3 December, 2024

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For Whom The Bell Tolls – Anti Buddhist Behaviour

By Gotamini Hathurusinghe

The Current Issue

Sri Lanka has seen yet another incident of violent behavior motivated by hate, greed and arrogance. The attack on the Masjid (Prayer Centre) on Swarna Chaitya Road, Grandpass, during prayers no less and just after the Holy month of Ramadan is a despicable act by one of the so called Buddhist armies, formed to protect “Sinhala Buddhism”, as the Buddhist “temple” bell rang out..

New Kind Of Buddhism

One needs to look for this new kind of Buddhism, which is a hybrid of ethno religious nonsense. Why do real Buddhist feel apologetic? Why do “real” moderate Buddhists feel that the behavior of Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya  and Sihala Ravaya is highly unacceptable? It is simply because the very names are anti Buddhist as there is no force in Buddhism. Let us call them the Buddhist Armies as that is exactly their behavior. Very similar to the wars of crosses in the past. Ironically Buddhism which was never given at the point of a sword, today sees this great philosophy being used by force to practically ethnic cleanse areas to gain territory for the Sinhala Buddhist cause, calling it the protection and restoration of sacred areas, protection of Buddhists against exploitation of halal certification and citing various other reasons.

Sihala Ravaya exchanging words with members of the Muslim community in Grandpass last week.

The attack on this mosque in Grandpass and surrounding houses could not have been done with the fervor of protecting the Sinhalese Buddhists. Nor could these activities be done  without state patronage and support, with blatant disregard for communities who live alongside each other. It is quite clear therefore that the Buddhists, a majority who are moderates need to raise our VOICES – loud!

Incidents Against Muslims And Religions Other Than Buddhism

This incident brings the count to over 160 incidents against Muslims by the Buddhist Armies, in the last six months.  The  incidents are a mix, most being attacks on religious places of worship, business establishments, houses and personal attacks. The Centre for Policy Alternatives has compiled another report on Attacks on Places of Religious Worship (only), which collates the descriptions of the attacks on mosques, churches and kovils, totaling 65 since the end of the war from 2009 to March 2013.

The Story Of The Water War

Four years after his [the Buddha’s] attainment of enlightenment, a war took place between the city-state of Kapilavastu and that of Kilivastu over the use of water. Being told of this, [the Buddha] Sakyamuni hastened back to Kapilavastu and stood between the two great armies about to start fighting. At the sight of Sakyamuni, there was a great commotion among the warriors, who said, “Now that we see the World-Honored One, we cannot shoot the arrows at our enemies,” and they threw down their weapons. Summoning the chiefs of the two armies, he asked them, “Why are you gathered here like this?” “To fight,” was their reply. “For what cause do you fight?” he queried. “To get water for irrigation.” Then, asked Sakyamuni again, “How much value do you think water has in comparison with the lives of men?” “The value of water is very slight” was the reply. “Why do you destroy lives which are valuable for valueless water?” he asked. Then, giving some allegories, Sakyamuni taught them as follows: “Since people cause war through misunderstanding, thereby harming and killing each other, they should try to understand each other in the right manner.” In other words, misunderstanding will lead all people to a tragic end, and Sakyamuni exhorted them to pay attention to this. Thus the armies of the two city-states were dissuaded from fighting each other.

The 3 Buddhist Armies of Sri Lanka have totally ignored the teachings of the Lord Buddha on peaceful coexistence. These yellow robed masqueraders, have taken it upon themselves to decide who lives where, which religious place should be located in a particular area, what women should wear, what people should eat, how many children a family belonging to a particular ethnic group should have are dangerously out of control. The public of Sri Lanka (at least the ones who cannot be hypnotized by the current government) sees this as a very dangerous trend in a multi ethnic, multi religious society.

