28 March, 2024

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Educating Ms. Serasinghe On The Uniqueness Of Sinhala-Buddhism

By H. L. D. Mahindapala

H. L. D. Mahindapala

H. L. D. Mahindapala

Without any reservations I must concede that the Buddhist clowns must be reined in, as stated by Ms. Sharmini Serasinghe. In this survey of her version of Buddhism, I wish to state that I am ready to join her campaign this minute if the reining in of Buddhist clowns begins with her. Of course, it is not going to be an easy task because reining in the clowns of her type will be as difficult as removing the layers of paint from her face. By the look of it, she might have to buy the facial cleaners of an entire cosmetic store to get the multi-layers of paint above her neck removed to reveal her thick skin, warts and all.

The plastic look on her face extends to her arguments too. She excoriates other Buddhists who do not follow the ascetic standards she prescribes for their daily conduct. But why hasn’t she applied the identical Buddhist standards to determine her own conduct? The severity of her judgmental standards set for other Buddhists calls for critical evaluation because the validity of her commitments to Buddhist principles can be judged only by her practices and not by her censorious preaching. In taking a cynical view of the Buddhists in general she places herself on the side of those holier-than-thou arahats who adheres strictly to the pristine values of Buddhism. She even boasted once that she quit Vishaka College because she found the Buddhism in it somewhat distasteful to her exalted standards. She claimed that she discovered her paradisical liberation only after she joined a non-Buddhist school.

She also appears from time to time in these columns posing as the sath bhasa parameswara, tripitaka wageeswara and vinaya-arakshaka Anunanayake, of course, loaded with tons of cosmetics plastered all over her face. And her primary mission seems to be to ride on her Buddhistic broomstick stuck between her legs, aiming to clean up the Buddhist world. Her titty-lating anti-Sinhala-Buddhist screams make it amply clear that she never fails to get a kick out of her missionary position. Applying un-Buddhistic cosmetics – tons of it — seems to be her way of getting rid of her Freudian frustrations.

Reading her sermons on Buddhism one would think that she is on the verge of attaining nirvana, leaving the yellow-robed and other lay “clowns” to spend the rest of their time in the depths of a burning and beastly narakadiya. She reminds me of JR Jayewardene who proclaimed that he plans to attain nirvana in this life, even though it was his practice to gulp down one or two shots of whiskey a day before dinner. She has raised a series of questions more to pour scorn on the Buddhists than to put them on the straight and the narrow. As a lapsed Buddhist who is not so pure as Ms. Serasinghe I too wish to ask her a few questions to understand what makes a punctilious Buddhist like her run from her mirror to body shops where she hopes to buy her cosmetic nirvana at a price.

My initial questions are based on basic Buddhist principles. Since she demands almost an ascetic code of conduct from other Buddhists who, according to her, should only meditate in the nearest jungle to find the ultimate liberation can she explain how her jewellery decking her “kunu kaya” (rotten body) would help her to attain nirvana? In posing as a Buddhist purist, condemning others as “clowns”, isn’t she ego-tripping to boost her self-esteem sagging in her ageing breast? Doesn’t she know the story of Buddha auctioning the corpse of the highest paid tart of his time with no one buying her dolled up “kunu kaya” even when the price came down to zero? As a Buddhist committed to its highest principles does she believe that painting her face is the shortest cut to nirvana? Since she believes that giving dana and helping the sangha are practices that will not help the Buddhists to find their way to nirvana does she believe, as a pure Buddhist, that getting dolled up and partifying at the first opportunity when an invite comes her way is the better way to nirvana? Will she agree with me that painting her face will certainly boost her ego but not improve her mind? What will all her prettyfying with expensive cosmetics do to improve her knowledge or practice of Buddhism? Shouldn’t she spend her time and money she wastes on prettyfying her Plain Jane looks to help the needy? Is she buying up all the latest make-up available because she is afraid to look at the mirror without her cosmetics? And when she goes to bed at night does she like Marilyn Munroe wear only Chanel 9 to make her kunu kaya smell good?

Make no mistake. I am not being personal in raising these seemingly personal questions. To the readers who are not familiar with the Theravada Buddhist philosophical tradition of Sri Lanka it may sound as if I am being personal. But Ms. Serasinghe will know that I am only applying the basic principles of Buddhism, which is derived from “sa-ra noo kunu kayak aragena kumata though sapa vindin-nay” and also “kumana natum keli kavata sinahada” etc. These lines are from the best exposition of existential Buddhism. My questions stem from the basic Buddhist doctrine. No hard feelings, please note. She can’t take it amiss because I am following her own footsteps in applying Buddhist principles to her as strictly as does to other Buddhists.

In fact she confirms this when she contends that indestructible Buddhism is lodged fixedly in the mind of Buddhist devotees and the state need not step in, with constitutional and legal guarantees, to defend Buddhism. This implies that the other clowns who claims to be Buddhists must follow her example and reach her level of supreme serenity that lifts her mind to the highest state of Buddhist enlightenment without any external aid. If her argument is that Buddhism doesn’t need external aid why is she, as Buddhist, painting her face so much, knowing that it is a worthless exercise that does not help her to be a better Buddhist? In which sutra is it that stated that a pure usapaka ammandi like Ms. Serasinghe must doll herself to deliver her sermons on Buddhism? Her entire thesis is devoted to condemning the cosmetics of Buddhist practices followed by the bhikkus, dayakayas and lay community. Shouldn’t she, therefore, set the example by eschewing cosmetics and pursue Buddhism in the most simplistic mode. Instead she paints her face so much that she needs only a few more coloured strokes like a black moustache, blood red patches on her cheeks, some green spots here and there on her face and a dunce cap to transform her image into a circus clown.

