By H.L. Seneviratne –
Prof. H.L. Seneviratne
We frequently hear politicians declaring that they will follow the steps of the ancient kings who always ruled according to the advice of the Mahasangha. This is a vague generalization that has no historical or scientific validity.
When we look at our history we do not find a continuing centralized system either in the political domain or in the religious. In the political domain what we see is a constant power struggle, as seen in the frequency of violent succession, often by killing family members or close kin.
And, the political system was an oscillating one between a temporary centralization and its inevitable end in the break up of the system into warring groups. The story that we had a unitary (ekeeya) state in ancient times is a myth. We never had a unitary state until British rule unified the country. Indeed there was none anywhere in the world until the rise of the modern nation state starting about two centuries ago.
The religious domain was similar, and if any, even less centralized than the political domain, because, monks had no coercive power, and were totally dependent on the king for any centralization they had. Factions of monks competed to get the favour of the king, and our history is full of stories of kings purging the Sangha (called purification, sasana visodhana), at the instigation of the faction that got the favour of the king.
There was nothing called a unitary and monolithic “Mahasangha”. A non-existent thing cannot give advice. “Mahasangha” here simply means a faction of the monks. And any “advice” they gave was not a one way thing, like from a person who can advice to a person who needs advice. It was no more than participation in intrigue against the enemy factions.
Another meaning of “advising” is, goading the king to do the bidding of the monk faction for their benefit. This is a general feature of the feudal political order of pre-modern times when elites, both lay and monastic, formed factions and operated for their benefit, and supported whoever the king was who was willing to reciprocate.
What this means is that the picture in our “glorious ancient times” is the same as what we see today. There are groups of monks who get round groups of politicians and they try to get politicians to do what they want. These are two fold, (1) to get as much material benefits as they can get from the politicians, especially those in power, and (2) to established the hegemony of the Sinhala Buddhist majority, and discriminate against the minorities, the purpose of which is also gaining more and more wealth and status, and bolstering their egos with long titles.
One other relevant point is that when these people talk about the advice of the Mahasangha, what advice are they talking about? To advice, one must have knowledge in the first place. They must have knowledge, at least basic knowledge, about what a modern democracy is, what a modern economy is, what the modern international system is like, and so forth. In sum, they must have the basic knowledge that can qualify them to be modern cosmopolitan citizens. I do not believe there is one single monk, certainly none among the monks with whom our politicians interact, who would have the basic qualifications to give any meaningful advice.
Why should politicians need advice anyway, to do the job they are elected to do? If they need real advice, they can get it from qualified persons, like economists, biologists, engineers, lawyers and so forth.
Our monks have no such expertise. They can only talk platitudes and racist slogans. If we are to go by their advice, what we will end up having is an economically bankrupt, racist, ignorant, dictatorial society. The real story behind the talk about “advice” is to bring back such a society, that we had under the Rajapaksas. The more we keep the Mahasangha away from politics the better for the people.
Thiru / January 30, 2016
H.L. Seneviratne you are a wise Sinhalese like Shamini Serasinghe.
You are the people who should lead the country for ethnic and religious harmony and economic prosperity to uplift the masses.
The present set of Sinhalese leaders don’t have the enlightened qualities like you two or the modern knowledge of how human civilization is evolving to lead the country with a vision and a mission.
It is a pity the people go on electing these untrustworthy political rogues to lead the country.
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Davidson Panabokke / January 30, 2016
Thiru
Prof HLS ia a Fulbright scholar and appealed to MR for sensible rule:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/fulbright-days-and-a-plea-to-leadership-2/
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Jim softy / January 31, 2016
What others should when a Tamil priases these two so called sinhala people who criticizes buddhism
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Burning Issue / January 31, 2016
Jim,
It is obvious that you are an immotional character so much so you do not comprehend even simple aspects let alone complex ones!
What aspects on this article that you find that are criticle of Buddhism? Can you name at least one please?
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Double standards / January 31, 2016
a good article unlike the hate filled ramblings without sense of sharmini serasinghe. don’t compare sane with insane
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CountryFirst / January 30, 2016
Dr. Seneviratne states with conviction and as an academic that:
“We never had a unitary state until British rule unified the country. “
Not quite true….
For one thing the term “unitary” was never used in the conceptual sense that it is used today. There were Monarchs who ruled Realms – and Lanka was considered A SINGLE REALM particularly at the time of the first incursions by the Colonial West. The Jaffna peninsula was at most a fiefdom formed by stragglers left after South Indian invasions, and possibly as an outpost of the Chola/Pandya plundering incursions which had been successfully pushed back to S. India. Historical records of this plunder exist in India as well.
