By Kapila Abhayawansa –
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa
I have read the article entitled “The President’s Faux Pas” written by Sharmini Serasinghe in Colombo Telegraph dated 27th January. Referring to President’s homage to Bo tree, she observes: “, it is with deep despair, that I as a Buddhist noted, you President Maitripala Sirisena paying homage to a Bo tree, even though it is venerated by a majority of the Buddhist populace of this country. Furthermore, by paying homage to a Bo tree, you Mr. President are also openly violating the teachings of the Buddha, who denounced the worship of objects!”.
In my opinion, the President is not the one who violated the teachings of the Buddha by paying homage to Bo tree but Sharmini Serasinghe by saying that the Buddha denounced the worship of objects.
As the above mentioned statement of Sharmini leads to misinterpretation of the teachings of the Buddha I would like to make the following remarks:
In fact, the Buddha never denounced the worship of sacred objects as a mark of respect. What the Buddha denounced was the homage of object as a path to liberation. It is explicitly pointed out by the Buddha in the verses 188 to 192 of the Dhammapada.
I think that Sarmini is well aware of the fact that the Buddha had taught seven factors of progress (satta-aparihāniyadhamma) to the Vajjin kings and the later followed them for sake of the progress of their country. And the Buddha informed Ven Ananda that as long as Vajjins follow those seven factors there would not be downfall except progress in their country. Among the seven factors one was that they (Vajjin) honoured esteemed, revered, and supported the Vajjin shrines whether in town or country, and did not allow them to fall into disuse. It is worthwhile to mention here that those teachings were directed by the Buddha to be followed by the rulers of countries. The term ‘shrines’ (cetiyāni) mentioned there means nothing other than what are the objects for veneration.
In the Pattakamma-sutta preached to Anātha-pindika, the Buddha had advocated that a noble disciple makes the fivefold offering with wealth gotten by work and zeal, gathered by the strength of arm, earned by the sweat of the brow, justly obtained in a lawful way. Amongst fivefold offering, two are enumerated as offering to the departed (pubba-peta bali) and offering to devas (devatā bali). Both those departed ones and Devās are also come under the category of objects for veneration. It should be emphasized here that those offerings are made by the noble disciples (ariya-sāvaka), according to the Buddha.
We have to accept that the Buddha did not want to oppose the ritualistic aspect of the secular life of people so far as it does not violate the spiritual aspect. The Buddha was well aware that the lay people cannot fully engage in spiritual path as they have their own household activities pertaining to personal and social wellbeing. Once, the Buddha has nicely delineated the difference between the lay Buddhist and the monastic member comparing their speed in the path of purification to that of a peacock and a swan in their flying in the sky.
Another accusation raised by Sharmini against the president is that the president publicly paid homage to Bo tree. According to her, public religious performance by a leader of a multi religious nation is a rubbing salt into raw wounds of the minorities. I don’t find any reason there for anyone to get hurt, if it is done in a simple way without destroying public funds, and also with the intention of exalting one’s own religion. This type of activities cannot be interpreted as disrespect to religions of others. I don’t think that any Buddhist felt the slightest hurt when the President publicly welcomed and respected the Pope on his arrival to Sri Lanka. In this respect what is not to be done is exalting one’s own religion while disparaging others’ religions. Honestly displaying one’s own religious activities is never meant for contempt of others’ religion. On the other hand, one who does not respect one’s own religion does not respect others’ religion too.
In this respect, it is better to remember that the Emperor Asoka who taught to his subjects to practice respect to all others’ religions, immensely supported Buddhism by way of helping to conduct a Buddhist council, building Buddhist monasteries and even dispatching Buddhist missionaries in order to propagate Buddhism in other countries. But, no one accuse him of religious favoritism.
Rajash / January 30, 2015
Come to think about it Tree is not an object, a dead tree may be.
As some one posted on Sharmini’s blog imagine if Buddha had attained nirvana under a coconut tree? There won’t be any tourist industry or coconut industry in Sri Lanka, being Buddha he had the vision to choose the bow tree.
Hindus in India don’t get off their car, trishaws moped etc …to worship every stray cow roaming the streets of India.
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Off the Cuff / January 30, 2015
Dear Rajash,
Have you seen the Kumbh Mela?
It is perhaps the largest peaceful gathering in the world with around 100 million participants.
It is a Hindu Religious Ritual.
Can you explain to the CT readership how ANY Hindu Leader could participate in it in Private?
I hope Sharmini’s idiocy and the stupidity of those who supported her narrow views is underlined by the above.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
Obnoxious Tam`ill` Cockroach,
Madonna Queen of Pop and Kabala (Jewish) participates in the Mela along with other celebrates world wide.
When Sri Sri Ravi Shanker has a bigger than Glastonbury style music festival hindus only participate playing instruments.
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Rajash / January 30, 2015
OTC “Have you seen the Kumbh Mela?” …No I have had the privilage yet to go to a Kumha Mela. I hope one day.
Can you explain to the CT readership how ANY Hindu Leader could participate in it in Private? “
I am sure CT readers can google and find out what Kumbha Mela.
You are right though no one, even the PM of India, is provided special privilage to participate in Private, of course security is provided.
Can you imagine Kumha Mela being held in Sri Lanka, say in Kathirgamam on the banks of river Maanika Gangai, under the Rajapakse regime,? There regime would have spent billions to build a luxury pivate palace for their stooges.
Any how you cant compare an event like Kunha Mela to worshipping every bow tree in Sri Lanka.
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Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Dear Rajesh,
Re “You are right though no one, even the PM of India, is provided special privilage to participate in Private, of course security is provided”
Thank you for being honest there.
The gist of it is that when any Indian Leader of the Multi Religious nation called India participates in this religious festival it cannot be done in private and is done in FULL view of the Public.
India is indeed fortunate not to have a Sharmini with a blind unthinking following who thinks a leader of that multi religious nation, cannot afford to be associated with one set of cultural/religious practices and not the other.
Re “Can you imagine Kumha Mela being held in Sri Lanka, say in Kathirgamam on the banks of river Maanika Gangai, under the Rajapakse regime,?”
Not possible, the attendance would be too small
Re “There regime would have spent billions to build a luxury pivate palace for their stooges.”
That’s why we voted them out.
Re “Any how you cant compare an event like Kunha Mela to worshipping every bow tree in Sri Lanka”
Those who participate in the Kumbh Mela believe that all their sins are washed away by bathing in the holy rivers.
The billion + who worship Siva in the world (including Lanka) believe that they respect him by having a stone symbolizing His penis and caressing it and bathing it in Milk and showering offerings will bring them salvation.
Thus Rajesh you are being idiotic in trying to compare different idiosyncrasies that has crept in to world religions in a foolish attempt at degrading or elevating any one of them without an understanding of the core teachings of any.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Javi. / February 2, 2015
OctoPong, Stinker
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Rajash / February 2, 2015
@OTC you are hijacking my argument and losing yours.
Have you looked at the linga structure closely , if not have a second look.
It is indeed misleading and every one focus on the protruding stone resembling a penis and not on the whole structure including the stone structure supporting the penis , which is indeed in the shape of and resembles the vagina.
So the entire structure is a penis penetrating a vaigina.
The act of creation of life.
So go and get a life instead of ranting rubbish here.
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Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Dear Rajash,
You lost the argument when you admitted to the Truth.
Which is No Indian Hindu, elected to the office of the Head of State can attend the Hindu Religious Festival of Kumbh Mela as long as he/she Holds that Office.
As according to Sharmini’s logic (which you subscribe to) that will be an affront to the Muslims, Christians and the MULTITUDE of other religions that Indians belong to.
The rest of your post had no logic to support Sharmini.
Re “So the entire structure is a penis penetrating a vaigina. The act of creation of life”
Oh sure sure and the milk that the stone Penis is bathed in completes that symbolism and provides the missing part of life itself. The live Sperm swimming in semen that will on entering the womb and fertilising the ovum (invisible in that edifice) will cause life to start?
But the Fact is that stone edifice of Sexual Intercourse is just stone an inanimate object!
Unfortunately you venerate a Stone which you believe resembles Siva’s penis (Siva Lingum) when no one has seen the Siva Lingum or the owner less Vagina that the Lingum penetrates.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Rajash / February 2, 2015
OTC;
You don’t have the intelligence to interpret response to Sharmini’s blog.
You are trying to compare Kumbha Mela ( an event that happens once in three years in four cities, in rotation, that means once in twelve years in each city, and attended by billions of people from all over he world ) to worshiping bow trees in Sinhala Buddhist Sri Lanka.
The sperm that produced you may have more intelligence that the end product!
I suggest you go and clean all the bird droppings from the Buddha statues dotted all over Sri Lnaka that is the best service you could offer to your religion with the limited intelligence have displayed here in CT
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Rajash / February 2, 2015
OTC you dont have the intelligence to interpret my inital post to this blog.
You display your ignorance here in CT by comparing Kumha Mela to worshipping bow trees by Sri Lanka sinhala Buddhist.
It appears that the sperm that produced you my have more more intlligence than the end ptroduct.
I suggest you go and clean bird droppings that are polluting the Budhha statues dotted all around Sri Lanka.
That is the best you can contribute to your religion with your level of intelligence.
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Off the Cuff / February 3, 2015
Dear Rajesh,
“No leader of a multi religious society, can afford the luxury of being seen practicing his religion, in the full glare of the public!”
