us, a mother would do anything on behalf her son. This lonely woman is speaking up against the temple and against the injustice done to her son. But she only has her own courage to support her – the courage of a mother.
This novice monk has been living at two other temples before coming to this temple in the month of May. He came there to learn Pali and Sanskrit from Manthinda monastery at Matara. But only thing he got to learn was lessons of sex from the two senior monks. A layman who teaches at the monastery has also joined the monks in abusing the novice. Even thought they have been remanded, some argue that they might have handed themselves to get better safety in the remand custody.
There is no an iota of doubt that these three people have been committing similar crimes for a long time. At some temples, this ‘Dharma’ of sexual misconduct is increasingly common. Those young monks who become victims turn into perpetrators themselves when they grow up. When such incidents get out of hand and lead to harm and violence, they are secretly solved within the temples. These things, however, need to be discussed openly and seriously in our society. The monk perpetrators and monk victims are both parts of a greater tragedy. These things must not be ignored in the name of religion or the Buddhist order.
Poor parents who are unable feed their children donate them to temples need to consider that they might be putting their children at risk. What kind of service these young monks can do to the religion, the Order and the country in future, when their childhood is robbed and they are sexually abused?
Tomorrow
What will happen to the fourteen year old novice monk crushed under the grip of three adult men? These adult monks will be freed one day and return to the temple. If not, some other temple will take them back. What will happen then to the younger monks living at those temples? There is no end to this problem. If this young victim disrobes in future, his mother will have to explain why he did so to her neighbors. If the villagers get to know the real reasons for disrobing, how would they treat the child? Wouldn’t they stigmatize him? It is more than likely that this family will suffer further.
Those monks, who are running around to re-erect Mahinda Rajapaksa’s fallen political body, must come forward to face real issues wrecking their Sasana- the Buddhist order. Their priority should be to protect the Sasana for the future. They can only do so by treating novice monks with kindness and love. Those young boys donated to temples because of the poverty of their parents are not sex toys for perverse monks. It is sad that some monk-teachers try out Kama Sutra in the guise of teaching Pali and Sanskrit.
The courts will decide the punishments for the criminal monks of Matara. But renovation of this decadent temple culture belongs to leading monks and responsible lay Buddhists. Time to take up that responsibility has arrived. Not only the parliament[state], but the temple also has to change.
Buddhists rise up to save the lives of novice monks at temples!
*This article was originally published in Sinhala language weekly Ravaya newspaper on June 5th, 2016. Translated by Dr. Liyanage Amarakeerthi.
Rohan / June 11, 2016
Tears flow down the eyes of Buddha…
Please tell us how one could expect ‘genuine monks’ from this culture. Our resident expert KASmalam would cry foul that only a hardcore Sinhala Buddhist can complain against monks.
I won’t be surprised if his feedback with such tone is already awaiting moderation by CT.
/
Native Vedda / June 11, 2016
Rohan
The writer Tiran Kumara Bangagamaarachchi has humane concerns about the novice, and rightly so.
He says:
“Buddhists rise up to save the lives of novice monks at temples!”
I always say, Buddhists, rise up to save/liberate Buddhism from Sinhala/Buddhists.
/
Sensible / June 11, 2016
Why do parents ordain children before they even understand what is involved. Buddha said to accept His teachings only if you agree with them.
/
The Messenger / June 11, 2016
No other religions have a system of child ordination other than Buddhism and therefore the possibility of abuse of children confined to Buddhist monasteries cannot be avoided. It is believed that Siddhartha Gautama left and abandoned his own child and wife to attain Nirvana and later Buddha ordained his only son Rahula as a Buddhist Monk at the age seven, thus making him the first Samanera.
The biggest crime of Buddhism is ordaining a child at the tender age and forcing that child to live a life detached from all normalcy, how primitive and cruel it is. It is nothing but child slavery and cruelty in the name of religion. In Sri Lanka, mostly the underprivileged children are chosen to this vocation. Only the hungry, poverty stricken families offer their children to the monastery at a tender age. It is also one of the ways to uplift the children out of poverty in Sri Lanka. These children who are given away to the Buddhist temples at an early age are too young to understand the religion or child abuse or the intimacyual molestation they face.
These children are deprived of proper social interaction which is a major part of education in becoming an adult. This could partly explain the antisocial behavior they show when they grow-up and come in contact with society. They have been deprived the love and affection of parents and loved ones, not really exposed to the good and bad of the society and they find it difficult to fit in. This disgusting practice of taking the childhood away by forcing a child to become a monk at the tender age, gives great opportunity for the vultures to prey on the innocence. Do these children deserve to be put through this kind of ordeal? Who is going to stop this practice, or at least raise the age limit to 18 when they are older enough to understand what’s in for them?
Why are those so-called humanitarian organizations not protesting against this barbaric act? Unfortunately the authorities who shout a lot against child abuse in films, etc. never even open their mouth on the massive scale child abuse happening in Buddhist temples.
I personally feel that it’s about time the Buddhasasana ministry in this country take a stand and formulate laws to stop taking in children as ‘samaneras’ because these kids don’t have the slightest clue as to what they are getting into. Ordinating children into monks is child abuse. These almost brainwashed kids will be mentally imbalanced as they grow up within monk ranks. These are things that we can fix and we should fix as early as we can. Buddhist disciplinary laws should be enacted specially for the Buddhist clergy who violate the Buddhist values and principles. This has become a very urgent need in Sri Lanka.
Today, the Maha Sangha and the Sinhala-Buddhist monks are NOT the disciples of Buddha, they are the curse of Sri Lanka. They have done more damage to the society than anyone else and still they are more powerful than the government and unfortunately our system is there only to protect the powerful and not the victims.
No religion should be above the law. The Buddhist monks will continue to commit crimes and hide behind the saffron robes as long as Buddhism has great influence on the political process of the country. Politicians are more concerned in holding unto power and will always respect and protect the Buddhist monks to show that they are supporters of the majority but they are doing more damage to Buddhism and the country.
From the time Buddhism came to Sri Lanka, what have the people achieved? When the monks do some crime, they say respect the saffron robe. What is the point in respecting the saffron robe if the wearer is committing adultery, murder, business, politics, street protest, hate mongering, drugs, child abuse, porn etc., etc. A better way to respect the saffron robe is to buy the saffron robe from the shop and hang it on the living room and worship/pay homage to it rather than respecting criminals wrapped in saffron robes.
/
Funlover / June 12, 2016
I will enjoy the ecstatic shrieks of Kasmalan when he is being raped by a monk in white robes.
/
Funlover / June 12, 2016
Gnanasara will be a bloody good case study. At what age was he ordained as a samanera? At what age was he first done in by the temple priest? At what age did he himself first do it to a young samanera? When did he thence turn his attention to the luxuries likes cars internet mobile phones mendis special roast chicken and damsels?
/
Burt / June 11, 2016
I thing the problem lies in people having children that they cannot afford and considering it as a problem that could be dumped in the Temple.
Most of these “Novic” monks could be unwanted children dumped in the temple they get abused and grow-up to be abusers. To date because of the power these temples carry with politicians and the underworld the abuse do not come to light and poor children continue to suffer for no fault of their own.
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
“” Buddha said to accept His teachings only if you agree with them. “”
What a stupid mutt? no one has found remains even of his supposed to be mother.
Books were written by Tao of the same time. but never about Gautama?
stories were made then the same way you are awe stuck.
go hug a tree and starve to death- that is buddha for you.