At the time of Portuguese entry, the Yalpanam chief was paying tribute to the King of Kandy who was Monarch of the entire island. Tribute was paid by ALL chiefs in the island to the King in Kandy. Kandy successfully held out against Western colonials who conquered the Maritime Provinces but failed to do so, adding to the many attempts by the West to conquer the kingdom. It was only via a Western ruse to divide the Kandyan chiefs that finally succeeded in the ceding of what was left – the Kandyan kingdom – by the then Monarch, enabling the British to “UNIFY” the island, as HLS avers.
Thus, in terms of modern terminology and use of the modern term “unitary state”, Ceylon/Sri Lanka had been a “UNITARY” state well before the British colonials “unified” it.
This has been acknowledged by historians of yore and why it is being challenged/overlooked by the learned Dr. Seneviratne baffles this reader.
Perhaps he could elucidate.
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AVB / January 30, 2016
“At the time of Portuguese entry, the Yalpanam chief was paying tribute to the King of Kandy who was Monarch of the entire island.”….. holy crap….. Please read instead of making you own history
It looks like “SinhalaFirst” has invented modern “MahaWansa II” about recent history… At the time Portuguese (1505), they not only had gun power, they used to record things in writing and considerable amount of authentic recorded information about Lanka are available after 1505… You may say Mahawansa stories about things happened 2500 years back or DutuGamunu’s (2200 years back??) insomnia problems, but don’t try to misguide people about the history after 1505…… There are authentic records …
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ramona therese fernando / January 30, 2016
CountryFirst,
It is very correct, what you say. The constant power struggles that the Prof. speaks of are merely the 1-5% typical highlights of the Lankan historical saga. 95% of peaceful and unitary times of the Buddhist island, especially with the other spectrum of Buddhists viz. their Hindu cousins in the North, is…..axiomatic. It is indisputable, that only such a society could have spread the Theravada message to so many other countries in the region, from Burma to Japan.
In this day and age of precarious globalization debacles and climate change, it is better to keep the historical heritage in place so Sri Lanka will not lose her unique identity to the monstrosity of the global interchange.
The Buddhistic historical heritage cannot be rejected and scored on. However, the Buddhistic heritage needs to updated and upgraded for inevitabilities of the wider web of the global order.
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Suresh / February 1, 2016
ramona therese fernando
***“It is indisputable, that only such a society could have spread the Theravada message to so many other countries in the region, from Burma to Japan”***
This is absolutely hilarious…LOL!
Leave basic general knowledge aside, at least use your common sense.
Please tell us when did Sri Lanka spread Theravada message to other countries??? LOL!
Cambodia is 97% Theravada Buddhist, Thailand is 93% Theravada Buddhist, Burma (Myanmar) is 80% Theravada Buddhist, but Sri Lanka is ONLY 69% Theravada Buddhist.
Theravada Buddhism or the Buddhism of the Third Council was spread to South and East Asia by the Indian Emperor Asoka and not anybody else.
Sri Lanka did not spread (export), it only brought down (imported) Theravada message from Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar).
In order to re-establish Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Siam Nikaya from Thailand (Malwathu and Asgiri) was established in the upcountry (Kandy) during the 18th century. Similarly Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas from Burma was established in the early 19th century for the low country.
Please learn some basics without typing nonsense in a public forum and make yourself a laughing stock.
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King Wala Gemba / February 1, 2016
CountryFirst
Throughout the entire known history, this island known today as Sri Lanka had Never been a unitary state. It was always a Northern kingdom (Anuradapura) and a Southern kingdom (Rohana), or Kotte/Jaffna/Kandy kingdoms (Ruhunu/ Pihiti/Maya) or the federal Provinces under the colonials. Even after the European colonialists (Portuguese, Dutch and British) arrived, until the British united the Tamil speaking North to the Sinhala speaking South in 1833 for their convenience in administration, the Tamil speaking areas remained a federal region.
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Jim softy / January 30, 2016
H.L Senevithrathne [Edited out]
You are deciding in terms of civilian rules. In Buddhism, once Lord Buddha passed away, Dhamma is the teacher, therefore, there are no one to lead Sangha.
Just think about coming 2600 years like that. Even at Buddha’s time, there were bad apples.
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Native Vedda / January 30, 2016
Jim softy Dimwit
“You are deciding in terms of civilian rules. In Buddhism, once Lord Buddha passed away, Dhamma is the teacher, therefore, there are no one to lead Sangha.”
You sound like a militant Muslim.
I wonder what Buddha would have said about using computers, internet, mobiles, motor vehicles, spacecrafts, chemical feritilizers, AK 47, multi barrels, ….