The Government Standing By Aiding And Abetting

The irony of the  whole situation is that the government of the day, uses these Buddhist armies shamelessly to portray the image of a pious, Sinhala Buddhist protector, governing over a state that should be ”Sinhala Buddhist”, where others live only on sufferance. The Sinhala Buddhist masses have got hoodwinked by this idea and the prospect of living in an ethnically homogenous state. In reality some of the Sinhala Buddhists feel insecure when looking at the prosperity and education of some of the ethnicities lesser n number. The Buddhist armies use this fear to build a feeling of insecurity. The masses do not realize that if one community generates wealth for the country, it has an impact on the GDP of the whole country. If one community has a child academically superior, this is for the advancement of the whole nation.

The Buddhist Armies also postulate that it really does not matter even if a community lives in a particular location for over 150 years, or even if a sacred area has been the spiritual ground of any other religion except Buddhists for centuries. Thus Muslims are loosing Kooragala’s Jailani shrine, just as much as there is an attempt to chase out the Muslim communities of Devanagala, in the Mawanella area. The Buddhist armies which seem to have state patronage, work in concert with the Dept of Archaeology in such instances. While the Dept surveys and cordons off lands, the Buddhist armies have a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Speeches are given, mainly playing to the gallery of the vulnerable Sinhalese, promising them that once the Muslim families are chased out, their nice little houses and the lands vacated will be yours. This also works the other way around, where the Buddhist armies do their campaign and are followed by various government departments to consolidate this effort. Exactly how an army operates – clear and consolidate. Does this ring another bell as from whom this tactic is deployed?

While Rome was burning Nero fiddled. In Sri Lanka, while the country is burning with hundreds of violent incidents compounded by rampant corruption, the state has organized not a fiddle, but an orchestra. Orchestrating a drama of “we the great protectors” of a new kind of Buddhism – Sinhala Buddhism.

Does the majority in this small island nation want to be isolated internationally with this triumphalist attitude? It must be remembered that either through religion or ethnicity there are large numbers out there who take up the cause of the Muslims and the Tamils. The insecure Sinhalese are but a small number within Sri Lanka and outside.

Or as a country should we not use all mechanisms and organs to safeguard all Sri Lankans and live harmoniously with the rest of the world? Should not all Sri Lankans have the same freedoms and rights in reality and not merely by rhetoric?

Betrayal By Commonwealth Leaders

The Commonwealth led administratively by Dr Kamalesh Sharma, a man who tries to please everyone and finally pleases only a cow boy government like the Sri Lankan state has betrayed the innocent people of Sri Lanka by persuading the heads of State of Commonwealth countries to come to the summit in Sri Lanka.

Commonwealth Leaders, do you see what’s happening beyond the war and war crimes of the past 30 years? Do you see that this government is fundamentally flawed and that you cannot reason with them by having a mere summit? Do you see that conducting such a conference with big fan fare is only serving to consolidate the state by hoodwinking the masses with this Commonwealth pageant? Do you not see the expense and burden placed upon the people who have to pay for generations for corruption in the past and record corruption levels now?

A Call To Citizens

This piece of writing is a call to all our Citizens! Forget political machinations of all parties and wake up to this bugle call after a bloody war of 30 years. Dialogue in public and tell the so called leaders what it is that we want as Sri Lankans. Prominent Sri Lankan businessmen, academics, sportsmen, artistes, professionals, social development workers who are key opinion leaders need to unite to make a statement that enough is enough. They need to deliberate on a future path for Sri Lanka. These same leaders must disseminate the correct information to other Sri Lankans who do not have access to the right information, these same leaders need to deliberate and form a council of reconciliation when incidents such as the Masjid in Grandpass yesterday.

Latest comments

  • 0
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    fine article

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    The communal hatred and violence are part of the Medamulana rogues to get away from other burning issues like COL/economy/unemployment etc.,

    CHOGM clowns will come in Nov-2013 and will have photo-ops with the rogues like MARA, GOAT,the killer rapist Pradesheeya Sabha guy from Tangalle and the poor masses have to reply for those Rolce Royces.