The fact is that she has nothing original to say except to parrot the routine of what others have said many time before. She pontificates as if she is the last word on what has gone wrong with Buddhism without realising that she is merely repeating what the anti-Sri Lankan propagandists have been saying at all levels – i.e., from Buddhism Betrayed? S. J. Tambiah to his supplicants in NGOs like Radhika Coomaraswamy and Jehan Perera etc. Ms. Serasinghe, of course, would know that she was connected, once upon a time, to a descendant of the Anagarika Dharmapala family. It is possible that the divorce from that connection could have caused some antagonistic fixations in her mind against Buddhism. At least, it cannot cannot be overruled. But I must concede that this is mere speculation.

What is important is to evaluate her hysterical assertions about Buddhism and its relationship to the state. Is she finger-pointing for the good of Buddhism, or to use it as a political tool to denigrate and weaken Buddhism as a cultural force that shaped the nation down the ages? If she has nothing original and/or substantial to say to the Buddhists why doesn’t she do it in front of her mirror instead of braying in public? Why is she picking only on the Buddhists? What about the other religionists? How faithful are the other mainstream religionists to the founding principles of Christianity, Islam or Hinduism?

To her all those who defend Article 9 of the Constitution – a legal provision that has come down from the 1815 Convention – are clowns. She thinks she is not a clown because she is for the removal of Article 9 which states, inter alia, “……..it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana……” But if you read her article, particularly the questions she raise to condemn Buddhism as practised in Sri Lanka, she exposes herself as Devidatta’s weird offshoot living in cuckoo land.

Let me begin with one of her key questions though I am not quite sure whether the essence of my reply will sink through the impenetrable layers of paint in her thick head. Assuming the pompous pose of an Amazonian intellectual she asks: “Might I also ask, what in heaven’s name is so “supreme” about the Sinhalese people? What have we, the Sinhalese achieved, others have not, to entertain such “pride”? I challenge all those out there, who keep chanting, “I’m proud to call myself a Sinhala-Buddhist”, to give me a valid answer to my questions, as so far, I have not.”

If Ms. Serasinghe knew anything about the nation’s history she should know that of all the migrants who made Sri Lanka their home only the Sinhala-Buddhist turned out to be the supreme creative force that tamed the wilderness and transformed the land into a civilised and welcoming culture for other migrants to co-exist as equals with dignity and respect. This nation today consists of the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslim and Burgher migrants. But the ubiquitous foundation stones, the overarching ideology, the monumental art and architecture, the engineering feats of the hydraulic society, the sweat and the blood that built the life-giving tanks and the inspiring temples were contributed by the Sinhala-Buddhists.

Of all the migrants it was only the Sinhala-Buddhists who gave the world a new language, new culture and a new civilisation. Other migrants invariably were stuck in the ideological baggage with which they landed and were quite content to live inside their narrow boxes. Arnold Toynbee, the great historian, in his magisterial study of human civilisations, mentions only the Sinhala-Buddhists as a pioneering community that responded successfully to the challenges faced by the early settlers. It is the supreme achievements of the Sinhala-Buddhists that makes them stand above the other migrants who were mere by-standers, lending an occasional hand to the mainstream culture that moulded the nation. When the great savant Ananda Coomaraswamy wrote on Sri Lanka he lauded the exquisite treasures of Medieval Sinhala Art and pleaded for its preservation. When the leading German Indologist researched the Eastern contributions to culture he focussed essentially on the Mahavamsa, the unbroken record of Sinhala-Buddhist history. When the founding members of the Royal Asiatic Society explored from the 18th century the past of Sri Lanka they concentrated on Sinhala-Buddhist history mainly because there was nothing else that was outstanding on the same scale. The list of historic achievements of the Sinhala-Buddhists is longer than any of Ms. Serasinghe’s beauticians can imagine to improve her Plain Jane looks.

Ms. Serasinghe challenged the Sinhalese to prove that they have something which others don’t have to be proud of. I have provided incontrovertible evidence to confirm the superior contributions made by the Sinhala people just not to the nation but to the global culture. In giving the world a unique language, culture and civilisation the Sinhalese have proved their creative power and their unique capacity to lift themselves up to great heights as a civilising force. It was a humane civilising culture which gave a protective hand for the other minorities to grow together without aggressive claims to a superiority which they do not possess.

The protective shade given to minorities by the Sinhala-Buddhists goes way back into historical times. Instead of wiping out minority cultures it accommodated and integrated other cultures into its mainstream unlike in some other cultures. In India, for instance, Buddhism was wiped out by the dominant culture of hostile Hindus. In Indonesia Buddhism was erased by the rising forces of Islam. So was it in the Maldives. On the contrary, the Buddhist kings of Sri Lanka gave protection to the Hindus, Christians and Muslims. It is these unique contributions that has placed the Sinhala seal of superiority over the rest. The minorities, on the other hand, turned round and bit the hand that fed them to thrive. As revealed by the historian Dr. G. C. Mendis the records of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British do not show communal conflicts with the Sinhalese until the 20 the century when the minorities reacted violently claiming power and privileges that disturbed peaceful co-existence in historic times. So taking into considerations the overall factors, which community does Ms. Serasinghe think should be rated as superior contributors to civilised co-existence in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society?