I do hope that your English comprehension is sufficient to understand the above. If you can’t get some help, perhaps Sharmini would oblige. ha ha haa.
That by the way is Sharmini’s opening gambit in her article. It is not about “Bo trees”
I thought you were being honest when you said what you said about the Kumbh Mela and the Indian PM. But now I realize it was because you had no understanding of the significance of the question. But Sharmini would have understood and realized her foolishness.
I see that the exchange about the veneration of a stone edifice of Siva representing sexual intercourse got your goat. Perhaps that will make you understand the difference between idol worship and symbolism.
I do not want to insult either your father or your mother for your idiocy but you are a prime example of that Idiotic following of Sharmini’s
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Rajash / February 3, 2015
OTC…oh dear oh dear
why am i wasting my time with you..
but let me explain…
Kumbha Mela is attended by billions of people from all over the world ..including famous personalities..yes the dont have the privacy .but no one take notice ..because the event is bigger than any perosnality
whereas when a Sri Lankan president, whether My3 or Mahinda..,worshipping a bow tree in public glare ..the message that is sent is different..
I am not expecting you to comprehend this…as you are as thick as the century old bow tree….atleast the bow tree has some significance attached to it and which I respect…
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Off the Cuff / February 6, 2015
Dear Rajash,
Don’t lose track of what Sharmini wrote.
“No leader of a multi religious society, can afford the luxury of being seen practicing his religion, in the full glare of the public!’
You have been heeing and hawing because you cannot establish that world leaders keeping religion private is the general rule in the world. That is Sharmin’s predicament too.
She wrote what she wrote without thought or research. Poor lady she has put her foot in her mouth figuratively.
Please read this from a PM of a multi religious society
“LAST week I held my fourth annual Easter reception in Downing Street. Not for the first time, my comments about my faith and the importance of Christianity in our country were widely reported.
Some people feel that in this ever more secular age we shouldn’t talk about these things. I completely disagree. I believe we should be more confident about our status as a Christian country, more ambitious about expanding the role of faith-based organisations, and, frankly, more evangelical about a faith that compels us to get out there and make a difference to people’s lives.”
David Cameron
Prime Minister,
UK
If you like to see another spectacle that flies in the face of Sharmini’s edict have a look at this. Where President Obama and his family is celebrating Xmas publicly.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/4/obama-first-family-light-national-christmas-tree-d
I used the Kumbh Mela because it is largest public religious gathering in the world estimated at 100 million.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pashupatinath Temple on Monday and performed a “Rudrabhishekh puja” with “Panchamrit” offering.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not speak a word during the elaborate prayer ceremony conducted for him at Pashupatinath Temple here, revealed head priest Mool Bhatta Ganesh Bhatta, speaking to The Hindu.
Mr. Modi arrived at the temple on Monday morning. The day is considered auspicious in the month of “Shravan” in the Hindu calendar to perform a “Rudrabhishekh puja” with “Panchamrit” offering.
While no media personnel or officials accompanied Prime Minister into the temple , Mr. Modi emerged an hour later wearing four rows of Rudraksh beads. Clad in a saffron kurta and a pink and gold shawl, Mr. Modi waved to pilgrims gathered outside. He later tweeted a photograph of himself with temple officials, adding that he ‘felt extremely blessed.’
Here are two pictures of the event that is very public
http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/02039/05TH_MODI_2039457f.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuLDhdmCMAAF_B2.jpg
Do we need anything else to show Sharmini’s Hyperbole, Melodrama and Sensationalism?
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Amarasiri / January 30, 2015
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa
Besides what Buddha said, animals and humans evolved out of plants and early life.
So, it is all right to worship our “Ancestors” Plants and their descendants. Ancestral worship. So, people need the Freedom for ancestral worship.
Timeline of plant evolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_plant_evolution
Evolution of plants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_plants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_plants#mediaviewer/File:Plant_Diversity_(2).svg
Plant and Animal Evolution
http://sci.waikato.ac.nz/evolution/AnimalEvolution.shtml
For many people animals are perhaps the most familiar, and most interesting, of living things. This may be because we are animals ourselves. As such, we have a number of features in common with all the organisms placed in the animal kingdom, and these common features indicate that we have a shared evolutionary history.
All animals and plants are classified as multicellular eukaryotes: their bodies are made up of large numbers of cells, and microscopic inspection of these cells reveals that they contain a nucleus and a number of other organelles. Compared to prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria, plants and animals have a relatively recent evolutionary origin. DNA evidence suggests that the first eukaryotes evolved from prokaryotes, between 2500 and 1000 million years ago. That is, eukaryotes as a taxon date from the Proterozoic Era, the final Era of the Precambrian. Fossils of both simple unicellular and more complex multicellular organisms are found in abundance in rocks from this period of time. In fact, the name “Proterozoic” means “early life”.
Plants and animals both owe their origins to endosymbiosis, a process where one cell ingests another, but for some reason then fails to digest it. The evidence for this lies in the way their cells function. Both plant and animal rely on structures called mitochondria to release energy in their cells, using aerobic respiration to produce the energy-carrying molecule ATP. There is considerable evidence that mitochondria evolved from free-living aerobic bacteria: they are the size of bacterial cells; they divide independently of the cell by binary fission; they have their own genome in the form of a single circular DNA molecule; their ribosomes are more similar to those of bacteria than to the ribosomes found in the eukaryote cell’s cytoplasm; and like chloroplasts they are enclosed by a double membrane as would be expected if they derived from bacterial cells engulfed by another cell.
Like the plants, animals evolved in the sea. And that is where they remained for at least 600 million years. This is because, in the absence of a protective ozone layer, the land was bathed in lethal levels of UV radiation. Once photosynthesis had raised atmospheric oxygen levels high enough, the ozone layer formed, meaning that it was then possible for living things to venture onto the land.
The oldest fossil evidence of multicellular animals, or metazoans, is burrows that appear to have been made by smooth, wormlike organisms. Such trace fossils have been found in rocks from China, Canada, and India, but they tell us little about the animals that made them apart from their basic shape.
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Amarasiri / January 30, 2015
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa
Looks like some people can’t see the forest for the trees.
Also, can’t see the wood for the trees. Focus only on small details and fail to understand larger plans or principles, as in Alex argues about petty cash and overlooks the budget—he can’t see the forest for the trees. This expression was already a proverb in John Heywood’s 1546 collection.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/can%27t+see+the+forest+for+the+trees
http://www.mergeagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/forest.jpg
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Amarasiri / February 1, 2015
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa,( Re: Ms. Shamini Serasingha and Shayman Jayasinghe Ideas)
Question: Does Freedom to Practice a Religion means that one can venerate and worship any way one likes or feels comfortable?
Amarasiri’s answer is Yes.
Common Sense: Only Agnostics can have Common Sense, and be Referees and Umpires in this dispute. It is too late, cannot ask Buddha now.
Let’s see what a well known Buddhist Monks says about this subject: Veneration.
Reference: The Buddha and His Teachings by Narada Thero, New Edition 2012,
ISBN: 978-955-663-345-0, page xi
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/buddha-teachingsurw6.pdf
1. “The common folk are attracted by the devotional side of Buddhism and its simpler ethics while the intellectuals are fascinated by the deeper teachings and mental culture”
2. “Buddhism, being tolerant, does not totally denounce such external forms of reverence a they are necessary fo the masses…. Buddhists kneel before the image and pay their respects to what the image represents. Understanding Buddhists reflect on the virtues of Buddha. They seek not worldly or spiritual favours from the image. The Bodhi-tree, on the other hand, is the symbol of enlightenment.”
3. “What the Buddha expects from His adherents are not these forms of obeisance but actual observance of His Teachings. ” He who practices my teaching best, reveres me most”, is the advice of the Buddha”
4. “An understanding Buddhist can practice the Dhamma without external forms of homage. To follow the Noble Eightfold Path neither temples nor images are absolutely necessary.”
Summary:
So, Common Sense indicates that Ms. Shamini Serasingha is correct here. Prof. Kapila Abhayawansa and Shaymon Jayasingha are correct too, in that Buddhists can have extra baggage, temples, trees and images though not absolutely necessary.
So, Buddhists can practice Ancestral Worship, Do to Devales and venerate and worship all the images, go to the forest and worship trees, or mountains, including the moon, the sum and the stars, and Monks and can still be “Buddhist”.
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Amarasiri / February 1, 2015
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa, Ms. Shamini Serasinghe and Shaymon Jayasinghe,
Without algae,plants, trees and Chlorophyll, there would have been no oxygen, and no mammals and Buddha as well.
So, go ahead and worship trees, whether Buddhas or anybody else says that or not.
You are paying tribute to the descendants of those who produced oxygen on earth and therefore aerobic life on Earth.
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Sanuka Silva / January 30, 2015
Very good reply with facts y the Professor to answer Sharmini who does not know any thing about Buddhism but writing some thing to get publicity. Shame !!!
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gamini / January 30, 2015
There was no Paying homage to Buddha while he was living as done by the present day so called Buddhists, during the forty five years after enlightenment as a Buddhist practice to attain Nirvana. Where has Buddha said to venerate objects of him in order to attain Nirvana?
The suthras and the Jathake stories were never authored by Buddha but by his followers as Buddha having said so.