Could you discuss these mundane materialistic possession with Muslims who believe Quran has explanation for every question.
Do you use computer and internet to communicate? What is Dharma’s position on modern life and possessions?
By the way can you have a word or two with your brethren militant Saiva Siddhanthis?
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Jim softy / January 30, 2016
These are kalusuddhas lived in Sri lanka.
He can not understand some one’s culture and civilization.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / January 30, 2016
Sinhala Buddhist’s culture and civilization Or
Buddhist’s Sinhalese’s culture and civilization????.
Neither prevails in present day in sri lanka,
Only the white vans and mismanaged and misled saffron robes culture!!!!!!!.
Aneyey Kaaley, Vaneyey Vaasey!.
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Aku / January 30, 2016
Absolutely, Prof. Seneviratne. All religions should stick to their respective places of worship and concentrate on practicing their religions… And hopefully, become more civilized human beings…
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citizen / January 30, 2016
Well said, Professor. People in Kandy suffer immensely since Mr. Sirisena is scared of antagonising Asgiriya thero to open the road in front of Dalada maligawa. This is the same thero who praised the rogue monk Gnanasara who should have been condemened for his obscene words used on a hapless widow. This monk Gnanasara has been convicted by a court of law. of drunk driving and hurting another motorist The same thero opposed the questioning of the Diyawadana nilame by the police about his rogue activities such as selling maligawa lands Politicians go after Priests to get appointments for them. Vice Chancellor aspirants have got the mahanayakas to talk to the President on many occasions in the Past. are there to get. As HL says if politicians need advice there are enough qulified University Professors, administrators and other specialists to get this advice. These mahasangha should be the last people to go seeking advice. The
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Jim softy / January 31, 2016
Most of the Kandy town should be destreoyed and cleaned because those lands are owned by the Temple.
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2016
Jim softy Dimwit
“Most of the Kandy town should be destreoyed and cleaned because those lands are owned by the Temple.”
Would you now tell us when, how and from the temple acquired the land?
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A Concerned Citizen / January 30, 2016
Prof. Seneviratne should be commended for writing this article exposing some of the fallacies that prevail among some of the politicians in Sri Lanka today. That there was no centralized administration in Sri Lanka before the British unified the country and that the Sangha never played a dominant role in matters relating to governance during the time of the kings of Sri Lanka has been well stressed in this article. These are matters that should be widely publicised in Sri Lanka especially in the present context. Prof. Seneviratne article deserves to be translated into Sinhala and given widest possible publicity.
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Native Vedda / January 30, 2016
Prof
Thanks for enlightening us with your timely commentary. We need and expect you to contribute to this forum more often your precious time would permit.
I would like to ask you a favour if you don’t mind.
Could you provide us with a comprehensive list ( a bibiliography) of your published articles, research papers, books, commentaries, etc with details of titles, journals, and other related information.
Our future generation need to know their scholarly Elders and what they learnt, thought and wrote. Collection, preservation and dissemination of their works are more important than jockeying for power.
Thanks once again.
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Lankan / January 30, 2016
Agree wholeheartedly with the writer.
There is no need to consult the clergy of any
religion, except on matters that are to do with them.
This is done just to protect selfish interests and stay
in power. Time to walk the talk of good governance.
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soma / January 30, 2016
They say the biggest scoundrel is the one who hides behind patriotism. There is even is even a ten times bigger scoundrel in our political circles – the one says that he will be guided by the advice from Mahasangha. Maitripala Sirisena is a classic demagogue.
Wait and see will you.
Soma
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 30, 2016
Prof. Seneviratne,
You have said what needs needs be said, in very clear language. Thank you. President Sirisena, should’ chose his words carefully. I hope he has not started playing the old political game, after getting a taste of political power. He cannot run with the fox and hunt with the hounds! I will yet give him the benefit of doubts.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 30, 2016
President Bodhipala Sirisena says he rules only according to the advice of the Sangha.
The UNP Christian Faction lead Government passes a Bill to control not only the Sangha but now a new Bill to control the Temples.
What is going on here.
Bodhipala Siriisena tells the Alzazeera this time in uncertain terms that there are no War Crimes and no need of White judges .
Batalanda PM apologizes to Johnny from Chanel 4 and pleads with him to be patient until Batalanada gets the White Judges and make them sit in the Hybrid Court in May this year.
What are we supposed to do?. .
Barrack for Bodhisira or Batalanda Ranil?.
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Guv / January 30, 2016
The Separation of Church and State is practiced by most democracies the few exceptions are as follows:
Fundamentalist states such as Iran, Afganistan, and Saudi Arabia have law that is based upon Sharia Law. This law is base directly upon the word of Allah and the Koran and there is very little separation of “church” and state.