In the light of the answers given above it is Ms. Serasinghe’s turn to provide her evidence to prove that the Sinhalese are not superior to the others in making their lasting contributions to the glory of the nation. The minorities have thrived because the Sinhalese opened the doors for them to achieve their goals. It is the aggressive demands far exceeding their contributions to the preservation of peace and prosperity that has worsened the inter-ethnic relations of the nations. For instance, if the aggressive Tamils of the North did not go down the path of the violent Vadukoddai Resolution their history and that of the nation would have been different.

Now I await Ms. Serasinghe’s response so that the readers can judge the credibility of this Bunkum-wathie. If she can I will send her box of Elizbeth Arden’s or Max Factor’s cosmetics,whichever she likes, to make her look better.

Her inability to see clearly may be due to the cosmetics that cloud her vision. Perhaps, if she could bring down her arching eyebrows from outer space to their original location and if she can remove her artificial eye-lashes and look at the world more realistically through her natural attributes, she has a good chance of overcoming her chronic myopia. Perhaps, she will also agree with me that there is no place for cosmetics in Buddhism. They are used to distort reality. It gives a false self-image and make the users of cosmetic believe that they are greater than what they really are in life.

I know it is too late to teach new tricks to an old female canine but Ms. Serasinghe must realise that both foreign and local academics, with far superior knowledge than what is contained in her peanut brain, have tried to do what she has done – denigrate the Sinhala-Buddhists – on a more sophisticated level and failed. Misguided pundits like Kapferer, Gombrich, S. J. Tambiah, H. L. Seneviratne, etc., etc. who were engaged in this business of denigrating Sinhala-Buddhists have been ripped into shreds by Dr. Susantha Goonatilake in his brilliant survey. titled Anthropologizing Sri Lanka, An Eurocentric Misadvanture. (Indiana University Press). If she has nothing better to do than repeat what more knowledgeable pundits have failed to do shouldn’t she start a new hobby like putting the hair back into the places where she has removed them?

There are also other aspects of her anti-Sinhala-Buddhist article that needs further scrutiny. I shall deal with them after I read her reply proving that she is a Satya-wathie and not a Bunkum-wathie.

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Latest comments

  • 21
    1

    Seriously? and this is educating someone? Maybe in how not to make an argument! “Ad Hominem” Mr. Mahindapala… “Ad Hominem” please refer the dictionary if you don’t know the meaning.
    When you resort to attacking the messenger and not the message, you have already lost the debate!

    • 21
      1

      More than 100 comments educating H. L. D. Mahindapala what good Journalism is all about.

    • 22
      1

      Madam Shamini,

      Please ignore this low life scavenger, he lives on other people’s money and is personally attacking you because he cannot counter argue in a civilized manner. Please do not respond or reply to this dirty article. Consider it as garbage.

    • 9
      1

      V. Kanthaiya wrote about “Gautama Buddha For Sale”

      If this H. L. D. Mahindapala fellow has the balls (real man) he should have challenged V. Kanthaiya and not this poor lady and her makeup/cosmetics.

      Hey Pala,
      Why not educate V. Kanthaiya the uniqueness of Sinhala-Buddhism and see how he will respond to you. I am sure he will make you look a donkey.

    • 2
      0

      This meeharaka would never change his way.

      All those who added the comments are 99.9999999999999999999999999999% seem to be against the bugger.

      Burupala is sinking.

  • 3
    5

    As Gaban Atha’s Prophet I consider all humanity as one – followers of Gaban Atha’s one and only one edict ‘DO AS YOU LIKE (DAYL)’.

    I read through the first part of Mahindapala’s article and like most of you, I felt bad at the personal attack made against the lady. He seems to be particularly against her make up, which is quite normal days. I was telling my wife the other day, “you know, honey, in our youth there were no beauties around like these days. You were the cutest and prettiest gal in the village. What went right to get so many these days?”

    My wife answered, “These are just solid masks they wear- a few mm thick. Take that off and they will look like the same you saw those days.”

    Anyway, I think even in Buddha’s day, Upasikas like Kosala Mallika, Visakha and surely Ambapali used make up and perfume. I could find nothing against make up and perfume in the teachings of Buddha.

    But the second part was well written and made me proud to be a Sinhalese – not a Sinhalese Buddhist or a Buddhist Sinhalese, because I am Gabanist, but a Sinhalese Gabanist . No, it would not be right to go so far as to say Sinhalese Gabanist because all differences fade when you are Gabanist. Just think. We first Do As We Like, Dayl Gaban, and then follow other rituals. Even the monkeys do it. Every creature having some neurons in his head does it. That is what makes us all DNA & RNA based creatures and that is why we should love each other.

    Coming back to the article, it tells us how great the Sinhalese are concisely and beautifully. I thank M for that. Our own country, language, script, music, culture, religion, our own brand of humour, the rare ability to laugh at ourselves, a great book and and and .., we have so much to be proud about. Can the Tamils or Malayalees (bigger communities) boast that?