/
Analyst / June 11, 2016
NV
Have you heard about a PROMINENT Buddhist Priest from BODHI. SL was charged in UK in a child abuse case and Banged up in Prison ,now on release with conditions of a CONVICTED PAEDOPHILE.
I too heard that MODA BHUDDHA FOLLOWERS IN UK STILL CARRYING THE CANDLE / SIL REDDHI FOR HIM!!
What a religion what are the followers???
Donkeys????
/
NAK / June 12, 2016
What a religion what are the followers??? Donkeys????
what is your problem with the religion? After all no one has been murdered like jihad or crusades!
With one bleat the Donkey is revealed!
/
Native Vedda / June 13, 2016
NAK
“After all no one has been murdered like jihad or crusades!”
Buddhism doesn’t kill however Sinhala/Buddhism did kill, does kill and will kill simply because Sinhala/Buddhism a parochial, bigoted, racist, fascistic, ……………… political farce.
/
Jagath Fernando / June 11, 2016
This is an era where monks become listed company directors and MPs.
They should be taught company law and corporate governance principles and not the teachings of Buddha.
Also constitutional issues and good financial management.
Hope the Buddha Sasana Ministry takes note of this.
The only good thing is most of them have a very good idea of which luxury vehicles to buy and order from GOSL when given free.
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
Do they really need all that extra financial control? buy and sell!
Why do you think Sinhalese and Muslims are one into power from 48?
/
punitham / June 11, 2016
high time
i.Buddhism is ‘saved’ from corrupt politicians also and Maha Sanga took charge of all aspects of saving Buddhism, forcing Buddhist parliamentarians to carry Buddhism in their heads and hearts to the parliament to do a proper job there for all Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
ii. monkhood is given only after one reaches 18 after learning a minimum of things at school about oneself and the society and the relationship between the two.
iii.govt departments/charities must function in such a way that children are not handed over to temples because the family is poor.
Thank you, author.
/
Buddhaghosa / June 12, 2016
The Maha Sangha is part of the problem. They appear to be a toothless, spineless bunch of guys who have passed their prime and spend their time pretending to be ‘holy’. However, they are silent and inactive when goonish thugs in robes (like the BBS gang) run amok, despoiling what is supposed to be the religion of our pious Sinhala Buddhists hypocrites who continue to fall at their feet and offer them goodies called ‘poojas’!
What has anything like this have to do with ‘Buddhism’?
/
Dragos / June 12, 2016
“”I always say, Buddhists, rise up to save/liberate Buddhism from Sinhala/Buddhists. “”
Bull No Way! Only prosperity and development can change attitudes.
O
O
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
Similarly, many around the world who explicitly say they don’t believe in a god still harbour superstitious tendencies, like belief in ghosts, astrology, karma, telepathy or reincarnation.
In Scandinavia, most people say they don’t believe in God, but paranormal and superstitious beliefs tend to be higher than you’d think.
Additionally, non-believers often lean on what could be interpreted as religious proxies – sports teams, yoga, professional institutions, Mother Nature and more – to guide their values in life.
As a testament to this, `witchcraft` is gaining popularity in the US, and `paganism` seems to be the fastest growing religion in the UK.
Get help from muslim, maybe the kattadiya will thrive.)))
/
upali kodikara / June 11, 2016
we all know, most of the current violent monks are either child molesters, drunkards or studs in their temples. There is no proper mechanism in our order to punish these perverts. If it was a muslim, they would have cut everything off. Why is teh child protection authority silent on this. It is quite ok for this novice to disrobe, but the culprits should be punished for at least 15 years in jail and an adequate compensation for the physical and mental trauma should be offered by the court through a major fine. Do we need so many perverts in robes. incarcerate them
/
Native Vedda / June 11, 2016
upali kodikara
You have some valid points. Please read the following article by a great scholar of this soil:
Child ordinations and the rights of children
by Gananath Obeyesekere
Recent newspaper articles, photographs and reports in our newspapers have given prominence to massive campaigns to recruit thousands of children to the Buddhist order with the Prime Minister himself urging the recruitment of two thousand children as novices. He also urged the poor to multiply and bring forth children to bless the Sangha with new recruits and to serve in what he no doubt perceives as an endless war. 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 the Theravada Vinaya, the authoritative source of rules for monks. One newspaper photograph shows a child of about eight years wearing yellow robes and greeted by his smiling sister. The boy was not smiling; I am not surprised because joining a mendicant order is an awesome experience even for adults. One has therefore to ask whether little children are capable of making this kind of decision. Let me therefore address some of the issues that seem to me to be relevant for public consideration.
mon.jpg (12806 bytes)
This Samanera is one of 150 boys ordained last week at the Dimbulagala Aranya Senasana. Immediately after he was ordained his two younger sisters ran to him and peeped into his pathther to see what was in it – (Picture by nihal Chandra kumara
1. The recruitment thrust has the blessings of politicians and the officials of the Buddha Sasana Ministry. I presume that in order to set an example to others the officials promoting the campaign have ordained, or will ordain in the near future, their own children or grandchildren. Outside of the offspring of these idealistically motivated officials, most of the child recruits must surely come from the poorest of the poor and also, nowadays, from those families who have been dispossessed or have suffered from the current war. One might make a case that monastic recruitment is a good thing because it provides homes and basic care for poor children. Yet, most of these children have had more than one meal a day, have had playmates and the support of family and kin folk. How would they fare with no solid food after the noon meal, without playmates and kin support? Moreover, if Buddhists are concerned about the welfare of poor children ought they not to develop alternative provisions, such as homes and orphanages, provision of food and education for destitute families – all of which are in keeping with the spirit of the religion.
2. The more serious problem is that of sexual abuse notoriously associated with all forms of institutionalized monasticism, witness the recent cases of abuse of children put in their pastoral care even by high prelates of the Catholic Church. But Catholics have no system of child ordination and therefore the possibility of abuse of children confined to Buddhist monasteries must be faced honestly and squarely.
Over the last five or six years I have visited many Buddhist monasteries trying to locate two rare palm leaf manuscripts and I believe that in general village monks are morally responsible human beings. Yet, it is foolish to believe that abuse of children does not take place in larger monasteries, in urban settings and among the more worldly monks. The rules of the Vinaya themselves were formulated when specific acts of immorality had taken place in monasteries and among these are unlawful homoerotic activities, generally among consenting adults. In our own troubled times, monks are provided with plenty of sexual stimuli: in TV and in coeducational interactions in campuses and other arenas. Yet the rules do not provide them with heterosexual outlets. One would imagine, therefore, that in our modern context the possibility of child abuse is certainly there and one ought to have institutional safeguards for that purpose. Urban monasteries today provide no serious monastic education because modern monks want to sit for secular government exams and go to secular universities. It is in the rare instance that monks study Pali or Sanskrit and have first hand knowledge of the doctrinal tradition. Many drop out of the monkhood after some time though exact statistics are not available. If I am even partially right then the real issue is to provide incentives for monks to study Buddhism seriously, engage in meditative exercises, and for the laity to provide support and encouragement for adult monks to remain in the order. When masses of children are to be ordained it is likely that most of them will follow the now popular pattern of secular education and many will end up disrobing. If so, what good will child recruitment do for the order?