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Off the Cuff / January 30, 2015
Was the Bible authored by Jesus Christ?
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Nimal / January 30, 2015
Off the cuff,
Let Christians, Muslims and Hindus believe what they believe, who cares. Here the subject for discussion was on Buddhism and the worship (paying homage) to physical objects.
However, to answer your question, none of the religious scriptures/doctrines were authored by their founders and they all have the same issues. If what this ‘professor’ says is correct then Buddha is contradicting his own teachings unless of course as gamini mentioned, some spurious doctrines (unbuddhist) have been introduced into the Buddhist scriptures along with Buddha’s teachings.
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sach / January 30, 2015
“Let Christians, Muslims and Hindus believe what they believe, who cares. Here the subject for discussion was on Buddhism and the worship (paying homage) to physical objects.”
So cant Buddhists believe what they want? Only Christians, Hindus and Muslims are allowed to believe in sky fairies? Are buddhists a special people?
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Nimal / January 31, 2015
‘Yanne Koheda Malle Pol’ (when asked where you are going, he says coconut in my bag). This debate is all about Buddhism and the worship (paying homage) to physical objects challenged by none other than a Buddhist. It has nothing to do with any other religions. Why are you deviating from the topic? Sharmini Serasinghe is a Buddhist and she is challenging the Buddhist rituals and not Christian, Muslim or Hindu rituals. You people are comparing apples with oranges for no reason.
Why should the Buddhists believe what they want, knowing very well that it is unbuddhist?
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sach / February 1, 2015
My question is why target buddhists and buddhist rituals? Is buddhism and buddhists above others in spirituality?
Are other religions and people of these religions few levels behind and therefore their rituals should be tolerated no matter whether it is logical or not.
I think you did not grasp my point. What i point is why target buddhists and why not others?
Doesnt it sound hypocritical?
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Silva / January 31, 2015
Worship (paying homage) to physical objects (symbols) relate to ancient India and can be found in Brahminical religion (Hinduism). During Buddha’s time also, people worshiped stones, trees and many other powerless idols and images (symbols).
Clear and rational way of thinking of Gautama the Buddha made him the revolt against the superstitious beliefs and practices of the Brahminical religion of his times. It is unfortunate that after his passing away, most of the things what he condemned and discarded have crept back into Buddhism and Buddhist scriptures.
These scriptures were written long after Buddha’s mahaparinibbana (passing away) by disciples most of whom were Brahmins. Thus, it is not surprising that a lot of Brahminical myths and concepts, which the Buddha has discarded, crept back into the Suttras in the Buddhist scriptures.
Even though Buddha has very clearly said that this kind of practice does not give any assistance to man, It does not help him to overcome his suffering, it is unfortunate that the Buddhists today (in the 21st century) not only conduct Bodhi Pooja and make vows to achieve their desires, they also offer money and jewellery (tie them around the Bo tree) asking for favours. (This is not Buddhism but pure foolishness). Most of these symbols, rituals and ceremonies are the later additions to Buddhism, most probably from the Hindu religious practices that had found their way into the Buddhist Viharas (Temples).
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Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Dear Nimal,
Re “However, to answer your question, none of the religious scriptures/doctrines were authored by their founders and they all have the same issues”
My question was designed to show exactly that. Hence Gamini’s statement is common to every religion and is of no value.
The Christian population in Sri Lanka is overwhelmingly Catholic. Do they venerate inanimate objects?
Do the Hindu’s venerate such objects?
If you have visited a Buddhist temple you will see places of worship with Hindu Gods. An unmistakable sign of Hindu influence.
This article is a rebuttal to Sharmini’s Rabble Rousing article and hence cannot be discussed in isolation.
Re “Sharmini Serasinghe is a Buddhist and she is challenging the Buddhist rituals and not Christian, Muslim or Hindu rituals”
It will suit your purpose to describe her so but Sharmini Serasinghe is a Buddhist by name only and she has authored Rabble Rousing articles before. She writes to the gallery and the gallery adores her. Anyone who wants a swipe at Buddhism for one reason or the other joins that gallery.
You obviously have no idea as to what Sharmini’s article was about. She has said that a Political Leader should not practice his/her religion in public.
Apply that edict to the world then you will see how idiotic her statement is.
God Save the Queen should be rewritten, the Queen should not be crowned in Church, She should have the cross removed from her crown and other objects she wears in public, She should relinquish her position as the head of the church, US Currency should be re minted, The Oaths of Office of almost every western country should be redrafted, every leader who takes the Oath using the Bible or other religious item should do so in private and not televised or described on radio, Kuhmb Mela would be taboo to Indian Leaders who are Hindu and the list goes on and on.
Will Sharmini justify them?
No, that is left to her idiotic following.
If you are with Sharmini, justify them.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Suresh / February 2, 2015
Off the head/nutt,
“Sharmini Serasinghe is a Buddhist by name only and she has authored Rabble Rousing articles before.”
No, that’s a blatant lie. Sharmini Serasinghe is a true Buddhist and a reformist whose articles are to expose and correct Un-Buddhist Practises.
“She writes to the gallery and the gallery adores her.”
She writes to the rational Buddhists (even Buddha was a Rationalist) and the right thinking and intelligent Buddhists adores her.
“Anyone who wants a swipe at Buddhism for one reason or the other joins that gallery.”
Anyone who wants to get rid of all the malpractices & abuse of Buddhism (by political leaders and other asses) likes to join Sharmini Serasinghe.
Sharmini Serasinghe’s rational thinking capacity is light years ahead of you. You can rant & rave and cry foul but the caravan moves, nobody can stop Sharmini Serasinghe from exposing the stupidity of those who call themselves ‘Buddhists’.
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Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Dear Suresh,
You say “No, that’s a blatant lie. Sharmini Serasinghe is a true Buddhist and a reformist whose articles are to expose and correct Un-Buddhist Practises”
Sharmini once wrote “one still comes across ‘academically’ educated, and supposedly intelligent ‘Buddhists’, but sadly lacking in wisdom, who reverently believe, that the Buddha walked out of his mother’s womb,”
Any Buddhist would know that it was baby Sidhartha who his mother gave birth to and NOT a Buddha. Sharmini does not even know that.
Sharmini being a woman herself, should know that the human birth canal barely has room for the baby’s body to pass through. If she had given birth naturally instead of through a C section she would know the pain that a woman undergoes when the birth canal expands to push the the baby out.
Yet she claims that the Buddha walked out of the womb through this little passage. Let alone walk, a baby cant even crawl through it.
Exaggerating for effect is Sharmini’s trade mark. Unthinking idiots gulp all that down.
If she wants reform why not take the Bull by the Horns and start a discourse with the Sanga instead of writing to the gallery? I hope she will write to a National Newspaper in both Sinhala and English challenging the Sangha and quoting from Buddhists texts.
I have exposed her stupidity in many posts under her own article and this article.
Take the points I have raised and argue against it if you can because Sharmini cant and won’t dare to even try.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Suresh / February 4, 2015
Off the Nutt,
“Was it because you were STUPID that you ran away the last time”
I usually ignore, do not respond to buffoons. After reading a few of your arguments I found out that you are a Nitwit who either cherry pick or discover some very minor human errors and cry foul (make a mountain out of ant hill) like a junior school kid.
If I ‘running away’ makes you feel happy, I do not mind making a retard happy, do you want me to run again and again, if it makes you happy, I have no issues.
I know that your very little pea brain cannot see things beyond your nose, if you had a little bit of common sense, you would have understood what Sharmini meant (Sidhartha/Buddha).
A baby cannot walk at birth but foolish Buddhists in Sri Lanka believe it as truth and that is why Sharmini argues not to believe such fairy tales.
***As she rested underneath one of the sala trees, her birth began and a baby boy was born. It was an auspicious day. The birth took place on a full moon (which is now celebrated as Vesak, the festival of the triple event of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death), in the year 623 B.C. According to the legends about this birth, the baby began to walk seven steps forward and at each step a lotus flower appeared on the ground.***
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/lifebuddha/2lbud.htm
BTW, do you expect an intellectual/erudite writer like Sharmini will respond to your babyish & moronic ranting? If I do not respond (ignore) to your imbecilic arguments, you can assume that I ran away, you can rejoice…
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Off the Cuff / February 6, 2015
Hi Suresh,
“I usually ignore, do not respond to buffoons”
Well you did not ignore when you challenged my post like a buffoon.
“if you had a little bit of common sense, you would have understood what Sharmini meant (Sidhartha/Buddha)”
Sharmini poses as an Erudite Buddhist. No erudite Buddhist will mistake the Baby Sidhartha to the Buddha. No erudite Buddhist will say that the Buddha walked at birth. Only a foolish woman would go a step further and say a baby walked out of the Womb!!!
“A baby cannot walk at birth but foolish Buddhists in Sri Lanka believe it as truth and that is why Sharmini argues not to believe such fairy tales”
It is the foolish who try to use fables and legends as a base for argument. Ramayana, Mahabaratha, the Koran, Shaivaism, the Bible are all full of fables and legends. Name a religious text that has no embellishments.
BTW what is your religion?
Of course a Human baby can’t walk at birth like a baby animal does. No literate Buddhist will believe that.
You reproduced a paragraph from Buddhanet.