    Finally though, I have to say this: In our proud language, there is a saying,” Kiri Kalayak Dovala Goma Binduwak Demma Vage”. But in the case of this article the author added Goma first and then the milk. May be that makes a big difference.

    • 5
      13

      Can someone educate. SS on the sinhala. Buddhist civilisation. Maybe she has never had an opportunity of. Visiting. Anuradhapura. Pollonaruwa. sigiriya. the ancient civilisations built not by fake sinhala like her but by real sinhlas. Was the war that was raging on for thirty long years defeated by the. Sinhala. Army? where on earth was she when this happened. BEING A. Visakhian myself I am ashamed to know that she too has attended. Visakha where she was disatisfied with the way. Buddhism was taught. She is nominating herself to become the biggest clown.

      • 6
        2

        I did not know there was a Visakha in mariakade.

        Hey Pala,

        Can you find out if this sarojini is a Satya-wathie or a Bunkum-wathie or a vatti-amma?

        • 4
          3

          You hit the nail on the head, Visakhian.

          This woman Sarojini hails from the slums of Colombo, married an Englishman, renounced her Sri Lankan citizenship, and now proudly calls herself a British citizen.

          As a Visakhian, you should know that our alma mater being a government school, admits girls of varying social strata, and this Sarojini belonged to the lowest of them. She has no class, style or personality, even now, but a big mouth given to verbal diarrhea. My housemaid has, more class than her.

          Despite 30+ years in England, her roots in the slums, are still visible and audible.

          This is a classic case of the green-eyed monster syndrome.

          If you saw her comment below, you will realise she hasn’t even mastered punctuation in English writing.

          • 2
            0

            Ashoka your style speaks volumes about your class. Speak for your self.

      • 5
        3

        Sarojini, are you really a woman?

        If you are, you should hang your head in shame for supporting a scumbag like Mahindapala.

        I’m not at all surprised Sharmini left your school and joined another, if you are the kind of green-eyed monster she had to deal with.

        You seem to be the female version of Mahindapala of Sinhala-Buddhist culture.

        Your kind is a disgrace to the rest of us Sinhalese.

        • 3
          1

          Kalinda, Amarasiri. Pity you do. Not understand. Englissh, what I had written is not to support anyone but given the facts which. I understand you cannot take. The truth hurts some people as they cannot stomach them. Instead they hu rl insults like wattiamma and name calling as they have already lost the plot. so sorry if the truth hurts

      • 6
        3

        sarojini

        “SS on the sinhala. Buddhist civilisation. Maybe she has never had an opportunity of. Visiting. Anuradhapura. Pollonaruwa. sigiriya. the ancient civilisations built not by fake sinhala like her but by real sinhlas.”

        Watti-Amma Sarojani.

        There was an Agricultural Civilization what was there BEFORE Buddhism came to the Land of Native Veddah Aethho from Orissa-Bengal, and some native civilization.

        The Land would have developed without Buddhism, as many other Lands developed, without Buddhism. May be, the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, would have achieved greater heights, without Sinhala Buddhism.

        It is like This. Watti-Amma Sarojani does not deliver her Appa, hoppers, and another Watti-Amma takes over, the Appa, Hopper, Business.

  • 2
    1

    I say MahinderFala,

    You are one of the quickest to reach a hundred. Why don’t you take to cricket?

    • 0
      0

      … And before I can say “Jack Robinson”, you’ve reached 150!

      Phew! You should be in the T20 side!!

      Ever read the comments above?? Looks as if you aren’t coming along famously?

  • 15
    4

    Don’t mind those who stoop to sexism: they merely have a big problem over small matter… :D
    I pity this sexist bigot. Sharmini is able to wash off her face pack, blush and eyeliner, but the old boy has to live with what he got!!! That probably explains his rant. He could have easily said what he had to say without stooping so low.

    Keep up the good work Sharmini.
    May God bless, protect and guide you always.
    https://www.facebook.com/nicole.davidson.9889/videos/850112141749697/

  • 1
    2

    COSMETICS – BUDDHIST VIEW

    Regarding the use of cosmetics, the Buddhist view is that when you observe Ata Sil, Cosmetics should not worn. One of the additional percepts says ‘….Mala (flowers) Gandha (perfumes) Vilepana, dharana (cosmetics) vibhusa nattana vera mani sikkha padam samadiyami..’.

    It is not included in the 5 percepts that Buddhists normally observe in their daily lives and its inclusion in Ata Sil conclusively proves that it is a personal decision left to the individual.

    COSMETICS – GABANIST VIEW

    In the case of Gabanism, it may be considered as AAYL (Apply As You Like) NOT AAML (Apply As Mahindapala Likes). AAYL must be taken as a special case of the all encompassing rule DAYL (Do As You Like).

    • 1
      2

      correction: Vilepana (Cosmetics)

  • 11
    1

    How low can one get with personal insults. Just shows what a sad specimen of humanity this monkeypala is. The more he writes the more shit he gets from the readers of his crap. Anyday Ms Serasinghe’s face is so much better to look at than the face of this baboon.

  • 15
    2

    If Mahindapala has set an example of his Sinhala-Buddhist culture through this piece of garbage he has written, I dread to think what an uncultured Sinhala-Buddhist would be like.

    This is such a dreadfully vicious piece.