3. Unlike adult monks children have little chance of resisting sexual advances. They are much more vulnerable; the cultural and familial pressures are so strong that they cannot run away to their own homes and, as far as I know, there is no satisfactory way in which they can protest to the monastic authorities. The new ordinations require, I am told, a guardian who will act in the interests of the child. But how does the guardian inquire into such possibilities when the mere talk of homoerotic practices is taboo? And how does a guardian set about his task? Are there rules and institutional procedures laid out? Perhaps one solution would be to have professionally trained child care workers among Buddhist monks who would then have the legal and moral right to inquire into problems of child abuse. But I doubt that this has even been considered by our pious officials and politicians.
4. What are the rules of the order regarding child ordination? The classic rule which officials and monks go by is formulated in the Mahavagga 1, 53-54 of the Vinaya Pitake . In it the Buddha ordained his only son Rahula but, owing to strong protests by his own father, the sage formulated the following rule: “Monks, a child who has not his parent’s consent should not be let to go forth [that is, ordained as a novice].” But well-meaning Buddhists are unaware that this rule was qualified by another sensible rule: “Monks, a boy of less than fifteen years of age should not be let to go forth. Whoever should let (one such) go forth, there is an offence of wrong-doing.” (Mahavagga, 1.50) Because sixteen years is the permitted age of marriage for Buddhists at that time one would expect a fifteen year old youth to be fully mature. Nevertheless, this is further qualified by another rule which unlike the previous one is so vague that it simply cannot be applied to our time. It says: “I allow you, monks, to let a youth of less than fifteen years of age and who is scarer of crows go forth.” (ibid,. 1,51) This qualification, however, is nothing to crow about. It is not a general rule but an exception to the former one. And it has been interpreted by later traditions to mean references to a muscular youth capable of scaring crows (who in Buddhist texts are hardy creatures classed with vultures and living on carrion) by throwing a clod of earth at them with the left hand! Simply stated the rule implies that one can qualify the fifteen year norm if the youth (not child) is physically tough and up to the rigours of monastic life. Thus, it seems to me that the Theravada Buddhist rules of recruitment for novices are quite sensible: one must have parental consent; one must be fifteen years old; if not, one must be a youth with the physical maturity of a fifteen year old. There is no space for child ordination according to the Buddha-word which means that in these matters ignorance is our worst enemy.
5. I for one agree that monks have a vital religion~ role in our society officiating in temple rituals and sermons and they are absolutely indispensible for death rituals, especially the pansakula and the remembrance of the dead (mataka dana). Hence, some form of recruitment is vital to the perpetuation of lived Buddhism. If monks, politicians and government officials declare that more monks are needed then they should also ask the question, how many monks does the nation require? Or, is one good monk worth the many who openly flout the rules of the order?
I have no answers to these questions but if more monks are needed there remains a very simple solution to the problem, and that is the recruitment of older folk. Many older people are increasingly given to meditation (of various types, some deep some shallow) and they are nowadays educated, often with a good knowledge of the dhamma. They have more or less retired from work and worldly life and form an ideal recruiting ground for both novices and fully ordained monks (and nuns). Many of them have meagre pensions; therefore free monastic board and lodging would be added incentives. And given the imbalances in our population more and more older people (age fifty and over) will be available for recruitment. They have already enjoyed (or put up with) domestic life and are ready for the life after. They may not be as glamorous as child monks but they could well be the rock on which a solid foundation for the future of the sasana could be erected. It seems that the sensible thing to do is for the Buddha Sasana officials to promote this form of recruitment rather than the Orwellian scenario proposed by the Prime Minister.
(The writer is Professor of Anthropology, Emeritus, of Princeton University, New Jersey, USA)
http://www.island.lk/
2001/07/08/featur03.html
/
Mahinda / June 12, 2016
Native
Please list names of ten children born into very well to do families who have been ordained as samaneras.
OK. So you do not know. Don’t feel sad. There aren’t any.
If there are no very poor families the Sangha as an institution will fade away – meaning die a natural death, oblivion, caput. There wont be any more Gnanasaras. No more yellow herd.
Saadu, saadu, saa.
/
Analyst / June 11, 2016
YAHAPALANAYA would turn and runaway from the kind of cases , the reason ?? They would not like to “” Topple the Boat””
Is this Buddhism?? COVERING UP BAD SIDE OF BUDDHISM?? EXPOSE! EXPOSE! EXPOSE !!
This is not the very first case of this nature within the SLankan Monks, then why do the parents hand over their children in to this criminal world of Buddhism??
Parents should think before they hand over their sons. First responsibility of their son’s wellbeing is their’s alone , nobody else’s.
Now crying wolf.
There must have been several reasons for the Parents to handover their sons : A problem unruly child ?? Real poverty?? Benefits to the Parents by giving away the child to be a Novice Monk.?
The truth had been hidden away from the Media , that’s for sure , but the Parents must have heard these goings on !!
Why do they still hand over their. SON’S????
MYSTERY!!
/
Amarasiri / June 12, 2016
Tiran Kumara Bangagamaarachchi
Buddhists! Wake Up To Protect Novice Monks!!
You should say Buddhists! Wake Up To Protect Novice Monks and Children who go to Temples!
This is all about protecting the Monks Hegemony. Remember the popes and the Church?
“It was heard last week that a novice monk had been sexually assaulted and admitted to the Matara general hospital. But the temple, the hospital, the police and all other responsible authorities took very good care to cover up the incident. Newspapers that usually sensationalize the incidents of sexual assaults on women and children were totally silent on this act of violence. Why?”
They all want to protect “Sinhala” “Buddhism”. See Below. So they protect “Sinhala Buddhist Monks”
“This monastery, to be sure, is not responsible for a shameless crime committed by two monks and a layman.”
Child Abuse by a Monk in Habaraduwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNSC93mPs4I
Uploaded on May 29, 2010
She sent her grandson to school with the idea of providing him with proper education to make him a good person. The Buddhist monk in charge of the temple asked her to send the child to the temple and she sent him there because they were poor. There was no possibility for them to pay the money for tuition fees. That was the reason why they sent the boy to the temple school.When the child began to refuse going to the temple school so adamantly, grandmother had to look for the reason. It was then only that she discovered that the child who was sent to learn good behavior, ethics and Buddha’s Dharma from the monk had in fact been abused by the monk.
Of course child Rahula was ordained at age 7, Child abuse by the enlightened Buddha. So, the Buddhists follow thus Child abuse “Tradition”.
Are the Children taught that life is suffering, and therefore you are suffering now, on your back.
Child Abuse in Buddhism.
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
“Buddhists rise up to save the lives of novice monks at temples!”
Yes, Buddhists rise up to save the lives of novice monks and children who go to at temples.
/
Perriappa / June 11, 2016
The only flaw in this great write up is
“Those monks, who are running around to re-erect Mahinda Rajapaksa’s fallen political body, must come forward to face real issues wrecking their Sasana- the Buddhist order. “
There are/were monks running around trying elect Ranil as well.
Every major party seems to cling on to them.
/
DeepCut / June 12, 2016
“Every major party seems to cling on to them. “
thats the way of the world-
its the poor fools who vote that have to live with the culture.
Don’t be suprised if this article is used the other way around.
Amera_Sira bambre was exposing exactly this (an old story) for many years and he has gone missing.
/
Pacs / June 11, 2016
Religions should not have Children as trainee priest. The incidents are common in all religions.” Do not follow what they do but follow what they say” . Is this correct.?