” ***As she rested underneath one of the sala trees, her birth began and a baby boy was born. It was an auspicious day. The birth took place on a full moon (which is now celebrated as Vesak, the festival of the triple event of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death), in the year 623 B.C. According to the legends about this birth, the baby began to walk seven steps forward and at each step a lotus flower appeared on the ground.*** “
Is there anything in that which says the BABY walked out of the Womb?
You have unwittingly exposed Sharmini’s Hyperbole, Melodrama and Sensationalism.
No intellectual can get away from defending what She/He writes. To you, that would be “intellectual” as you consistently ask questions but runs away when you are questioned in return.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
gamini / January 30, 2015
Off the Cuff,
Precisely, The Bible and even the Quaran are all fabrications by the bigoted followers and people like this Prof tries to pour it down the throats of the gullible.
Sadly there is no medicine found yet for naiveté.
/
Javi. / January 30, 2015
Gamini he is no cuff but was kicked out of Canadian Border forces for doing what he did there (he said it on ct. – Obnoxious Tam`ill` Cockroach,
/
Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Gamini, you have lost track of what Sharmini said.
She said “No leader of a multi religious society, can afford the luxury of being seen practicing his religion, in the full glare of the public!
The President of this country is a representative of all its people; Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Therefore, such a President cannot be seen favoring one faith, even though it is his own. If he must, then he ought to pay equal obeisance to other religions as well. After all, he is the leader of all of us, not just the Buddhists of Sri Lanka.”
She refers to the world when she says “No leader of a multi religious society,..”
Hence please look around and prove that statement because Sharmini cant.
Then read her second para and tell us how that can be achieved as Sharmini cant do it.
The writer of this article wrote it as a rebuttal to Sharmini’s article, hence you cannot look at this article in isolation and turn it into a Religious contest of which is superior or inferior or which is True and which isn’t.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Bodhi / February 1, 2015
If you want to worship/venerate/pay homage to trees/stones/body parts then why do you need a Buddha?
You can go to any Hindu temple or Devale and do it. Why spoil Buddhism?
Sharmini Serasinghe is not talking (not concerned) about other religions, she is talking about her own religion and as a Buddhist it is her duty (duty of every true Buddhists) to raise such issues.
She is writing on reforming the wrong Buddhist Practises, which is a mockery of real Buddhism. Only a true Buddhist can condemn the Buddhists for Anti-Buddhist practices.
/
Seelawathi / January 30, 2015
Gamini@,
recalling what you once said – calling you as non-buddhist, you have no right to add anything here. I mean you have no idea about the intoxicated levels of some buddhists – of course depedning on their mental states. However, botox ladies such as Sharmini et al would make every effort to paint the picture appropriate to them. I have the feeling there nothing wrong Prez to have worshiped the bo tree as he thought is right, so long he leaves the same relgious freedom to other communities. Besides, did you notice that Christians in Europe would ever allow other reglious adherents to practise their religions peacefully.
Today, part of Germany is affected by Pegoda movement (equivalent to that of srilanka -Bodu balu sena or the like) – the anti muslim go on parades weeks long. It is all because of their paniks not knowing the muslim cutlure better.
/
Javi. / January 31, 2015
Yopu are the classic gaame godde hate monger beware it would kill you sooner than you think – not your country of economic refuge.- tree climber Gamini is too nice a guy for you to chat with.
/
Navin / January 30, 2015
Dear Prof Kapila Abhayawansa,
Whether worship of objects is an integral part of Buddhist worship, (i.e. you must worship objects in order to be a genuine Buddhist), is (inadvertently?) explained by the following sentence in your Article.
Quote:
We have to accept that the Buddha did not want to oppose the ritualistic aspect of the secular life of people so far as it does not violate the spiritual aspect.
Unquote.
Please note the words “Did not want to oppose the ritualistic …”. It means worshipping objects, a.k.a. idol worship, was dismissed by the Lord Buddha as a harmless past time, so long as the follower of his philosophy did not engage in harmful activity like killing, coveting, intoxication, greed etc, similar to the Ten Commandments of Moses. A question that springs to mind in this context, is whether the act of a Ruler of a country frittering away his time on a harmless past time can be dismissed as not causing harm to a country.
This makes it clear that Bo tree worship, falling at the feet of the clergy, ringing the temple bell, lighting and worshipping the oil lamp, wearing pirith nool and good luck charms, carrying golden nuggets on parts of the body etc are NOT rituals that MUST be performed in order to be considered a practicing Buddhist.
The reason Lord Buddha did not explicitly state that the above described rituals bring no spiritual benefit, and that they should be discontinued, was, perhaps, because he felt, the people were not going to listen such talk, as they were so deeply immersed in them. Also Hinduism was big competition at the time. The proper test to apply would be to ask oneself whether Lord Buddha himself worshipped trees, the moon, stars or anything thing you can see or touch. Lord Buddha did not. Therefore the clear answer is that idol worship is not part of the Buddhism as preached by Lord Buddha.
To get back to Sharmini’s article, the most important aspect of it, the issue was whether the President was not wasting time, and the tax payers’ money, engaging in primitive rituals, not mandated by Buddhism, when his urgent attention was required to complete the 100 day program against which the clock was ticking away. There was also an unspoken suggestion that Maithripala Sirisena, just like his predecessor and many other politicians, was using the unBuddhist rituals to ingratiate himself into the hearts of the ignorant, in the interest of securing future votes.
The other issues raised in your Article are quite minor, compared to the issue of idol worship, whether its practice is prescribed as essential for being a true Buddhist. So I do not go into them here.
/
Off the Cuff / January 30, 2015
Dear Navin,
You said “To get back to Sharmini’s article, the most important aspect of it, the issue was whether the President was not wasting time, and the tax payers’ money, engaging in primitive rituals, not mandated by Buddhism, when his urgent attention was required to complete the 100 day program against which the clock was ticking away. “
Are you not encroaching into the private life of this person who happens to be the President?
With that type of argument even Barack Obama or the British PM is wasting tax payers money when they go to Church!
Can you justify what you say with examples from the West, where elected leaders have eschewed practicing their religion because that is a waste of Tax Payers money?
Perhaps you can quote from any Law or Rule that western leaders have enacted in their wisdom, expressly to prevent elected leaders wasting Public Funds by going to Church !!!.
You said “There was also an unspoken suggestion that Maithripala Sirisena, just like his predecessor and many other politicians, was using the unBuddhist rituals to ingratiate himself into the hearts of the ignorant, in the interest of securing future votes. “
When did Sharmini and you qualify in Mind Reading?
What Sharmini wrote and what you defend was written to the Gallery.
There is nothing intellectual in Rabble Rousing.
Does not Sharmini see the govt spectacles of UK that is performed in Church.
Does not Sharmini and you see the US President using the Bible in Public Ceremonies?
Does neither of you see religion being advertised in US Currency?
It is idiocy to produce such an article without any supporting material about the Moral message.
It is idiocy to defend such Rabble Rousing, because in the Final Analysis this is Rabble Rousing.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Navin / January 30, 2015
If you want to ape the West go ahead. I like to follow my mind.
There is no need to make a fool of yourself. You may find that silence is gold, not merely golden.
Good luck!
/
Off the Cuff / January 30, 2015
Dear Navin,
Your answers to my questions shows that you have been caught with your pants down.
I asked you to ESTABLISH the Principle, which in your own words is, “the issue was whether the President was not wasting time, and the tax payers’ money,” Obviously you cannot do that.
Show us any democratic country that embodies this so called “PRINCIPLE” that you and Sharmini is so Loud Mouthed about.
The other question was about your “Mind Reading” qualifications.
Are you really a PRINCIPLED person or a Rabble Rousing Opportunist taking a swipe at Buddhism?
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Navin / January 30, 2015
When I am with my pants down, you take care that you keep your mouth tightly shut. You want to drown in the deluge?
I already advised you that you may find silence is golden.
/
Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Dear Navin,
Ha ha haa, sorry to observe that you have a one track mind.
Getting caught with your pants down is an idiom in the English Language and has nothing to do with wet dreams or oral sex. You should seriously think of keeping a tight leash on that premature deluge!
Perhaps that explains why you have lost your ability to think when you see a pretty face!!!!
If you cannot be Civil, you will realize that Silence indeed is golden.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Javi. / February 2, 2015
Ooos,Stinker
/
sach / January 30, 2015
Mr. Ahmed Reza aka Navin,
Normally those who practice Abrahamic religions cannot understand that Buddhists do NOT worship. It is simply paying respect. That is totally different from worshiping.
I pay respect to my mother, father by touching their feet. That is a way of giving respect and reminiscing what my parents did to me. When i touch their feet i don’t worship them. Same way Buddha is our great teacher. We don’t have Buddha as a living figure. What the Buddhists came up with is the Buddha statue to represent our teacher. It is same as a photo of someone whom we like and respect. When we bring our hands together in front of a buddha statue, we pay respect to our great teacher for what he did for us.
Giving respect to those who served you is a great virtue in a Buddhist (also Hindu) cultures. We even respect inanimate objects that were helpful to us. Buddha after attained Buddhahood paid respect for the Bodi tree for a week. That is where paying homage to Buddha began. So as a person who has zero knowledge about Buddhism, it is understandable you think Buddha did not approve venerating Bodi tree.