    CT should never have lowered its standards by publishing it.

  • 13
    1

    I am appalled that Colombo Telegraph allows this kind of idiotic,childish rigmarole in these columns which are read by intelligent people. The demented author revels in personal attacks against a female writer. He has no substance to counter her views except his vomitus of malice and hatred. He also spits venom against minorities as usual.

    If this continues ColomboTelegraph will become a laughing stock. The editors please take a note of this warning.

  • 0
    0

    [Edited out]

  • 9
    1

    Mr. Mahindapala: Why are you assassinating the character of Ms. Serasinghe? You ought to be writing a rebuttal on the contents of her publication without attacking her personally. This is not Journalism but writing “Kelae Patthara” (bad mouthing). You sound mentally disturbed…. please see a psychiatrist!

    • 5
      1

      simply because he is on the pay of the idiots.

      If not now when the guy would ever become civlized ? is the question I raise here.

  • 8
    1

    Come on Colombo Telegraph. Why are you aiding and abetting space for personal slander on your pages? we can’t prevent idiots like this from existing, but to allow this kind of publication is really not acceptable and you run a great risk if our citizenry were aligned to litigation.

  • 10
    1

    If this is not abuse what is?
    After I read the first abusive paragraph, the interest to continue faded, it was disgust that I felt.

    How could any educated gentlemen, ever abuse a lady. Whatever, article that Sharmini may have written about her views on Buddhism, Mr. Mahindapala has NO right to go on a personality attack.

    The above phrases are clearly ABUSIVE, DISRESPECTFUL, and Utter gibberish. This seems the work of a terribly jealous and egoistical Male Hypocrite.

    I do believe that within the media circle everyone should be given the chance to view their opinions and highlight criticism to an extent, But this Male Specimen has gone on a personal rampage, which is totally not acceptable. The editor of the said paper should have reviewed this and either banned it or asked the Idiot Man to re-do it.

    How on earth can any educated Man slander a woman, in such an hateful manner. I wonder if this jack Mackerel has a mother, wife, sister, or daughters. I wonder if he ever thought that it was a woman who gave birth to him. NO MAN has the right to slander a woman when it is a woman who birthed him.

    To me he comes across as someone who hates educated women, someone with loads of baggage and a chip on his ugly, ageing, decaying shoulders. Some Jobless piece of junk, who has nothing else to do but write slandering articles.

    He has called Sharmini, some insulting names, but then what is he if he write such vulgar phrases what does he call himself?…

    If he thinks he is a gentleman, he has to think again, as a gentleman is what a gentleman does. Mr. Mahindapala, is just a pathetic person with a huge ego, if that ego gets any bigger the entire media world will have to find another name for this ugly mug.

    I personally hope and pray I will never ever have the bad luck to ever meet this mentally disturbed male viper with the poisonous fangs. Should I ever bump into him god forbid let him have some space to run I am sure going to lambast the pariah.

    • 4
      1

      Yerdua:-

      Please Excuse, Mahindapala. Looking at his photo, it looks like he is quite Old.

      He may be suffering from Senile Debility. He cannot now command the Respect he got when He was a Young Journalist!

      This sort of Pathetic Outburst is a form of Public Rebellion against the Travails of Old Age!

  • 4
    3

    ‘Why can’t women – Be like me?’ (Professor Higgins)

    Izzeth Hussain and other Muslims, behold and learn from this incident.

    Here we have Sharmini attacking Sangha and the ‘laity’ in a rather nasty manner and an infuriated Mahindapala returning the attack. The majority sympathize with Sharmini.

    But none of them mention fatwas, beheadings, hell, heaven, virgins etc. (unless of course, the Sharmini is one). Mahindapala is angry about Sharmini attacking the Sangha and the ‘laity’ and writes nasty words. But he never threatens Sharmini with physical harm or death.

    The supporters are upset about the language used by Mahindapala. But they have pushed the religious aspects to the background. Metta seems to be in short supply in this exchange. But Thank Gaban, so is murder and bloodletting. If Sharmini was a man. I am sure Mahindapala would have been equally infuriated and the words would have been equally harsh.

    Dear IH and other Muslims, that is Buddhist behavior for you. What would you guys have done in such a case? No. No need to answer, Charlie Hebdo has answered us. If we want further confirmation there is soma’s innocent comment enraging a nice old man, making him threaten the poor lady so badly that she is driven in to hibernation.

    In the movie ‘My Fair Lady’, Professor Higgins, exasperated by Eliza Doolittle’s womanly behavior says, ‘Why can’t women – Be like me?’. Inspired by that I say, ‘Why can’t Muslims – Be like Buddhists?’

  • 16
    2

    I am really outraged and appalled by the language of this author Mahindapala. I am very didappointed with the of disgraceful and irresponsible attitude of Colombo Telegraph Editors to allow personal insults being directed against a lady who had the guts to express her views on improperly practiced Buddhism. Colombo Telegraph has stooped low in the gutter to acvomodate such awful language by Mahindapala against Sharmini Serasinghe. Mahindapala is certainly entitled to his view on Sinhala Buddhism and to counter the article of Sharmini Serasinghe with his views on the subject. But to resort to personal insults and comments confirm he had nothing of value to counter. It is a hallmark of a loser to counter with personal insults when they are cornered. But more than with Mahindapala I am very disappointed with the Editors of Colombo Telegraph and appalled they approved for publication such gutter journalism on the part of Mahindapala. The author Mahindapala instead of making a good case for Sinhala Buddhism has brough shame on the Sinhalese and Buddhism by his gutter language. Colombo Tekegraph has lost respect and credibility by publishing such a low form of article.