/
Thumpane Banda / June 11, 2016
Tiran Kumara is [Edited out] this must be a conspiracy to discredit Sinhalese Buddhism… SB monks have 2500 years of experience practicing celibacy …
We only concern or even get agitate when we hear a Christian priest molests a boy even in year 1970s…
/
Buddhaghosa / June 12, 2016
[Edited out] Banda, there is no need for any “conspiracy to discredit Sinhala Buddhism”, when Sinhala Buddhists like you do a good job of it!
Wake up and smell the rot, then, if you are really serious about what the Buddha taught, start with studying and understanding the Four Noble Truths and practicing the Eightfold Path.
/
Native Vedda / June 12, 2016
Buddhaghosa
Thumpane Banda is poking fun at Sinhala/Buddhism, rightly so.
Where is your sense of humour?
/
Nilame / June 11, 2016
This type of behaviour of older and adult monks in temples is not unusual. Sodamising the Abiththayas and novice young monks is happening in temples. Even there are stories how the Nayaka Hamuduruwo gets the abiththaya or the novice monk to apply oil to his toes first and then move upwards along his body. Nowadays, they don’t need abiththayas as women frequently visit the temples to tidy up the rooms(aavasa). Sexual assault of this type leading to injuries is inexcusable. However, president Sirisena being a devoted Buddhist will not allow the adult monks prosecuted as he thinks that his party SLFP will lose votes in the next election if he takes action against monks. Due to the same reason he is trying to give the elephants(hora ali) back to “ALI HORU” because ALI HORU says they are unable to have the PERAHARAS without them.
/
stop20 / June 12, 2016
Lankawe Buddhist priest is Just like the mulla.!
Unless the rich react violently there is no recourse because the priest will keep attacking any meeting of the people by virtue of the culture they alone have created.
This is part of Lankan culture- threat of faith. I remember my mum beat a chief monk of Colombo with a broom till he ran from our doorstep because he held her arm. Most women don’t have the courage because their men are no better.
The public must react or this will be ignored by Politicians, Police and forces because they are all into the game of power play.
Samantha Power will ignore because Catholic priests of USA are culprits too so she plays elle with Muslims at Jaffna because there are no tamils.
/
Thrishantha Nanayakkara / June 11, 2016
Parents should also take the responsibility. One becomes a Buddhist monk not to get fed by the temple, but with an honest eagerness to practice the eightfold path. Parents just give their children to the temple for the wrong objectives. I do understand the agony of this mother. However, she might want to reflect on her original purpose she mentions – “This is my elder son. I have two other children. My husband does not live with us. It is difficult for me to raise three children all by myself. That is why I gave my son away to the temple”.
What happens when those little children who become monks without a straight determination to practice Dhamma for the right objectives grow up to be senior monks? They do all kinds of lay things, like doing politics, sex, wealth amassing, etc. So, why should one expect a child molester not to be in such temples not so known for solitary meditation practice?
The take home message is that “don’t force your child to practice any religion, especially Buddhism, and never ever force your child to become a monk to fix your economic problems”.
/
Sensible / June 11, 2016
Ignorance, the exact opposite of Wisdom makes parents ordain children. Did Buddha ever teach people to do this?
/
Marrikar / June 11, 2016
No definitely not, but to sit like a fool the whole day- buddha.
/
NAK / June 12, 2016
Sensible you are not being sensible at all. Lord Buddhas teachings is all about ignorance and how to over come it. try and learn ti will do you a world of good.
Marrikar,go and join the ISIS if you have nothing better to do!
/
Marrikar / June 12, 2016
Buro, Idle Buddha,Come tango with me
/
Funlover / June 12, 2016
Gnanasara will be a bloody good case study. At what age was he ordained as a samanera? At what age was he first done in by the temple priest? At what age did he himself first do it to a young samanera? When did he thence turn his attention to the luxuries likes cars internet mobile phones mendis special roast chicken and damsels?
/
Paul / June 11, 2016
Ordination of children should be banned. All monks should be registered so that their activities can be watched. The excuses that ‘these are laymen wearing robes’ will end.
Will Yahapalanaya even consider these ideas? No way.
/
DeepCut / June 12, 2016
[Edited out]
/
Hamlet / June 11, 2016
Even Prince Siddhartha went Forth at the age of 28, after he had lived a Full Life, and Had Realised that Living as He did was Unsatisfactory.
What does a Boy of 14 Understand about Life? His Mother Who could not afford to keep him at Home, would have Gone to the Head Monk to seek Advice.
A Compassionate Monk would have advised her to Apprentice Him to a Trade. Instead, They Ordain children to be Their Servants, to clean and do all the odd jobs around the Temple.
The Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka, has to be Overhauled by the Mahanayakes, and the Practice of Ordaining Children Abolished. The Practice of Ordaining Children Who are deemed to have an Unlucky Horoscope, should be Made Illegal.
If the Mahanayakes are out of Touch with the Real World, The Law should step in and do the Needful.
Ordination should Only take Place at the request of a Mature Individual, who has come to realise the Futility of Existence, and Desires to seek a Way out of Samsara!
/
Menik / June 11, 2016
Let us not act ignorant. There are perverts who take advantage of young kids all over the world. What makes us think that there are no sick Buddhist monks who are pedophiles? This poor boy is a helpless victim, and should not be made to feel ashamed or this was his fault. He should be immediately given the support to have his body and mind healed, because he will carry this for the rest of this life. Our children wherever they are must be protected even at temples, and not brutally raped by criminals, in this case wearing saffron robes.
I hope that the government officials will step in and make sure they are punished for their crimes. They are a despicable lot and should be treated like pariahs by society. They should be immediately disrobed and rejected by the temple. It is a shame that a child’s innocence is taken away by these sexually frustrated criminals.
/
NAK / June 12, 2016
Exactly Menik. But the thing is, this is a golden opportunity for those buddha bashers.
/
NAK / June 12, 2016
The main reason for sexual abuse, whether it is child,girl, men or women is the free availability of porn in the country but none of above concerned comments have even considered the fact but are quick to opine that child ordination be banned.
Most of the children ordained leave the the robe once they educated enough and only a handful will remain and they are the once who take responsibility of continuation of the sasana since hardly anybody now enters the monkhood after spending a lay life.
Banning child ordination is a sure way to kill Buddhism in Sri Lanka and I am certain that is the intention behind those who demand it.
/
Hamlet / June 13, 2016
NAK:-
“Banning child ordination is a sure way to kill Buddhism in Sri Lanka”
I would have thought that Buddhism as the Buddha Taught It, was already dead in Sri Lanka!
Buddhism has now become a Religion (Agama), of Ritual Worship of the Bodhi Tree, Relics, and Icons, with little thought of Changing Our Life in Accordance with the Dhamma!
/
Simple_Simon / June 11, 2016
Sexual desires can never be suppressed as all humans are born to recreate. All this bunkum talk about monks practicing celibacy is just rubbish. Fooling the laymen and the rest of the world just like everything else that they do. Accusing them of doing wrong makes them extremely violent and even the police have no control because they are supposedly ‘sacred’ monks. Everyone is afraid of their wrath, and now we see what the SL style Buddhism has done to them. Almost every Buddhist Temple staff is vulnerable, but no one will dare to investigate, but rather turn a blind eye. What good can you expect from people who commit such sins and hide behind saffron robes as some do, claiming sainthood. Its all perverse. They are all in it together and support each other when it comes to a stinking mess. Then comes the hedgemony stranglehold these monks have on the rest of the country. A bloody shame for this country and its Buddhist values. Awful happenings in a beautiful country.