    The Muslim politicians like Mowlana/Fauzi/Hakeem/Azwer/Mustafa etc., will lick the back of the haram MARA and say its Halal as far as they get the loot from all corruption and women for the night.

    Its time for the Muslim masses to come under one umbrella like SLMC under Ashraf and fight for their rights.

    Those Arabs will not give any attentions as they do not care any other Muslim other than an Arab.

  • 0
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    This is all a plot by Gotabaya to get his adopted Country USA on his side. As we all know the USA is strongly anti Islam!

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      Here is a controversial theory put forward by a Sinhalese friend:

      The government think tank fears that Asian Muslims who are isolated from those in the ME are beginning to forge close relationships. A strong network allows for an exchange of ideas and conduit for Muslim awakening. The MOD does not want another front opened up after winning the ethic war against Tamils. The best way to contain this unfounded fear is to hound Muslims. MOD has a successful model to follow. This has been communicated by the MOD to the President.

      The strategy is to rile Muslims. Provocations of this nature will bring out the terrorist cells if they exist and would be easy to “nip in the bud” and hence the tacit support for BBS and their clones, well funded by individuals who seem to have no connection to this country or to Buddhism.

      Seems plausible. I hope Muslims don’t fall to prey to the machinations of unseen hands and will remain steadfast. We don’t need to fight a losing battle which will put the country back another 30 years because it is not based of fact hut is based on inherent fear and insecurity of a majority community that feels it is under seige.

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    Such a disgrace…muslim ministers pls resgin if you cant serve the community.

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      An appeal to muslims – prevent your muslim leaders from entering your mosques – pelt them with cowdung and chase them away since they are not muslims; they are only power hungry, greedy and corrupt and dont deserve to be called muslims. you have got to do it since the government is doing this and them not uttering a word is ample support to Goat and Maha-hitler

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        The Muslim majority is not with the so called Muslim politicians,it is already reported this boottlickering hypokrits has been chased out by Mosques.

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    Let our Muslim brothers know that the MAJORITY of Sri Lankans, call them Buddhists, Christians or of any other denomination DO NOT WANT THIS COMMUNALISM.

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    Patriotism … is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit and it is what the Rajapaksa regime has mastered in controlling the masses.

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    BTW all muslim brother’s and sisters must understand, that by following any of our Muslim MP’s or Ministers, whether he is a UNP’er, SLFP’er, Muslim Congress or any other party, are answerable to Almighty Allah for their actions as we encourage them in what they do.

    Let me explain to you; they are following the orders of Satan, disagreeing to follow the law’s of Sharia, and in that context are disagreeing to Alllah’s Divine Law. Let me elaborate further; actually they are Ministers of Satan voting in the cabinet and parliament towards implementing (example) TAX, approving many things banned by Sharia etc, yet they come to mosque and pray as if their true muslims, and our muslims too embrace them with enthusiasm.

    In reality they are answerable to Allah on the day of judgement for every such misleading action of theirs and so are their supporters. Islam doesn’t permit us to take to politics, except under islamic law.

    However, we can live even under the rule of Satan, if we have no place to go; but to believe in Almighty Allah and keep to our beliefs and avoid being involved in anyway with the Satanic rule or regime, but we have failed here very miserably, so let us try and rectify our mistakes from here on now.

    Nevertheles, if people break our mosques, we have nothing to worry they are breaking Almighty Allah’s house and they are declaring war with Almighty Allah, so let them do so, who are you to stop them. Let Almighty Allah do as he pleases with them or are you muslims in doubt of what Allah Almighty can accomplish, if so first build your Iman (Faith), then pray to Almighty Allah asking for support. As I see the only time you can fight for your rights is; if injustice to you or your land is caused by someone or some regime, then you could fight for your rights, not otherwise.