    • 0
      0

      [Edited out]

  • 7
    1

    All that drivel to justify Buddhism as Dominant force designed to eliminate other beliefs? Wonder who’s popped out of the Cuckoo clock? That personal attack with tunnel visioned (blinkers on) view belongs to the trash can. Not these columns. Mr. Know it all should be fully aware that there are bad apples in every basket. Should they be kept with the rest so it would spread? Get a life di#@€#@@!.

  • 8
    1

    Mahindapala!

    I would like to point out to you that it is extremely ugly and I was appalled by the way you have slandered this lady. You need to learn to respect others. What you have accused this lady could lead you to serious consequences so please think twice before you accuse people. There is no need to write about peanut brain, Buddhist or non-Buddhist school, removing the layers of paint from Sharmini’s face, facial cleaners, thick skin, warts, the plastic look, cosmetics, whether she wears Chanel 9 when she goes to bed at night, artificial eye-lashes, her jewellery or ageing breasts. Honestly, this is none of your business and if it’s good for her and her husband then so be it! Furthermore, I think she is far from being a plain Jane!
    May I also add that you can’t afford to call her a ‘Wathie’ when you are a ‘PALA’!
    I am absolutely disgusted…

    • 9
      1

      Linda, we should be disgusted more with Colombo Telegraph for published such a blasphemous piece.

      One expected them to maintain literary standards and lead the way towards intellectual discussion. Instead they have time and again given undue prominence to gutter offerings of this man and others. Much like Pala, they will not learn either.

      Blaming this Pala man is of no use for he is stuck with a bird brain. His grey matter is too little to absorb all what has been said in these comments. Rightfully the website should be made to walk over the coals for this ugly piece.

      Sharmini if she was in her right mind, should sue this Pala galah so that he learns a bitter lesson the hard way.

      • 2
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        Absolutely! I told her to sue him!

      • 2
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        I completely agree with you.
        CT should take responsibility for depositing this garbage on their website

  • 11
    1

    Mr.Mahndapala

    I am appalled to read the contents of your attacks on Shamin.

    You must still be a village boy Pala and you have not grown up or civilised yet.

    If you are are an intellectual writer you should have challenged the contents of the article and instead you are making the writer rubbish and if you are a civilized and rational writer you would not do it.

    It only proves how low you are and please learn a lesson from what comments the readers have made.

    First, develop yourself as a civilized human being leaving your rural Pala background.

    • 0
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      sorry to say that HLD is the only evidence to show that he is the surviving available creature of hybridization of Lion and human (/ass).

    • 2
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      This wifeless man needs this.

      He hates entire world that would including those work against MR regime.

      That he proves by his articles. So this is one another article telling the world that only so called clay fed sinhala buddhists only know what to do with the nation. These men to be given safer heaven in australia is my unanswered question. Living on dole, but to add their two cents worth further deviding the nation – is no affordable to nation/Srilanka today. We should work hard to heal the war torn nation in every means. But to behave the other way around is beyond all bearing actually.

  • 1
    0

    Indonesia was a Hindhu country before the king parameshwara accept Islam, Buddhism was already replaced by Hinduism by 12 th century The Malaya and Indo China archipelago embraced in to Islam after the arrival of Spanish and dutch to the region.
    It’s true our kings were respect minorities given due place the element is eroded by opportunistic political agendas nowadays.

  • 2
    10

    A good response to Shamini from a TRUE sinhala Buddist.

    Buddhist all over the world, who follow the teachings of Lord Buddha will condemn you. because they cant understand that your are a SINHALA BUDDHIST and expound the values of SINHALA BUDDISM

    keep it up HLDP

    • 4
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      SINHALA BUDDISM is nothing but Barbarism.

    • 4
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      Shiran

      “A good response to Shamini from a TRUE sinhala Buddist.”

      When will the Buddhist respond to this Sinhala/Buddhists?

      “Buddhist all over the world, who follow the teachings of Lord Buddha will condemn you.”

      For the sake of Buddhists world over, Buddha’s teaching should be liberated from the Sinhala/Buddhists.

      “because they cant understand that your are a SINHALA BUDDHIST and expound the values of SINHALA BUDDISM”

      That is a very good reason as to why we should liberate Buddhists from Sinhala/Buddhism and Sinhalese from Sinhala/Buddhism.

      “keep it up HLDP”

      No he can’t. Nature is not on his side and his as age has been catching up with him rapidly.

  • 7
    1

    As usual this gutter journalist who was a disgrace to the Lake House seems to be taking great pleasure in wallowing in mud like a ” wal oora”. His abhorrence of cosmetics is understandable because he is naturally fond of mud and excreta etc. A defender of Sinhala-Buddhism!