/
old codger / June 11, 2016
This is one of the unmentionable subjects in this country.
It has happened before and will happen again, until we have something like the Christian Reformation or even better, the French Revolution, when the Catholic Church got cut down to size.
Just consider the rules by which religions operate:
1.The religious authorities know what is good for you and the country.
2.Said authorities are unquestionably holy.
3.It is a sin to criticize said authorities.
They really have everything wrapped up, don’t they?
BAN CHILD ORDINATION RIGHT NOW!!!!
/
Adams / June 11, 2016
“”They really have everything wrapped up, don’t they? BAN CHILD ORDINATION RIGHT NOW!!!! “”
You really have nothing to fall back on.
The UN is run by the main funders and their cohorts.
Just yesterday Banki Moon had to withdraw accusing Saudi of child cruelty because Saudi threatened to stop funding programs that hurt UN.
Why are UN officials still hanging on?
They are former government servants on a pay unmatched by even the US Congress.
Talkin’ bout a Revolution?/
The army has been beefed by USA to achieve its own ends.
One day it will be a rendition center for Bangladeshis as Thailand is.
/
old codger / June 12, 2016
Adams,
” Talkin’ bout a Revolution?/ The army has been beefed by USA to achieve its own ends.”
I agree with you. I don’t know whether Sinhala Buddhists will wake up even in a generation.
/
Catholic in the world / June 11, 2016
old codger,
this topic is about what happened in a buddhist temple in your country. This has nothing to do with the French Revolution or the Catholic Church being cut down to size.
Yes ! the Catholic Church is not perfect because it is made up of clergyman who are fallible and there are many, many bad clergyman who have bought much disgace, shame, and distress not only to the church but to all good catholics. There have been good popes and bad popes, good clergymen and bad clergymen and we catholics leave Judgement and Justice in the hands of God the eternal Father.
Peter the apostle denied Jesus three times before being told in the words of Jesus ” get behind me satan .”
But ! repeat but ! Peter was not abandoned by Christ.
On the contrary he was made the first Pope of the Holy Roman Catholic Church with the following words ” upon this Rock Thou shall build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. “
There will come many more bad Catholic clergymen with the devilish intention of destroying the church but their efforts will turn to failure. Christ will not abandon his church and allow it to be destroyed. Thats a eternal promise never to be broken.
The Catholic Church is going through a very troubled time and this is only the beginning. The church has more trials to face because of corrupt clergy but it will not fall down.
Buddhism is nice philosophy, a good philosophy and not a religion.
You buddhists have no detterent to prevent you from doing wrong but we Catholics have a strong detterent, and that is final Judgenment and Justice before God after death. The end result is either eternal Heaven of being damned forever in Hell out of sight of the majesty of God. The bad catholic clergy will suffer more than the laymen.
Gautama Buddha was a noble man, a man of great nobelity and humility a former prince. Peace be to him.
Peace and goodwill to all good buddhists in your country and its a pity that they have to hang their heads in shame just like we catholics.
/
Catholic in the world / June 12, 2016
Correction to the above. It should read as ” The end result is either Heaven or being damned forever in Hell out of sight of the Majesty of God.”
Thank you.
Catholic.
/
Paul / June 12, 2016
‘you buddhists have no detterent to prevent you from doing wrong’
This is not correct, Buddhists have Karma. Also, Buddhists do not have anyone to pray to, to wipe out their evil karma.
I think the essential difference is that the Catholic church is a centrally organised religion, with the Pope at the top, the Princes of the Church the Cardinals next, the Bishops, priests and laity. So it is comparatively easy to control the activities of those who stray.
In Buddhism the Sangha is not centrally controlled. The Mahanayakas have no power, just position. A monk is free to do as he pleases. There is mass abuse of this system as a result. That is why I wrote earlier that all monks should be registered.
/
Dragos / June 12, 2016
“”This is not correct, Buddhists have Karma. Also, Buddhists do not have anyone to pray to, to wipe out their evil karma.””
Holy Yes, According to legend Gautama himself plainly passionate and that is karma. Jesus, with his tears at Gethsemane and his doubts on the cross..is not plain passion rather than reason rules?
Part of religion’s appeal is that it offers security in an uncertain world. Religions are cultural arrangements that evolved to engage and exploit these natural capacities in humans.many around the world who explicitly say they don’t believe in a god still harbour superstitious tendencies, like belief in ghosts, astrology, karma, telepathy or reincarnation.
“”That is why I wrote earlier that all monks should be registered. “
register what? the unlikely, to suit the purpose; perhaps DNA database of all monks to avert sex acts… etc or you are making them prisoners by giving numbers.
(they can’t refuse because even the west is going for it.)
Their friends in the forces might as well follow:)))
you can’t give them structure only the bankers can request but from what I know of the urban they are bankers in their own right.
/
Paul / June 12, 2016
Dragos, I meant register them the way doctors are registered so that laymen posing as monks, and monks who break the rules can be exposed and disciplined. I don’t expect it to happen though.
/
Dragos / June 13, 2016
register is a piece of paper concept that can be duplicated and carry all the old tricks.
But DNA is the thing that goes for the culprits neck from its database.
No more prayers to the authorities to get police moving etc.
forensic medicine over human lethargy.
/
Dragos / June 13, 2016
Paul,
Medicine is a rational profession and carries a blacklisting by association. While Faith is an Emotion and is never wrong. Begging Bowl and Crime are sisters (we have payed at the top to know better) Why did the minister recently say `it is taboo to insult clergy`?? Clergy are `emotional controllers` of public for a vote base (so the pews are empty in the rich west) as much as school teachers/professors are `crowd controllers` for vote base. Neither goes with liberty and freedom but create the stupid block vote- the disgrace of the island.
They are all in it together when it comes to receiving commissions.
/
old codger / June 12, 2016
Dear Catholic,
You say”Buddhism is nice philosophy, a good philosophy and not a religion.”
Well, if it looks like a religion, walks like a religion, and talks like a religion, it IS a religion in my book.
I am not trying to run down the Catholic Church. What I am trying to point out is that the Buddhist establishment in this country is at the same state of development that the Catholic Church had in France pre-revolution, and also in Mexico.
It had great political power, the ability to remove regimes it didn’t like, and also the unquestioning obedience of the faithful.
Its hierarchy was mostly corrupt and self-seeking, just like many powerful SL Buddhist monks today.
The same applied to the Orthodox Church in Russia.
So I believe that until the same process that clipped the power of the Church (and improved it) in those countries takes place here, there will be no change.
As long as people believe in the holiness of monks even when they shoot prime ministers, there will be no change.
Until the people learn to think, there will be no change.
Until the people realize that the total weight of all the supposed Buddha relics is more than the weight of a man, there will be no change.
Until the people take up real Buddhism, there will be no change.
/
gamini / June 11, 2016
Child Ordination is Child Abuse, whatever faith and should be Banned. Even Buddha took to Priesthood at the age of 29 after enjoying all desire within and outside wedded life. No wonder today’s Priests are frustrated being ordained as children.
/
stephen / June 11, 2016
Most of the pedophiles/ homosexual priests lives in srilankan Buddhist temples and also catholic seminaries. all concern citizens should get together to prevent this. these sex maniacs are ruining the religion, moreover innocent children.