    I quote the following from the Holy Quran and Hadeeth of Prophet Muhammed ;

    “Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers.” [AlQuran, Surah al-Hijr (15):9]

    Finally, an advice to the Ummah of Muhammad (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) who are deeply saddened by the slander and attack on islam, “Goodness and evil cannot be equal. Repel (evil) with something that is better. Then you will see that he with whom you had enmity will become your close friend. And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint.” [(41): 34-35]

    Allah’s Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, “Doesn’t it astonish you how Allah protects me from the Quraish’s abusing and cursing? They abuse Mudhammam and curse Mudhammam while I am Muhammad (and not Mudhammam)” [Saheeh al-Bukharee (4/733)]

    By the way do you muslims know the meaning of being a muslim; seeing what happens in our muslim society everyday, I doubt it. A True Muslim is one who doesn’t hurt another, whether he is muslim or non-Muslim using his limbs, eyes, ears or mouth.

    It is also our duty to die a Moomin not as a muslim, so my dear muslim brother and sisters, know your creator and his powers first and let people do what they do in damaging our house of worship, say it to your creator with your tears and he will answer your prayers.

    Moreover, I think we should try to eliminate the virus from its root and in order to do that, we must clearly understand that the Rajapaksa regime is in no-way friends of the Muslims and the racial prejudice cultivated amongst a sector of extremists is spreading everywhere. So the only way out of this is to join hands with the rest of the people who are wanting a change and help them topple this regime once and for all, as this regime is clearly Allah’s enemy and not the buddhists, Catholic, Cristian or Hindus of this country.

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    So much happenning. Not a word from MAHINDA to control and contain budhist thugs. Is it rule of law or law of the jungle? Are we going back 2000 years?

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    We all know the BBS is backed by the govt which knows it cannot win the next presidential elections.

    They want the Muslims to retaliate so they can scare the Sinhala Buddhist majority. Remember in previous elections how we heard of the Ali-Koti gavisum. Now, that the war is over, they want to talk of an alliance of UNP and minorities, like saying if Ranil wins, the minority will take over.

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      Steel,

      You are joking mate. In Sinhala Lanka you play the racist card and you are home and dry. MR speaks for the vast majority of the Sinhalese and he plays to the Gallery.
      No body internally is going to oust him and the Racists adore him.

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    Dear Gotamani Haturusinghe,

    “One needs to look for this new kind of Buddhism, which is a hybrid of ethno religious nonsense. Why do real Buddhist feel apologetic? Why do “real” moderate Buddhists feel that the behavior of Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya and Sihala Ravaya is highly unacceptable? It is simply because the very names are anti Buddhist as there is no force in Buddhism. “

    Well stated. The Mara Buddhists are teaching a Nazi Buddhism.

    Hitler was a catholic and a Nazi. However, not all Catholics are Nazis.

    It is now very easy to tell a Buddhist Child, that this is your Buddhism, just like Nazism. Why do you want to follow such a religion? Be an atheist or follow any other more civilized Egalitarian religion.

    Your chants in Pali by your monks, who claim Nirvana = Extinction, will not save you or help you.

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    This is the time to say “IT’S A SHAME TO BE A SRI LANKAN” How on earth Buddhist monks can harm others. No matter what ever the reason is. These monks get every thing free in their lives and have nothing to do. How many of them preach Lord Buddha’s teachings to people. May be not even 2% of the whole lot does.
    If they did what they were expected to do properly there wouldn’t have been this much of Muslims in Sri Lanka. Don’t forget though they are Muslims they are Sri Lankans.
    These monks should be punished for this because it is their fault that we have so many Muslims.Now there is no need to fight against them since they are our brothers.

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      Good Man,

      You are mad Good Man . Go and see a Psychiatrist before you turn into a Bad Man

      • 0
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        Great comment Kali…you are a Good Man!

  • 0
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    When the 2nd world was won by Winston Churchil the Britishers cheered as a great leader but defeated him on next election as he was not fit to rule the country peacefully. That is the difference between suddas and lankans

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    The Head of the Police Force IGP should resign from job immediately,

    He must allow another professional DIG to assume the job of the IGP who

    can quell violence and a professional police force.

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