When we were kids we paid respect to the book we were learning from. Because that is helpful to us. I guess the same concept is there when Hindus give respect and gratitude to the cow. Do not confuse this with worshipping. Normally Abrahamic religions is based on fear where a supreme being is worshiped to get pardon by a fearful angry god.
And no one is saying rituals need to be done to become a good buddhist. Even if someone does rituals it doesnt make him a good buddhist. One doesnt need to be a good buddhist as buddhists are completely free in choosing whether to do that or not.
Actually Buddhism does not come with a police force to force people in practicing religion. It is a very secular and a liberal religion.
And I dont think My3 spent that much money in paying homage to Bodhi tree. It is very simple you just go to the temple and pay respect.
/
Navin / January 30, 2015
Sach, thank you for your clarification. Tree worship was a part of pre Hindu and Hindu cultural practices, long before Prince Siddhartha was born.
Falling at the feet of one’s mother as a mark of respect is understandable. But kneeling at the root of a tree? As a mark of respect? Why?
I have to clarify here for you sach, the ideas of the discussion that sprang from the Article. What I understand is that we are trying to ascertain what is required of a person, in order to be considered a Buddhist, that is a person who is following the teachings of the Gautama.
If you say that a person must bow down before the Bo tree when he is facing it, in order to be considered a (Gautama) Buddhist, then please answer with a yes or no.
If, it is your opinion, that such reverence of the Bo tree is not required of a Buddhist, then I say, the President along with his retinue arranging a show with the Press and TV cameras in attendance is a callous waste of the time available to implement the all important 100 day program. Will you be able to agree with this conclusion?
A straight answer will be appreciated.
/
Double standards / January 31, 2015
pls read sach’s comment again – ur questions are already answered if you still don’t understand – don’t bother thinking abt it
/
sach / February 1, 2015
I think you did not grasp the idea in my comment.
I understand for people who follow abrahamic faith it is beyond their comprehension that people can actually pay respect to even inanimate objects. That is completely a cultural thing which is seen as a virtue in Buddhist societies.
There is nothing bad in paying respect for a tree. what you callously call falling at the root of the tree is how the people of this culture pay respect. when you ask that question it is akin to asking why Muslims bend towards Mecca without doing something else. The simple answer is that is the way of paying respect.
I find it very amusing when a Muslim tries to understand what a person is required to do inorder to considered to be a buddhist. I have seen many Muslims trying hard to be the perfect Muslim. In Buddhist society there is no such thing and a policing force behind it. Buddhism is about understanding not obeying a feared dictating god.
And a good buddhist would certainly respect anything that is associated with Buddha. Therefore yes a good buddhist will certainly pay respect to Bodhi tree.
/
Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Dear Sach,
Symbolism and Idol worship are two different things. But for someone raised from birth to act in fear of a Creator it is difficult concept to grasp or understand the freedom thats available in Buddhism. For a person who goes to church every sunday it is strange to observe his Buddhist neighbour not going to temple even for a year. They want to correct the Buddhists instead of looking inwards at their own.
Dear Navin,
Re “If, it is your opinion, that such reverence of the Bo tree is not required of a Buddhist, then I say, the President along with his retinue arranging a show with the Press and TV cameras in attendance is a callous waste of the time available to implement the all important 100 day program”
Maithree has the freedom to practice his religion the way he sees fit and not the way you think he should. If he wants to pay his respects to the Sri Maha Bo tree he has to do it at Anuradhapura though he can do so symbolically in the privacy of his own home.
Practicing his religion is not a waste of time as far as he is concerned, it is the same as you will think while visiting church, mosque or Hindu Kovil or whatever religion that you belong to.
Though he is the president no one can deny him the freedom guaranteed to all of us by the Constitution to practice our separate Religions.
There is a published calender for the 100 day program has that been met?
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Javi. / February 2, 2015
Octopong OTC Stinker,
You are groomed in the assassin Somarama blend and have blood
on both your rotten plums??
You want to see western blues???
/
Saman / January 30, 2015
I am deeply grateful to this Gentleman, Mr. Kapila Abhayawansa for his descriptive and very thoughtful article.
Kindly request from Sharmini to read this article carefully and learn the correct and various facts from it and understand your mistakes.
Though Sharmini boasted and talk with excessive pride of what she learnt from Late Venerable piyadassi maha Thera, by writing with little knowledge and destructively criticising Mr.Presedent’s veneration of Bo Tree Sharmini has discredited to Maha Thera too.
Thank you Sir, for your marvelous explanation and profound presentation.
/
Shyamon Jayasinghe / January 30, 2015
Well argued by Professor Abhayawanse. I think Sharmini has been inaccurate in her analysis. What’s wrong with worshipping the bo tree?If people kiss statues of marble and ceramic? Besides, the President has backed the Pope’s visit ,too and greeted the latter with reverence. Even the former President worshipped at Kovils although that was for favours. Hence Sharmini’s multicultural argument does not apply. The majority of the population are Buddhist and the worship of the bo tree has been a time-honoured custom. Other religious followers don’t mind that. In Maitri’s case it was symbolic.Harmless practices, even if non-rational may be allowed until reason dominates the life of ordinary people.A practical politician has to sync with the people.
/
Palmsquirrell / January 30, 2015
Mahinda worshiping at a Kovil was a PR stunt to look tolerant to the outside world and to rub salt into Tamil wounds. Same schtick as talking in Tamil at the UN.
/
patriot / January 31, 2015
Shyamon is definitely aiming for a lucrative job under Sirisena otherwise he wouldn’t disagree with Shyamini’s ideas because he himself believes that worshipping trees and objects is an stupid act.
/
Sharmini Serasinghe / January 31, 2015
Shyamon Jayasinghe,
I’m surprised even a man of your intellect, has misunderstood my article.
Sharmini Serasinghe
/
Amarasiri / February 1, 2015
Sharmini Serasinghe
“I’m surprised even a man of your intellect, has misunderstood my article”
How can we really measure intellect and cleverness?
IQ tests ‘do not reflect intelligence’
IQ tests are misleading because they do not accurately reflect intelligence, according to a study which found that a minimum of three different exams are needed to measure someone’s brainpower.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/9755929/IQ-tests-do-not-reflect-intelligence.html
By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent5:30PM GMT 19 Dec 2012
For more than a century our intelligence quotient (IQ) has been used to measure how clever people are and Mensa, the society for the intellectual elite, has even used the test to weed out sub-par applicants.
But now the scale has been dismissed as a “myth” by scientists who found that our intelligence can only be predicted by combining results from at least three tests of our mental agility.
Different circuits within the brain are used for different thought processes, the researchers showed, meaning separate tests of short-term memory, reasoning and verbal skills are needed to measure someone’s overall intelligence.
Their landmark study was based on the results of an online intelligence test which was launched by the Daily Telegraph and New Scientist two years ago, and attracted more than 110,000 responses.
Dr Roger Highfield, the Telegraph columnist and one of the authors of the paper, said: “When you come to the most complex known object, the human brain, the idea that there is only one measure of intelligence had to be wrong.
/
patriot / February 1, 2015
Either this person may not be the real Shyamon Jayasinghe or Shyamon is showing the weaknesses of old age or he is sucking up to the new president.
/
sach / February 1, 2015
May be problem is with your intellect or lack of it
/
Off the Cuff / February 2, 2015
Sharmini Serasinghe,
Why don’t you venture to explain?
OTC
/
Javi. / February 2, 2015
Obnoxious BBS Convict OTC,
Ieee, Peeee, danne nattde?
Stinker, Pervert Pedophile.
Lord Krishna will Vanquish Kaliya and let the children play beneath the bamboo trees and beside the lake the flowers grow Anthurium its our song Skin head freak of civilisation celibacy pedophile.robber,…….hit man, rob the knob, atta pirikanna- puta madre cabeza.
/
Javi. / February 2, 2015
??Would 7. Maria Sharapova (Russia)….
…even engage in a friendly with a stinker OTC- BBS- baboon eating from the rear, Biscuit Boofer Syndicate-Off the nut_BUTT,
You seem to be enjoying the rocker fart that has tickeled your saffaron seura covered BA**S.||
(@_@)||(@_@)
/
Mahadana Muththa (Jnr) / January 31, 2015
Shyamon, come on man, surely not you too?
/
Dingiri B / February 2, 2015
Looks like Shyamon Jayasinghe is sucking up to the new President hoping [Edited out]
/
Srima Warusawithana / January 30, 2015
Professor Kapila Abhayawansa’s response to a piece titled ‘The President’s Faux Pas” is quite opportune and explanatory. Ma I also add that it was on the Buddha’s instructions that the planting of Ananda Bodhi at Jetavanaramaya in India was initiated by four of the most prominent devotees of the Buddha at that period namely, King Kosala, Anathapindika Chief Male lay devotee, Venerable Ananda Thera and Chief Disciple Maha Moggallana Thera. Venerable Ananda Thera apprised the Buddha that when the Buddha was away from the monastery and devotees come, they are saddened as they do not see Him there. The Buddha advised Ananda to get a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree at Buddha Gaya where the Buddha attained enlightenment and plant it at the entrance to the Jetavana Monastery as an object of veneration. The Ananda Bodhi stands even today tall and majestic and revered by devotees. It is a site of sweet serenity just like the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura. So President Sirisena’s solemn reverence to the Bodhi tree has to be taken as a brief moment of meditation that will surely give the strength and mindfulness to face the rigours of governance at this point in history and none – even those of other religious beliefs in our multi-religious motherland would take offence to. Srima W
/
Amarasiri / January 30, 2015
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa
1.”In fact, the Buddha never denounced the worship of sacred objects as a mark of respect. What the Buddha denounced was the homage of object as a path to liberation. It is explicitly pointed out by the Buddha in the verses 188 to 192 of the Dhammapada.”