/
Jehan / June 11, 2016
Very common problem,this homosexuals in temples.
Best is sharia law. Death penalty .
/
Nimal / June 11, 2016
You are right, these bastard should be tried under Shariya Law.
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
superstitions and spiritualism will almost certainly still prevail.
religion will never go away.
There will always be people who believe, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they remain the majority.
Sharia is going back to the beast. Nipping it in the bud is the best solution.
/
Kandahar_Mulla / June 12, 2016
In Sharia you get caught doing these shameful acts, you will get your balls cut off and stuck up your ass. Can’t bear to face the shit thrown at you that you need to drag Sharia into this bullshit, like sharia is the scapegoat for all the ills in the world. These monks are a farce and nothing but downright thugs in safron robes which you guys fall at their feet and worship. Good for you idiots.
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
[Edited out]
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
[Edited out]
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
This whole story like previous stories is poor fools cut throat business.
all religions is business, collection.
/
Christopher Rezel / June 11, 2016
Dear editor – Please use my pen name – Dionysus
Some of the comments succeed in confusing the issue, diverting from facts as presented. Let me restate them as detailed in the story: a 14-year-old novice monk has allegedly been subject to buggery by two Buddhist monks and one lay person. The child has been hospitalized and that suggests he may suffer from a torn sphincter. The story also discusses the vulnerability of children in adult Buddhist monasteries. Those are the issue to be addressed if comments are to be taken seriously. Abusing the writer of the story or saying monks have 2500 years of experience in practicing celibacy is akin to an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Dionysus
/
Govinda / June 11, 2016
Buddhists! Wake Up To Protect Novice Monks!!
After all the monks or even priests in a sect of church and laymen who are not suppose to marry are human beings. They are deprived of the natures gift to have wives or getting married. So they rend to sort to other ways when its deprived.
This will continue if a solution not find. If they still want to be against nature, then they should take some medication to control themselves and it should be mandatory for all monks and priests. This is the only solution to eradicate this fever.
/
justice / June 11, 2016
Sharmini Serasinghe has written a thought provoking article on Child Monks.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/child-ordination-through-a-mothers-eyes/
A life of poverty and celibacy for his followers/disciples, as laid down by the Lord Buddha, is extremely hard to follow, even to a layman with iron mental discipline, life long.
For a male child, it is almost impossible, and becomes more so, as he attains puberty and craves the sex & material comforts of life.
The Maha Sangha needs to lay down age, IQ, family background, & ability for further education, in the selection of future Buddhist clergy.
In Burma and Thailand, older men, who are married with children and retired from employment, or on long leave from it, are, after a period of training, recruited as monks in monasteries, for a limited period like two years.
When they have become monks in monasteries, their families visit and pay obeisance to them.
Men who did this claim that this short period of poverty and celibacy, has conferred immense spiritual benefits on them.
/
Non PhD / June 11, 2016
Thank you for the writer, translator and the CT.
I’m looking forward to the
comments by smart patriots like DJ,HLDM,Gnanasara et al, on the above issue which involved violence.
Can they enlighten the SL citizens ?
/
PROUDMAN / June 11, 2016
Where is mahindapala
He should write about these incidents instead of raking up the past in the North.
Come on Mahindapala are you up to it?
/
Native Vedda / June 11, 2016
PROUDMAN
“He should write about these incidents instead of raking up the past in the North.”
What incident, can’t remember won’t remember.
Ask him to write about how Rodia people were/are being treated in the upcountry.
What Rodia, can’t remember won’t remember.
/
Celeo / June 11, 2016
According to ramona therese Fernando, ordaining innocent children and abusing them by adult monks is a part of ‘Egalitarian Buddhism’ that prevailed in the universe for many million years.
/
Rohan / June 12, 2016
[Edited out]
/
janaka / June 11, 2016
Look at the faces on most in saffron robes and you see disturbed perverts?
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / June 11, 2016
This is about the fourth article on this subject.The first involved a boy at Koggala. The web site had a photo of the elder monk in action with a frosted glass window in between.In another report many years ago, the boy who was seduced by a gang was dead within twenty fours of ordination.The hospital, the temple and the police was accused of a cover up.
The other problem is that many of our citizens mainly women tend to provide cover up for the priests.
The problem is child ordination and the fact that the temple depends on the government handouts, the value of which is subject to the inmates of the temple. Thus the easiest way to increase the dole is to ordain more and more children.
The solution is to ban child ordination, and stop the dole to temples.
It is high time that this dole is abolished and the criminal priests subject to be hanged until death.
/
Analyst / June 12, 2016
Upali!
You’re absolutely correct.
The women ( Dayakas) are the real curse of the state of Sinhala Buddhism today. , The eventual destruction of the Religion is due to the unnatural love affair with the Buddhist Monks by these wayward women .
They will spend the whole day serving for the CASANOVA MONKS while the husband and her children starve at home. Including sexual favours are obliged by these despicable women in the name of Buddhism.
This practise is normal in most of the Buddhists Household.
The Buddhagama men and women should be ashamed of.
/
Analyst / June 12, 2016
It is called BLIND FAITH.
/
sinhalese buddhist / June 12, 2016
A couple of commentators have confused homosexuality with pedophilia. These are two different issues.
Homosexuals are not pedophiles. In fact the overwhelming majority of pedophiles are heterosexual men. While there are homosexuals who are pedophiles, they are a small minority among a minority. It’s been estimated that only 5% of humans are homosexual; that would mean 2.5% are homosexual men, and among these it’s a much smaller number who are pedophiles.
Homosexual men are human beings who are sexually and romantically attracted to other men, not to children, PERIOD. They come in the same variety of sexual perversions as heterosexuals.
/
Buddhaghosa / June 12, 2016
sinhalese buddhist – You are quite correct.
And for more on this subject ‘Homosexuality in Buddhist Cultures’, read Buddhaghosa’s views on the subject.
As CT frowns on (some) links being reproduced, all you have to do is Google ‘Buddhaghosa’ or Wikipedia’s “Buddhism and Sexual Orientation” to get another perspective on this subject.
/
Pacs / June 12, 2016
Unfortunately the authorities who shout a lot against child abuse in films, etc. never even open their mouth on the massive scale child abuse happening in Buddhist temples.
This is a good incident to open the eyes of all including those who move the porn NGO s.
I mentioned about this child recruitment some time ago in comment section.
/
Siva / June 12, 2016
The nation salutes Tira Kumara for his courage to write this excellent piece of investigative journalism on a somewhat
touchy and taboo subject . We need more like him to expose wrong doings wherever and whenever it occurs, to expose and punish the perpetrators regardless of colour, creed,religion or ehthinicity.
In this day and age the world over atrocities are taking place as I type. To me,on the judgement day we will be judged not for what we have done during our tenure but for what we have not done in the face of injustice and atrocities.
This is what has been happening in Sri Lanka for the longest while ; “we see things yet not see “.None are so blind as those who refuse to see. Nobody cares , I am ok Jack mentality still prevails. Hope and pray the young monk is reunited with his powerless mum and the “powers be ” compensate the family for what they have been through.