  • 2
    7

    Well said Mr.Mahindapala.You have given what this [Edited out]deserves

  • 0
    0

    [Edited out]

  • 3
    0

    As responses head towards the 200, It is quite heartening to read the gallant comments of alert fellow readers and their total abhorrence to the disgraceful writing of this one-time accidental Lake House Editor. This scoundrel made editor of a once hallowed paper only by sucking-up to the political masters of the time. Some perceptive fellow-hacks who saw through his façade in those early days dubbed him ‘southuwa’, ‘wanachara-pala’ and worse. Over the years, they have been proved right, several times. Here the man has crossed the line between being forceful and forthright, and descended into the gutter.

    I implore Ms Sharmini Serasinghe not to stoop to his tactic of demanding a reply. This will only encourage the devious bugger to turn even more obnoxious.

    Were CT right to publish? On balance, Yes. We had the opportunity, once again, to see those who would abuse free speech. Ye shall surely know them by what they write.

    • 1
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      Spring Koha, I agree with you 100%. These are hard times with all kinds of threats, both perceived and real.

      When you know that there is a widespread outbreak of rabies, you have to worry about the rabid dogs, not the healthy ones. The healthy dogs may insist that 99% of them are good and the precautionary measures put in place are insulting and unnecessary. But what worries me is not the 99% good but the 1% mad.

      Similarly, regarding the comments, we need not worry about the good ones. It is the bad ones we have to be so careful about.

    • 1
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      Spring Koha

      “Were CT right to publish? On balance, Yes. We had the opportunity, once again, to see those who would abuse free speech. Ye shall surely know them by what they write. “

      Now we know more and more. If CT dis not publish, we will know less and less, ans will still think that it is the Sun that is going around the Earth.

      • 0
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        In my case, ” I shall surely know who I am by what I write.” I must tell you, I am not highly impressed by what I see.

        “The Sun is going around the Earth”. The holy books say the same thing about the moon. That means science is half right. Perhaps one day, they will be 100% right, like the books.

        • 0
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          EDWIN RODRIGO

          Joshua 10:13
          New International Version
          So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

          The Universe of Aristotle and Ptolemy

          The celestial sphere that we introduced previously is a convenient fiction to locate objects in the sky. However, the Greek philosopher Aristotle (many of Aristotles works are available at the Internet Classics Archive) proposed that the heavens were literally composed of 55 concentric, crystalline spheres to which the celestial objects were attached and which rotated at different velocities (but the angular velocity was constant for a given sphere), with the Earth at the center. The following figure illustrates the ordering of the spheres to which the Sun, Moon, and visible planets were attached.

          Read on the link below.

          http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/aristotle.html

  • 5
    0

    Once the 200th comment comes in,Mahindapala will have an Orgasm.
    You see comrades,this I suspect is his ploy .Poor chap!

  • 5
    1

    Plato

    “Mahindapala will have an Orgasm”

    Are you suggesting that this person is a masochist?

    A Madam could do the trick with her whip or other gadgets, causing pain and humiliation in no time.

  • 3
    0

    Oh Tuan has drawn 178 responses to his sexist low breed diatribe. Over 95% disagree with his disgusting views. Where is Meenachi?Where is the ex Fire Brigade fire fighter father?

  • 1
    4

    Sinhala Buddhists who have a bit of dosh, can speak English and act like Elite do more harm to the Sinhala nation than Ms Serasinghe.

    I know quite a few who think they are pure Buddhists because they listen to Dhamma in English.

    And backs Yahapalana to the hilt..

    But they have no idea of the big picture.

    They don’t even want to know about the real Buddhists who saved Buddhism and made it survive for 2500 years in this tiny Island.

    It is also the rural Buddhists. who helped to even eradicate three decades of Thamil terrorism which brought the Nation to its knees.

    Even when the West tried to force dismembering it, to please Tamil minority and give them one third of the country as separate state, it was the rural Sinhala Buddhists who resisted..

    Today the very existence of the rural Buddhist sector is under threat.

    UNP Government which is lead by the Christian Faction leader Mr Wicks is hell bent on finishing off the rural Sinhala Buddhist influence in the Nation.

    Every act of his and his associates so far has been to cripple the rural Buddhists .

    Stopping the Infrastructure, closing School or not building them , closing down the Mattala Airport and the Hambanthota Harbour , are clear indicators of this UNP strategy to strangle the Rural Buddhists.

    The latest Bikku Penal Code is the classic example of their attempts to muzzle the Sinhala Buddhist voice of the Rurals.

    Yahapalana first year has emptied the treasury and the Treasurer is borrowing a lousy one Billon from a mate and brag about it.

    The real problem is the dwindling income from the Middle East and the un necessary antagonism towards Chinese which has stopped the Renminbi ,

    But the Minister who swore on Thriptakaya to save Rural Sinhala Buddhists now only talks about his Megapolis which is going to cost USD 50 Billion minimum…

    And it is only going to help the non Buddhists in the main and the non Sinhalese in general..

    And It will the biggest hit to the Sinhala Buddhists to marginalize the rurals even further..

    The other purpose is to distract the inhabitants in the urban areas, until the Christian Faction leader fulfills his agreements with the TNA Diaspora and the West.

    But our Elite SBs can’t see that..

  • 1
    1

    Behold how Karma works

    Sharmini commits one of the Anantharya Papa Karma (attempting to divide the Sangha) and reaps instant results, and is subjected to a barrage of insults through HLDM’s article. This instant manifestation of the result is called Ditta Dhamma Vedaneeya mode.