2. “It is worthwhile to mention here that those teachings were directed by the Buddha to be followed by the rulers of countries. The term ‘shrines’ (cetiyāni) mentioned there means nothing other than what are the objects for veneration.”
3. “We have to accept that the Buddha did not want to oppose the ritualistic aspect of the secular life of people so far as it does not violate the spiritual aspect. The Buddha was well aware that the lay people cannot fully engage in spiritual path as they have their own household activities pertaining to personal and social wellbeing. “
Prof., thanks for the clarification.
So, people can venerate, trees, images, rocks, cricket, football etc., and it does not violate the spiritual aspect. So, politicians can too, if their fans do that. That way, the fans will vote for those politicians who venerate the same images as they venerate and worship. because, a majority of Sinhala Buddhists venerate trees and statures. The Politician may have grown up as a child venerating trees and images, and after growing up may continue to venerate the trees and statures, whether an adult or politician, just like Mr. Maitipala Sirisena and many others.
We may not agree with the worship of trees, rocks, statues, Moon, Sun etc., but people should have the right to worship and venerate whatever they wish and believe in. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa venerated astrologers.
So, this is a Personal belief, and children, adults and politicians should have this freedom. After all 25% of Americans and 40% of the Asians believe tat the the sun Goes around the Earth.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/14/277058739/1-in-4-americans-think-the-sun-goes-around-the-earth-survey-says
1 In 4 Americans Thinks The Sun Goes Around The Earth, Survey Says ( But they ma or may not venerate or worship trees , rocks ans statues)
Tree Worship.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_worship
Tree worship (dendrolatry) refers to the tendency of many societies throughout history to worship or otherwise mythologize trees. Trees have played an important role in many of the world’s mythologies and religions, and have been given deep and sacred meanings throughout the ages. Human beings, observing the growth and death of trees, the elasticity of their branches, the sensitivity and the annual decay and revival of their foliage, see them as powerful symbols of growth, decay and resurrection. The most ancient cross-cultural symbolic representation of the universe’s construction is the world tree.
/
Javi. / January 30, 2015
Prof Kapila Abhayawansa,Henende!Sinhala Rump Buddhist ʘʘ
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?– William Shakespeare
To start with you have no international acclaimed papers to call yourself professor` Werewolf Mahawamse` Cold Blood Foxes looking for the hole they came from is the picture of Celibacy-The freaks of civilisation with begging bowl to power over the island by exorcism.
Gautama was born of third marriage like Asoka’s (ask the Chinese about the Hindian as they have most of the statutes)
Siddharta Gautama was born as a Kshatriya, the son of Śuddhodana, “an elected chief of the Shakya clan”,[6] whose capital was Kapilavastu,
Siddhartha was brought up by his mother’s younger sister, Maha Pajapati.
Where is his mother Devi?? Did she ever exist?? UN & Japenese excavations prove that she did not exist.
Hinduism is your father we (Marathas)know why we had Gautama to please the rest of society.
___
“The worship of trees, often at simple altars, was a ubiquitous feature of ancient Indian religions, and given the degree of overlap between Buddhist ritual and pre-existing traditions, it is also possible that what is being described represents an older tree shrine quite disconnected from the worship of the historical Buddha,
You are just a farce holding a `servants` job talking of intellectual nudity when you have never met student intellects or intellectual lecturers who don’t need that salary or designation??.
When we go out into the profession without our staff assistance scumbags like you are awe stuck. Why so, too much asslicking professional/professor??
Bill and Mark aren’t the only ones to show their middle finger to Havard and Yale professors but many of us.
We have our technical qualifications make our money while professors beg for their salary because they got your tail between their legs drinking nespray from birth
We don’t need to tell what our creations there are which you see every day as they were picked up by TV without any politics or backups.
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AVB / January 30, 2015
Why SB worship bo tree, simply asking for favours. When a child sitting for Uni entrance exams, they go and tie money on Bo tree asking help to get higher marks than others.. When family member is critically ill, they go to Bo tree for 7 days asking to cure him. Is this Budhhism? This is what aboriginal people used to do in the past, requesting special trees and mountains to help them.
Budhhists in Japan, Tibet, N Thailand are not asking Bo tree or any other tree to get any favours? Even in Bo trees in foreign countries where SB live, Bo tree branches are full of coins tied to them or banners with names.
/
Javi. / January 30, 2015
“As the above mentioned statement of Sharmini leads to misinterpretation of the teachings of the Buddha I would like to make the following remarks:”
We can see what the teachings has produced like Islam the Crusade.ISIS BBS.
Poof Kapila Abhayawansa Chameleon Sihala Rump Buddhist (fried pork loving foxes)
The culture includes ….Sunday sil Monday kill…….. Kill the Vedda..Rob the Buddha… and Blame the Sudda.. It is as simple as that……
Do you still want to retain Sinhala/Buddhist origin myth based on bestiality, parricide and incestuous relation?
/
Vibhushana / January 30, 2015
Well, no need to get overly technical. What is the idea of Buddhism in a nutshell? Its mastery of the mind isn’t it?
There is 2 ways one can go about living. The oldest method dating from paganism is to imagine there is an invisible friend lending you a hand.
The newer more radical way taught by the Buddha is to master ones mind to be at the identical place without a help of an invisible friend.
Buddhists do not even want to contemplate and debate whether his friend exists. It matters little as Buddhists become autonomous using their own mental faculties.
When a Buddhist worships an idol he/she is not asking for help from the invisible friend. He/she is merely using the object as a tool to alleviate their mind to one of the higher order mental states that purify it.
Buddhists worship Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga (the Tripple gem) or depictions of them in idol form, as it conjures up a deep sense of gratitude as the one that showed them the path to true liberation.
Buddha himself honored the tree that gave him shelter during the most challenging phase of his life. His followers do the same in his honor.
Buddhists also use objects that remind them transient nature of life. For example there is a meditation technique that observe a decaying dead body. With the observance of the decay one understands and accepts ones own eventual demise that helps one not to superficially attach themselves to material wealth etc.
Serasinghe only has an idea of Buddhism. She is not living it.
/
Wise Owl / January 30, 2015
with a nit brain like yours, how did you manage to become a Professor? Or is your Doctorate the same as Mervin Silva’s?
/
Gamarala / January 30, 2015
While appreciating Prof Abhayawansa’s article I wish to pose a separate question to the author and many responses that appeared on the original article `Presidents Faux Pas’.
On the one-hand we discuss freedom of expression, speech etc and on the other-hand these same people ridicule the religious beliefs of others merely because they don’t agree with such practices.
Isn’t it the right of an individual to practice their beliefs irrespective of whether such practices are in accordance with another person’s interpretations as long as the said practice does not offend others.
To me this is hypocrisy.
/
Navin / January 30, 2015
You are being a real gamarala. Who is asking you not to believe what you believe. And for sure no one will ridicule you if your start worshipping body ticks. No one will adore you either, but then you are not asking for adulation, only that you are not ridiculed.
All what you are being asked is to be truthful about what you believe. If you are a Marxist at heart, don’t tell the people you are a Capitalist. If you are an idol worshipper, don’t tell them you are a Buddhist.
/
Off the Cuff / January 30, 2015
Dear Navin,
Apparently you do not know the difference between idol worship and symbolism.
Gamarala is correct. It is hypocrisy.
I have posed a question for you under your previous post. Hope you will enlighten us.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
sach / January 30, 2015
whatever the buddhists believe in, whether it is pink unicorn or any god who split the moon into two is their personal choice. He doesnt ask you to believe in it right?
/
Javi. / January 30, 2015
keep sitting on a pin cushion for the gaame raalas whose end is nearth.
/
Gamarala / January 31, 2015
Thank you for the interesting comments.
I only wanted to point out the principle that
IT IS A RIGHT OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO PRACTICE HIS OR HER BELIEF
and others should NOT ridicule that particular person for engaging in such a practice.
This principle is the fundamental basis of free speech and expression.
While we have a right to criticize such practices we should NOT TARGET OR RIDICULE THE OTHERS WHO ENGAGE IN THEM.
/
Javi. / January 31, 2015
right & wrong are relative terms.
When there is public responsibility the 1st has to respect the folk who elected him.God/satan is your personal responsibility and nothing to do with us.
Hope i have made my self clear to the freak civilisation in celebacy and hidden begging bowl with daggers.
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Javi. / January 31, 2015
Gamrala keep your caps lock to your prick please in the first instance before discussing etiquette and freedom- the land never belonged to anyones pop.
Please
Do you still want to retain Sinhala/Buddhist origin myth based on bestiality, parricide and incestuous relation?
By now try to grind your village head and understand what i am trying to get at before the sky falls on your head like in an asterix -getafix.
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BBS Rep / January 30, 2015
Kapila,
Keep regurgitating Mahanama myths. Keep pulling the wool over the gullible.