Siva
/
Mano Ratwatte / June 12, 2016
This is terrible. The Catholic Church has spent Billions covering up child rapist Priests across the USA, Ireland, Australia etc. Sometimes they use their limitless wealth and political power to threaten people and buy silence. In Ireland,systemic cover ups by the police over decades was finally exposed. In Boston the Roman Catholic Church spent nearly a,billion dollars to settle cases of child rape specifically homosexual child rape by catholic priests. They kept things quiet by transferring Pedophiles from one parish to another to silence issues.
That sort of sordid behavior must be exposed and stopped no matter whether it’s in Buddhist temples or Catholic churches. Condemn and expose the scoundrels and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Enable witness protection. This is sick and disgraceful.
/
james / June 12, 2016
Leave the Roman Catholic Church ALONE.
Worry about your Buddhist principles and the shameful happenings within and with your own buddhist clergy. The Catholics can take care of their own problems. Judgement and Justice is in the hands of the Almighty no matter what one’s religious beliefs are.
The Catholics too are sick and ashamed but we leave it all in the hands of God.
” Vengeance is mine says the lord. “
Your buddhist politicians and clergy have ruined your lovely land and it will take you at least 1000 years to clear up the mess so better start encouraging the present generation to start now.
Time and tide waits for no man.
/
Native Vedda / June 12, 2016
james
“” Vengeance is mine says the lord. ”
Do we need a vengeful lord to save us from ourselves?
I don’t think so.
Where can I meet him (always him) and extend an invitation to visit my Elders?
/
old codger / June 12, 2016
We can’t afford to wait for the Lord to take his own cool time.
And by the way, if these impoverished parents can’t take care of their sons, what happens to the girls?
/
NAK / June 12, 2016
When it comes to the church leave it alone!
Then why poke in the Temple?
If this almighty god of yours will dispense justice no matter what religion you are,then why most of these buddha bashers bother with gods business?
/
amal perera / June 13, 2016
“then why most of these buddha bashers bother with gods business? “
`Buddha means wisdom` unlike you Puddhu God.
Go sit under the tree instead of belching and farting after holding a begging bowl.
Yes the catholic church has similar problems and they are being addressed. Even going backwards.
Lanka Buddhism is the cause of all suffering in the island.
Do you find white women attending Buddhist classes like they do with Lamas? Lanka the land of idle Buddhist monks in a devils workshop.
/
Burt / June 12, 2016
This is terrible but the Catholic Church has nothing to do with it. Don’t cloud the issue by talking crap, this country has gone to dogs because of A’ holes like you.
Keep on covering-up until one of your children or grand children face the same issue. I hope it does happen.
/
Sunil Wickramasinghe / June 12, 2016
Tiran, the writer.
This is a great job. We need to expose these things. This is not anything against Buddhism. It is about the value of life. I like to know what the government is doing about this.
Please write another article about the current situation of the issue.
Curious Sunil.
/
Zorro / June 12, 2016
[Edited out]
/
K.Pillai / June 12, 2016
Sexual predation of the young by religious clergy is common. Christians tolerated it but in recent times there has been an “enlightenment” – rogue Christian priests are no longer shielded. Sexual exploitation by Hindu Godmen is all too common though the victims are almost always adult females. There are rogue Imams. Perhaps Izeth Hussain will brief us on this.
Theravada Buddhism is unique in inducting child novice monks. Lankan Buddhist families may dedicate one of the children to enter monkhood and learn about the practice of Buddhism under a mentor monk. Some monks exploit the novices. The Buddhist laypersons often look the other way.
The incident at the Paththarama Buddhist temple at Godagama, Matara described by Tiran Kumara has crossed the border into the domain of criminal sexual assault. Three years ago this would have been swept under the carpet. The new government has made it possible for Tiran Kumar to highlight the case. There was a similar incident in 2011. Aparekke Punnananda Thero, a former parliamentarian representing Sinhala nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) was accused of sexually abusing five underage novice monks. He was granted bail and has yet to be sentenced.
Religious bigots have started to sow a fear of “danger” to their respective faith. Some extremist Hindus in India have formed vigilante groups to “protect” Hinduism. Activities of Islamic bigots are getting more and more violent. Some Lankan Buddhist monks have thrown the fundamentals out the window. Some are heavily into business and politics. For example Galagoda Aththe Gnanasaara Thero, Secretary General of BBS is openly antagonistic towards Muslims. He was sentenced for driving without a licence and when under the influence of alcohol. He is on bail.
The wayward Lankan Buddhist monks must be bridled. They are causing considerable damage to Lankan Buddhism and to the country.
/
bandito / June 12, 2016
“Religious bigots have started to sow a fear of “danger” to their respective faith. ….”
Why are you going into details of faiths?
The smelly yogi on the mountain has non of this.
Remember when there is poverty and its recurring there will be faith with all its intricacies.
In the rich west when there is a calamity we discuss faith not other wise.
Do you notice that some of the poorest places on earth are habituated by Muslims (its an article on ct by usa muslim prof.)
He can hold `others` responsible for their plight but the underlying fact is the faith necessitates them to be dependent for their emotional aspect by 5 time prayer and poor.
too much faith is a dangerous ego trip.- we can feel concept; eg web page, cloud, but not almighty.
/
justice / June 12, 2016
K.Pillai,
Novice monk ‘recruits’ are all from the low income families in villages which have Buddhist Temples in them.
There is no record of any high income/ politically important/ highly qualified family (members)in the professions and other disciplines/
Trustees of Buddhist temples etc.,
having “given” any young male children to the Sangha to be enrolled as Novice monks.
Dos this not show that these groups do not believe that ‘novice monks’
are necessary for the progress of Buddhism?
Or, that they do not approve of the practice?
/
The Messenger / June 12, 2016
Dear Tiran Kumara Bangagamaarachchi,
You should be commended for writing this article and exposing the hidden secrets within the temples. Since the Buddhist clergy is so powerful in Sri Lanka due to the misguided gullible Buddhists masses who cannot differentiate between a true Buddhist monk and a hora ganaya/cheevaradhari, and therefore believe everything that the Buddhist monks preach, Only a very few people are bold enough to write such articles to educate the masses by exposing the truth.
I have said all these before but let me say it again, all what is being done against Buddhism by the Sri Lankan Buddhists or rather Sinhala-Buddhists as I have observed. I’ll appreciate if someone like Tiran Kumara can educate the Sinhala Buddhist masses to note these points and save the Buddhist religion/philosophy from being dragged down to such a low level by non-other than the members of the Buddhist clergy.
Instead of practising what Buddha preached (Ahimsa/non-violence, Karuna/compassion, Metta/affection, and Maithriya/loving-kindness towards fellow humans irrespective of race/religion), the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka engages in un-Buddhist practises such as in racist politics and also promoting ethno-religious (Sinhala-Buddhist) chauvinism and hatred towards minorities. Most of the Buddhist Monks do not even follow the 5 basic moral principles (Pancha sila) what Buddha has preached. These monks are a disgrace to Buddha and Buddhism?
Unfortunately, 2500 years of Buddhism in Sri Lanka (the so called Dhammadveepa) has not influenced any major changes in the Sinhala society (the so called guardians of Buddhism chosen by none other than the Buddha) in terms of attitude, character, behaviour, morality and so on. The Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka are the most corrupt, most racist, and the most dangerous. Buddhist monks are supposed to have given up all the worldly things (Materialism) but in Sri Lanka, it’s a different story. The Buddhist Monks are Corrupt to the Core.