    HLDM in this case is the innocent yet effective medium that the laws of Karma has selected to punish Sharmini. You may ask, does it mean that HLDM is not committing any bad Karma here?

    If you had gone to Buddha with the same question, you will find him evading it by saying “Do not try to understand out how Karma works. Don’t waste your time”. He will go on to elaborate that it is one of those Imponderables (Atakkavacara) like trying to understand how the universe began. You will never find the answer and eventually you will go mad if you continue to think about it. Nice way to evade answering, eh?

    But forget our Avatar. He is well known for that type of response when being faced with embarrassing questions. Sometimes, if he is in a particularly bad mood he would completely ignore the questioner and pretend that you are not there. Nice tactic to remember when your wife asks you something like ‘Who was that girl with you in the car today? Jameela phoned in and told me everything”. Just slip in to Thushnimbhuta mode. (i.e.) Respond with No response.

    Coming back to Sharmini and Mahindapala (sorry, Mahindapala and Sharmini, in case I offend the male chauvinistic U No Hoo’s), my theory is that the two committed a joint crime in the past and set the wheels of karma moving. Let me give the chain of events in a clear concise manner. Note the Cause and Effect cycle in action here.

    Karma -1: Mahindapala and Sharmini commit a joint crime. We have no idea what it was. It could have been a simple papa karma like M buying cosmetics for S wearing while in Atasil mode or a serious one like – sorry, I have run out of ideas.

    Vipaka -1: Both are tempted to commit bad karma by writing the two infamous article.

    Vipaka -2: Sharmini commits Anantharya Papa Karma in her article. Mahindapala commits the simple papa karma of insulting Sharmini.

    Vipaka -3: S is subjected to titillating and not so titillating insults of M. (This is only the trailer for the main Vipaka).

    Vipaka -4: M is subjected to a lot of heat from humans as well as Kala Veddahs.

    Vipaka -5: (Last but not least). The earth opens up and takes S to AMN, where a special program is awaiting her starting with the removal of her make up.

    We all hope that the cycle would end there.

    • 1
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      Elaboration (AMN) Avici Maha Narakaya

      Sorry people, someone called and asked what AMN means. It stands for Avici Maha Narakaya, the 5 star Hell that bad Buddhists (like Sharmini)are sent to.

      There are these 8 hells with romantic names such as Sañjīvaya, Kala Sutraya (not to be confused with Kama Sutraya or Mila Sutraya), Samghataya, Rauraya, Maha Rauraya, Thapaya, Maha Thapaya, (mercifilly no Entropiya), Aviciya.

      In fact they sound so romantic that one would be tempted to use one as a hotel name, if one owned one (I mean hotel not hell). The romance however, ends with the name as Sharmini is bound to discover. The worst is the last. Aviici means uninterrupted. HLDM may think that removal of her make up would be hard enough punishment. But that is only the start. The closest earthly example I can give is that, with all those super heated oil vats in Aviichi awaiting her arrival, it is going to be worse than even a short honeymoon with HLDM.

  • 4
    0

    Colombo Telegraph has dragged itself in the mud with this article. I for one am never reading it again. Its a shame. I had some respect for it and for the editor but not any more.

    • 0
      1

      Fatima, I fully agree with you. The CT is not worth the paper it is written on. And to think that I spent so much paper, effort and time writing down everything! May be one Canadian forest went down as pulp for all that paper.

      I did that because, like you, I had some respect for it though not so much for its editor. But the day they started publishing my comments I started having doubts about their respectability. Now my position is:

      I refuse to read a publication that does not have enough shame to refuse my comments.

      Like Fatima, I put my foot down and say I am never going to touch CT again, leave alone writing down even one word from it it. I swear by God Gaban, that I will continue doing so as long as you continue your shameless ways, such as dragging yourself in mud and publishing my comments. However, if I find you refraining doing those things, then I may start (the key word here being ‘may’) writing it down again. Who knows, I may even mail some comments. To hell with Canadian forests.

      • 2
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        EDWIN RODRIGO

        “Like Fatima, I put my foot down and say I am never going to touch CT again, leave alone writing down even one word from it it. I swear by God Gaban……”

        You can certainly change your current God Gaban, and find a new God, and keep posting on Mahinderpala’s articles. On Lankaweb, they love his articles, so that we know why they love them, the so-called mud articles.

        In Hinduism, there are “33 Crores of Gods”, 330 Million Gods to Choose from. That is 330,000,000 Gods to choose from, except God Gban. So only have 329,999,999 to choose from.

        Did the Hindus Count Buddha as a God? Amarasiri is not quite sure.

        • 0
          0

          Sorry man, I cannot read you comments because I vowed not to read CT or write it down anymore until they reform. But I will certainly look up the Lankaweb.

          Are you kidding me? You think it is easy to change one’s God just like that? Changing the wife would be easier.

          Regarding the question about Buddha, he is considered as an Avatar of Vishnu by Hindus (one of the Avatars, ha ha).

          Oh yeah, those 33 million Gods, including Vishnu, are all Avatars of Gaban. So what does that make Buddha. An Avatar of an Avatar = Avatar squared.

  • 0
    0

    Edwin Rodrigo.

    You talk about Henry Higgins!
    Pray let us know about Pygmalion,John Bulls other Island,and also about all those works of that laughing iconoclast GBS.

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