No Kapila, many things you are talking about such as the five fold offerings are products of priestcraftry. The five fold offering enumerated by you, such as to the departed souls, to the invisible devatas, (and what you did not say) the dana to the priests etc, all end up in the saffron robed pockets of priests. What Buddha said was one thing and what the priests say what the Buddha said is another.
And again I think Kapila you are getting badly mixing Buddhism with Hindu rituals.
On the subject of Asoka he was a mass murderer and a war criminal. His thirst for blood subsided only when there were no more enemies to slay. His patronage of Buddhism like Angulimala or for that matter Mahinda Rajapaksa is to earn merits for sins committed.
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sach / January 30, 2015
where is buddhist rituals mentioned in mahawamsa? Are you high?
who cares whether Buddhists mix it with Hindu religion? Is Hindu religion bad? WHo cares if Buddhists did not do any rituals or did all rituals?
That is that person’s right to follow anything
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Madhavi / January 30, 2015
Thank you so very much Professor.
Being a Buddhist myself, I was extremely sad that there were the many who used the derogatory phrase ‘tree’ and condemned the very act tof the president paying homage. True, religion is sacred and is private. Instead of condemning the president for paying homage, why not critisise the reporters for not allowing him the freedom of observing his religios acts? Why don’t we give the privacy?
As for the teachings of Buddhism, the professor has eloquently reminded the true precepts of the philosophy.
A heartfelt thank you.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
Werewolf Mahawamse- just like the ancient Han chinese!
Do you still want to retain Sinhala/Buddhist origin myth based on bestiality, parricide and incestuous relation?
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patriot / January 30, 2015
“The Buddha never denounced the worship of sacred objects as a mark of respect. What the Buddha denounced was the homage of object as a path to liberation. It is explicitly pointed out by the Buddha in the verses 188 to 192 of the Dhammapada”.
Dear Prof Abhayawansa, Lets assume that the above statement is true. Then, the question arises whether President Sirisena is doing this stupid act as a mark of respect or as a path to liberation?
Could you please answer.
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Off the Cuff / January 30, 2015
You are asking the wrong person.
That question should be asked of Maithree as only he knows his thoughts
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crazyoldmansl / January 30, 2015
Hey prof!! You seriously believe that these religious founding fathers existed as real historical personages like your self?
If so then you must be the guy in the next ward who calls himself prof and conducts classes for schizphrenics. The crack prof no doubt.
Whaddabout de man in der moon? Him for real too prof man?
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Ambedkhar Reborn / January 30, 2015
Professor Kapila Abhayawansa has come out with his counter arguments to Ms Sharmini Serasinghe’s sincere views.Any sensible person has to agree with the two valid points that were raised by the Prof. One is if public homage to done in a simple way without destroying public fund.
The other is as a head of state MS did receive the Pope and participated in the ceremony in which Pipe addressed to all and conveyed the importance of love .With regards to the details of Buddhism my knowledge is very limited.
But my common sense says the Sangha can do more to educate the majority to have love and peace with others so that the country can go forward and prosper in the new world. Same applies to the religious bodies of the minorities.
The intention of Sharmini’ article was centred around the well being of the country as a whole. The intention of the Prof is to defend Buddhism practised by the majority and it’s status in Sri Lanka. Prof thinks or belief the current religious status quo can remain and yet the country can progress as a one united country with equal rights and prosperity to all.
So in my view both Prof and Sharmini are right.What I would like from the Prof is to write his views by revising the post intendance History and focus on SWRD ‘ s contributions in uplifting the ordinary people through their Sinhala Language and and Buddhism , SWRD ‘ S convictions , the signing of the BC pact , why he aborted the pact. Why JRJ opposed pact and went on march to Kandy with Buddhist Clergies.Why SWRD was killed and by whom ?
Both SWRD and JRJ were ardent Buddhists who were national dress also. By revising the recent and ancient history , both Sharmini and the Prof can converge to re write the history since SL had experienced so much political turmoil since 1948.
MS and his united front must prevail through the unity of their leaders another 4 to 5 years. MR and his cronies are trying to break the MS team before the parliamentary elections and are lobbying Chandrika.
Hope MS, Chandrika, Ranil, Ratna Thero, Champika, Anura kumara , Sambandan, Mano, Hakeem, Rajiva work together for a PIVITHURU HETAK.
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bo / January 30, 2015
Ambedkar reborn, my foot! Not fit even to hold a candle to the great man. Millions of untochables that he lead to Buddhism publicly venerate the sacred Bo tree. If you are that ignorant, then go to India, specially Madhya Pradesh, and see it for yourself.
May be you forget that the Holy Tree was brought to Sri Lanka with the sponsorship of the heads of governments of India and Sri Lanka at the time. It is certainly a national event, and all citizens in this country over the centuries have got used to that idea. National leader paying homage to the Holy Tree certainly does not offend other faith folowers.
A modern day snooty incompoupe need not write disparaging remarks about the faith of the majority of the citizens in this country, and the duties of the leader of the country. Next time she might even write why should Pope walk around with a replica gallows where Jesus was pinned tillhe died, or why should Muslims and King of Saudi Arabia or Heads of other Muslim countries walk round and round a meteoritic rock kept in Mecca, so offending those believers.
Sharmini is hardly a patriotic advisor, if she has abandoned her country and decided to go and live elsewhere as an economic refugee.
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Indra / January 30, 2015
Dear Professor
Having taken due cognizance of the mountains of articles and too many books released under your name, to me you sound like a snake oil salesman. It is a fact that Lord Buddha abdicated his Royal lifestyle only because the ruling classes at the time sponged on the weak and the ignorant, by promoting idol worship. He wanted to reduce their suffering and help them find salvation. Hence the birth of his philosophy.
It is impossible to believe that a CASUAL statement from Lord Buddha that a particular customary object worship may be harmless, can be as accepted as meaning that idol worship, as is practiced by Sri Lankan Buddhists, is what Lord Buddha preached. Matter of fact he was trying to wean the people away from idolatry, which helped the upper classes to exploit the suffering masses.
Idol worship definitely is against the spirit and content of the teachings of Lord Buddha. Consider for example if the Bo tree can solve your spiritual and other problems, why do you need to understand and practice the philosophy propounded by Lord Buddha? There will then be no need for Buddhism. Why is it that learned people of your kind never mention that the Gautama sat under the bo tree to benefit from the shade it provided and not for its miraculous powers? If there was no bo tree, but a banana tree, he would have sat under that tree instead for the same reason.
Idol worship in Sri Lanka is used by the ignorant as a path to liberation, salvation. You have accepted in your current article this is condemned by the Buddha. So such practice must be held to violate Buddha’s teaching. The added complication is that political Buddhists use these rituals to ingratiate themselves into the uneducated folks to get their votes. It is obvious that even Maithripala Sirisena has been doing this for a long time. Solomon West Ridgeway Bandaranaike even changed from his Anglicanism to Buddhism, in order to engage in idolatry and cheat the foolish people. Those with their eyes open can see there is a lot of money here.
Last year in January Sharmini had put your assertions to rest in her response titled “An Open Letter To Prof. Kapila Abhayawansa”. See:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/an-open-letter-to-prof-kapila-abhayawansa/
So please professor, may we have a little less noise?
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Raiden / January 30, 2015
On your face Shamini :) Sorry for just for fun !
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MANO / January 30, 2015
Well said sir and a sound rebuttal to that woman’s irrational hysterical need to spew off anything that comes to her mind since Jan 9th. Your paragraph on the Pope summed it well. Thank you for educating me and also Ms. Serasinghe.
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Funlover / January 30, 2015
Mano!!!
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sinhalese buddhist / January 30, 2015
Thank you Mr.Abhayawansa for this thoughtful response to Sharmini’s article, which I though was callously petty.
I support pluralism and religious freedom, as well as freedom of expression. As we have seen from recent events in France, sensitivity to others’ religious sentiments sometimes is more important than mouthing off as an act of provocation or as a way to pursue a political agenda.
It seems to me, that painting Mr. Sirisena with the same brush as Mr. Rajapaksa, just because both of them worshipped the Sri Maha Bodhiya, defies logic and lacks much objective analysis.
A lady who professes to promote multiculturalism should know better than to denigrate a cultural practice sych as the worship at the Bodhi. Most religions I know from the Australian Aboriginal to Judaism to islam, Hinduism and Catholicism has myriad cultural practices where inanimate and animte objects are treated with respect and are “worshipped”.
Do the Jews who yearn to touch the bricks of the “wailing wall”, or the catholic pilgrims who journey thousands of miles on foot to the shrine of Fatima or to see the Shroud of Turin, or the hindus who climb the Himalaya to get to mount Kailas, consider their actions to be illogical? devoid of value? Muslims yearn to perambulate the Kaaba in Mecca. Scientists believe that the Kaaba is actually comet that crashed onto earth millennia ago. All these are “objects” that people worship BECAUSE they are associated with the founders of their religions or are central in the history of their faith or their world view.
I support the freedom of religion for all. Thus Mr. Sirisena has the same right to worship at the Sri Maha Bodhi, as the pusari of that kovil in Munneswaram to sacrifice fowl, as Muslims have the right to halal or hijab. Such tolerance and acceptance of multiple ways of being is what true plurality means to me.