These so called Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka do business, handle money, have Bank accounts and apply for Bank loans. It was found that a very large number of Buddhist monks had invested money in Sakvithi Ranasighe’s illegal financial companies. They even sell the ata pirika (robes and other stuff) that the people donate to them to earn a few Rupees. Some of them are even employed. They engage in gambling, buy and sell shares, buy lottery tickets and so on. See the number of Pin-keta (tills) in the Buddhist temples. What they do with all the money they collect? Most of the culprits caught in printing fake currency notes were found to be Buddhists monks. They make money by selling the Car permits given to them by the government. They print, record and sell books, magazines and Bana/pirith CDs, etc. and earn thousands of rupees in a short period.
Buddha Business has made the Buddhist monks very rich. They own bungalows and real estates and have luxury cars and vans, employing drivers. Uduwe Dhammananda Thero, accused of robbing Elephants owns millions worth of property in Colombo. Very soon the monks will also apply for driving license also. They also have the latest most expensive mobile phones, lap tops, tablets, etc. They do not go from house to house with the begging bowl as instructed by the Buddha, instead the villages bring food to the temple and also the Sinhala Buddhist monks employ cooks in the temple. We have also seen Sinhala Buddhist monks selling posters, begging for money, going from door to door asking money. Buddhist-monk led politicians wheeling and dealing in imported BMW and Mercedes Benz and being caught with the pants down illegally selling tax-free motor vehicles.
Some of them grow hair and make themselves attractive, adopt customs, habits and lifestyles like normal people, have secret love affairs, some of them live in boarding houses instead of temples, they listen to music and watch movies and have illegal sex with women or young boys. They keep mistresses in the temple (Buddhrakitha Thero and Ms. Vimala Wijewardene), and even take part in criminal/terrorist activities such as assassinating Prime minister (Somarama thero). Some of them drink alcohol, I have heard about monks who even keep Beer in their fridge. Some of them spend millions of rupees in celebrating their birthdays. Some of them even form trade unions/associations; there was a time when the leader of the Nurses trade union in Sri Lanka was a Sinhala-Buddhist monk. Some of them perform false miracles and pretend to heal sick people with pirith water. They tie pirith thread and bless people expecting the people to fall on their legs and worship them. Some of them preach their own Bana (sermon) instead of Buddha`s Bana.
The Sinhala Buddhist monks were war mongers, they supported and encouraged war. They take part in racist politics criticizing and condemning all other religions and races and creating communal hatred among Sinhala Buddhists and others. They take part in protest rallies, burning flags and effigies and also engage in fast unto death and even self-immolation. Some Buddhist monks shredded their robes to take AK-47s and earn more respect. We saw how monks were involved in brawl in the parliament with blood soaked faces. The Buddhist monks lobbed a grenade at the Shah Rukh Khan show in Colombo. At present the Buddhist monks are engaged in violence against the Muslims and Christians. They walked into Muslim business and set them on fire. They stormed the Fashion Bug, verbally abused the Muslims (Thambiya, hambaya, goni billa), and threw rotten eggs at shoppers, attacked and destroyed several Mosques and Churches and at Aluthgama, they attacked and burnt many Muslim shops, houses and people. They even circumcised the innocent Buddhist monk who spoke for the Muslims.
Another new trend is the love for eating non-veg food (Meat and fish) among Buddhists monks. A new school seems to see nothing wrong in Buddhist monks eating animal flesh (including fish). An article by Ven. Dr. Vilegoda Ariyadeva thero, a former University of Ruhuna academic is a giant step toward guilt-free `Buddhism-friendly` meat eating. Dr. Ariyadeva thero claims meat eating is customary in Theravada Buddhist societies. Now a days when the Sinhala-Buddhists monks’ visit houses for Arms-giving (Daane) they expect expensive sea food and sometimes meat too. There are also Buddhists monks in Sri Lanka consuming food/drink in the afternoons/night even though they are not supposed to do so.
Even though Buddhism does not have any caste system, caste is used among Sinhala Buddhist monks more than lay people. Different Nikayas are formed according to the caste. For example, the Siam Nikaya (Malwathu and Asgiri) will not ordained as a monk anyone from a lower caste.
The Sinhala Buddhists are more interested in worshipping the Buddha statue, Bo-tree, and Buddha’s Dathu (relics/body parts) and feeding Dana (alms/free food) to the Sangha (Buddhist monks) rather than following the Dhamma what the Buddha preached. The poor Sinhala Buddhist villagers not only offer free food but even offer their young children to the Buddhist temples/monasteries to be ordained as a monk (Samanera). These poor children get abused, molested and sodomized by the senior/adult monks who prey on their innocence to satisfy their carnal desires. Sodamising the Abiththayas and novice young monks is happening in temples for many centuries and is kept as a secret. Nowadays, the village women also frequently visit the temples to tidy up the rooms (aavasa) and get laid by the monks.
The Buddhism preached by the Buddhist monks is no longer able to provide any vision or guidance or constructive power but are only occupied in maintaining their own petty positions in an already atrophied hierarchy resting on a utterly disillusioned and rapidly crumbling society from which the spirit has long since departed. They have subordinated the interests of the society to national goals and the narrow ambitions of nationalist and racist leaders.
Today, Sri Lanka has become a strong hold of Buddhist aggression and terror and such acts are spurred by hardline Sinhala Buddhist monks. The hate mongering and terror attacks against the minorities were motivated by Buddhist monks, the prominent among them are Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero with the creation of the BBS (Bodu Bala Sena/Buddhist task force) and Iththakande Saddhatissa Thero of the Ravana Balaya.
During the 1950s, we have seen Buddhist terrorists among the Buddhist clergy such as Buddhrakitha Thero and Somarama thero assassinating Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranayake. Today we have the extreme version of them in the Buddhist clergy known as Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Sinhala Ravaya. President Maithree and Prime Minister Ranil should take extra care and precaution against these Buddhist Terrorists who will not hesitate even for a moment when it comes to assassinating our leaders.
Ministry of Buddhasasana should make sure to maintain the Buddhist Vinaya (disciplinary code) among the Buddhist clergy. Those Buddhist monks who engage in anti-Buddhist activities and disrupt the peace in the country should be subjected to disciplinary action and should be disrobed. Buddhist disciplinary laws should be enacted specially for the Buddhist clergy who violate the Buddhist values and principles. This has become an urgent need in Sri Lanka if Yahapalanaya is to succeed.
/
Analyst / June 12, 2016
MahaSangha is the cause of all this.
During Jarapussa’s Ruling there were few cases of rape and child abuse surfaced in the Local media.
The women’s Ministry and Child Protection Agencies made a lot of noise saying the Monks in question should be Punished.
NOTHING HEARD OF AFTERWARDS : Because of the fear of mighty Religion and the Protectors.
The MahaSangha came up with the ruling from their own court of law that they have their own court of law to deal with this kind of cases. , no Names or the Nature of the case to be publicised.
All should be done within closed doors by the MahaSangha to protect the Religion. Blah ..Blah Blah.
This is how they protected the Paedophile Monks , the thieves , drugs and alcohol consuming , Pork Meat consuming Monk Thugs , ,living a luxurious life under the SAFETY OF MAHASANGHA.
Does anyone think SLanka can be a progressive successful Nation??
Not in My Life Time nor in Anyone’s life Time in the Future,
CURSE OF SINHALA BUDDHISM.
CERTAINLY NOT LORD GAUTAMA BUDDHA’S BUDDHISM!!! AND HIS SASANAS.
/