I as a Buddhist have no right to judge the religious practices of another – including other Buddhists and non-Buddhists. The Buddha precipitated a rebellion in Indian society in the 6oo BCE, by questioning the role of Brahmins in determining the fate of non-Brahmins by acting as interlocutors between god and mortals. The Buddha asked his followers to focus ON THEMSELVES – understand the reasons for being and recognize the role of change and the cyclical nature o sorrow/pain and happiness.
Thus my duty as a Buddhist is first ad foremost to myself – taming my mind and seeking a higher understanding of the nature of life. It is not to stand in judgement of others or what they consider a religious practice!
I remember reading an article Sharmini wrote about Kamalini, who was a Tamil TV presenter from the 80’s. Apparently Kamalini is suffering from a debilitiating disease, and Sharmini wrote a poem published on CT that refered to Kamalini as a “child of a lesser God”. Assuming that Kamalini is either hindu or Christian, that characterization may have been a Freudian slip on the part of Sharmini. Does she really think that hindus/chrstians are of a “lesser” god? People is glass houses should not cast stones.
If so, is such a person who should be a head honcho of an organization whose goal is inter-ethnic peace and reconciliation?
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Ahmed Reza / January 30, 2015
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.
I am a Muslim. I visit mosques. Some of them have graves where the remains of persons who lived virtuous lives are interred. People visit the graves. There is a till (ping pettiya) installed handily by the Trustees of the Mosques. Some people ask favours from the dead man. Of course they will bribe him first with a few rupees, may be fifty, a hundred sometimes. A relative may be sick; or a son or daughter may be sitting for an exam. They want the help of the dead man to cure the relative or pass the child. Trustees do not provide any guarantee for success. But they collect the proceeds from the till.
Muslims believe in God; he is referred to as Allah. Allah has mandated that a Muslim is prohibited from worshipping anyone or any thing, or asking favours from anyone but Him. He has warned there is no forgiveness for this sin. But regardless the visitor to the grave side worship the dead man and ask favours from him. Allah himself gives the answer to this aberration. He says those who are deaf and blind will never return to the right path.
Now readers, and commentors, please give some serious attention and look at that picture appearing with the Article again. What do you see? Is there any feeling of sanctity projected by this scene? I am not sure. Much sanctimony, yes. That is if you have a mind.
For myself, this picture recalls ragging scenes which I witnessed on Peradeniya University Campus 50 years ago. In the picture, those that were standing were the seniors, and the one kneeling was the raw green freshman being “ragged”. I must say I enjoyed a few quiet chuckles reminiscing!
Isn’t it hilarious when for one human mind the scenario is deadly serious and for another human mind the same scenario is comical?
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sach / January 30, 2015
You say, ” I witnessed on Peradeniya University Campus 50 years ago. In the picture, those that were standing were the seniors, and the one kneeling was the raw green freshman being “ragged””
i think this is very much similar to what you say here,
“Muslims believe in God; he is referred to as Allah. Allah has mandated that a Muslim is prohibited from worshipping anyone or any thing, or asking favours from anyone but Him. He has warned there is no forgiveness for this sin.”
Fear is what drives the submissive person here….see the similarity
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Amarasiri / February 1, 2015
Ahmed Reza
“For myself, this picture recalls ragging scenes which I witnessed on Peradeniya University Campus 50 years ago.”
So, if I assume you entered at age 19, you are now 69 years old.
Did you enter Peradeniya University Campus in October 1964? Just using Common Sense.
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Amarasiri / February 1, 2015
Ahmed Reza
“Muslims believe in God; he is referred to as Allah. Allah has mandated that a Muslim is prohibited from worshipping anyone or any thing, or asking favours from anyone but Him. He has warned there is no forgiveness for this sin.”
ISIS and their Wahabi Agenda. ISIS Stands for Iblis (Iblees) State of Iraq and Syria. Iblis, Iblees = Devil, Satan, Shaitan, Lucifer, and Wahhabis.
I of ISIS Stands for: = Shaitan (சுடன்), Pishashi (பெஷஷி), Lucifer (லூசிபர்), Iblis (இப்லிஸ்) etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaxgD2HxV2M
Published on Jun 20, 2014
Militant group the Islamic State of Iraq & Syria (ISIS) has seized large parts of northern Iraq, including the city of Mosul and Tikrit, unleashing wave instability in the region. Currently, nearly 40 Indian workers are believed to be held hostage in Mosul.
In part-one of a two-part interview, Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director of Gateway House, interviews Professor M.D. Nalapat, Director of Geopolitics at Manipal University, about the rise of ISIS and their Wahabi agenda.
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Jim softy / January 30, 2015
Sharmini Serasinghe may be a buddhist by label and I don’t think she has any knowledge about buddhism, in that sense, any knowledge about any religion.
Sharmini is questioning the devotedness of a devotee because he was a president.
If that is the case, Pope is worshipping a cross which is an inanimate object. Everybody know how Romans used to Cross to vrucify the people they identified as Traitors. Muslims are circling around a Rock saying it was sent by the Almighty when it is proven that is is a Meteorite.
sharmini does not know why the bo-tree is sacred to buddhists.
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Jayasingha / January 30, 2015
According to texts Lord Buddha himself showed his gratitude to the Sri Maha Bodhi after he attained Buddhahood. we as laymen too are eternally grateful to this particular tree for giving protection to the Ththagatha in his last effort to gain nibbana. When I worship at Sri maha Bodhi I recollect the great qualities of Lord Buddha and his teachings. They fill me with great respect for the tree concerned. I always imagine in my mind lord Buddha sitting cross legged under the Bo tree in deep meditation and perform five point prostration to worship him as my teacher and guide to liberation. In a country I visited I saw them growing Bo trees on either side of the roads for beauty. I did not feel like worshipping them. Its all a matter of a person’s level of understanding of Buddha’s teachings. The one who worships the tree without deep understanding may feel a temporary solace but this itself is worthy.
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
“For myself, this picture recalls ragging scenes which I witnessed on Peradeniya University Campus 50 years ago.”
At Hindia ragging was taken a step forward by engineering students. The most adamant were asked to Pee on an open electric burner- if caught suspended; of course we had step down transformers.
As a backpacker to lumbini We have peed on this very tree and nothing happens- may be the crow bought in special Goo. incidentally the original tree died many moons ago- the sihala buddhist monk (kalu man) in the lankan dharamsala opposite confirmed that the tree was not original either but did not like us peeing there.
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Prasith Nirasa / January 30, 2015
To Indra, It appears to me that you have seen only the article in the following link
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/an-open-letter-to-prof-kapila-abhayawansa/
Read the article of Prof. Kapila Abhayawans given in the following link
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/god-in-the-buddha-an-open-answer-to-sharmini/
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Javi. / January 30, 2015
Odd toed Ugulate Blistering Barnacles – the freak civilization of cold head sihala rump buddhist is what it proves- Exorcism is the word
Maratha Hindu your father knows why we promoted Gautama whose mother Devi is unknown- did not exist Like Asoka the manaic of 3rd marriage- to keep the masses occupied. Tao/Dao of longman Shoaling says it the best.
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Sanjaya / January 30, 2015
Today the Religions are just social control tools, delivered from man written out dated scripts and we have to pick and chose what to follow and not to.
Most of the wise know there are no rewords for you from worshiping a tree and our President for sure know’s that.
Here what you see is “Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country” theme been strongly practiced due to other religions nature since they been introduced by invading foreign trade missions in our history. and we all knew it too.
Also there are some weak minded people who seek shelter in such tools like a cross or sun etc due to parental childhood brainwashing, lack of education and not knowing creates them fear.
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naughty boy / January 30, 2015
Looks like Ms. Serasinghe’s article has got the racist Mahawamsa worshiping Sinhala Buddhists hopping mad.
Keep up the good work Sharmini.
Wonder what these bigots would have to say if our President was a Muslim and was photographed praying 5 times a day, or a Christian kneeling in church, or a Hindu breaking coconuts at a Kovil.
Ha Ha Ha!
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Pakis Pettiya / January 30, 2015
Naughty boy, Sinhala Budddhists including Mangala Samaraweera worship at these silly Hindu Temples too. They smash coconuts too. I somehow doubt the News reader on TV in the 1980s who claims to be a “journalist” will dare to talk about those practices. I am ok with a muslim worshipping 5 times. I had a roommate who did that. I think she should tell people to stop wasting good food by smashing coconuts as well. Will she do that? nah, where was her courage all this time? Now she wants to propagate her crap> I am ok with a Jesus hugger kissing Statue of Maddonna or Madu Lady or A hindu worshipping a Shiva lingam or sacrificing goats and chickens but I think Tagore spoke out against such savagery. I do not think she will have the balls ( figuratively) to take on savage practices amongst Hindus and Muslims.. She is on this new found “freedom” to show off her superior English skills. She afterall was a NEWS READER [Edited out]
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sach / January 30, 2015
didnt you see MR going to Thirupathi and worshipping?
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Javi. / January 31, 2015
he was never given the works a thirupathi (the 2nd largest collectors after the basilica)
But close to where the bihari babuas came masquerading as chiefs to play the pali game- we have more danda that you slaves can never dream of but call it casually the great indian rope trick with permutations than your wildest imagination.
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sach / February 1, 2015
DO you really think the businessmen Pusaris in Thirupathi will regard MR that much showing middle finger to Vaiko fellows unless MR was a contributor.
MR’s gold mania and Thirupathi gold exchange centre go very well together
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