Some tribal cultures within existing nations that have individual sovereignty still practice a government system that is based upon heritage and religious beliefs.
Looks like Sri Lanka is leaning towards to the latter category!
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Jim softy / January 30, 2016
this looks all for One previous Pope’s declaration 21st millennial goal of Christianizing Asia. Because, christianity if european culture is history except for some pockets. All others are athiests, agnostics, buddhists and muslims.
HL Senevirathne like Kalusuddha’s are preaching their christian culture.
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2016
Jim softy Dimwit the Coconut
“HL Senevirathne like Kalusuddha’s are preaching their christian culture.”
Please chose the type of government you would volunteer yourself to live under:
Gnanasara’s theocracy
MR’s kleptocracy,
Gota’s Autocracy
Present Kakistocracy
Fonseka’s Stratocracy
Just forget democracy, its too good for you.
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Spring Koha / January 30, 2016
Top stuff Professor.
If I may write, I would go one step further:
Let the Maha Sangha proclaim and rule on matters spiritual.
Let the President and his ministers rule on matters temporal.
Let the judiciary rule on matters of law.
Our devious politicians shackled themselves to the Sangha in order to set themselves up as ‘protectors’ of the Sangha and the Noble Message. What high-handed cheek to think that mere squabbling politicians could be guardians of something so Noble.
It would do well for our politicians to keep in mind that they represent all our people – NOT just the Sinhala-Buddhist – ALL SRI LANKANS, those of faith, and no faith.
Taking that we aspire to be a modern democratic nation, let us act like one.
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yosita fernando / January 30, 2016
How refreshing different from our local burger historian pandering to imagined Buddhist kings …I mean no other than mr. Michael Roberts now in aussie land..all in the name of pendering so that he can get himself recognized like the famous jewish war guards in Germany.
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AVB / January 30, 2016
Prof Seneviratne, Thank you….
We need more people of your type… intelligent , wise and, most importantly who are brave enough to come forward and educate us even when the truth is ugly…. I believe what you say here is not complicated, but sadly lot of our people can’t see it or not ready to accept it…
If you think about recent past, like 200 years back, monks and clergy were the intelligent people who could read and write in a country. What percentage of laymen could read/write until 1900 in Lanka? Kings getting advices from monks make sense in those days… But in year 2000, isn’t it the other way round? I think it is a joke that MS going to govern the country by following advices of Sinhalese Buddhist Popes…
Or perhaps Mr. Sirisena is continuing his big lies to misguide the people which he started in Nov 2015…
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Plato. / January 30, 2016
Great Prof:Seneviratne.
Plato,an ordinary Soul,salutes a fine mind.Thank you Sir.
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B. Senanayake / January 30, 2016
A brilliant essay by Prof Seneviratne, as usual.Two points are very important in it.1)We never had a unitary state until British rule unified the country. Indeed there was none anywhere in the world until the rise of the modern nation state starting about two centuries ago.2)One other relevant point is that when these people talk about the advice of the Mahasangha, what advice are they talking about? To advice, one must have knowledge in the first place. They must have knowledge, at least basic knowledge, about what a modern democracy is, what a modern economy is, what the modern international system is like, and so forth.
Point1)destroys the absolute Mahavamsa myth or fib; and point 2)is a powerful message that the self seeking Sangha must be reigned in fast.
The last time our rulers followed the Sangha’s so called advice and, upon realising the folly tried to undo the damage, no lesser person than the 3rd Prime Minister of our “Dharmapdipa” lay in a pool of blood in his own home – killed off by a member of the Sangha.
After that terrible killing the Sangha was put back in the place they belong: the temple. That was until the racist ,uneducated Mahinda – Gotabhaya deadly combine unchained the monks for their own sinister ends and now like a deadly locust are now destroying the very fabric of our society. Even the Halls of Justice are not been spared from attack.The solution is simple and should be done fast:Put the animals back into the cage and bolt the door.
The Prime Minister’s speech in Parliament is timely but President Sirisena seems to be playing politics. This is tragic since the President started off on a sober ,rational note but is now slowly but surely sliding into the “Rajapaksa Way.”
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Rodrigo / January 31, 2016
At last an enlightened Sri Lankan has spoken!Exactly what advise can these uneducated ruffians can give a president to govern a modern country! Rather than doing their job of practising the religion in their temples what politics and advising of leaders for them? SWRD started the rot by getting Sangha in to politics, MR took it to the hilt to keep his power intact and now MY3 in trying to do the same. Buddhists have no back bone to speak out in unison against these rogue monks or best called as ‘cheevara dhari’. Ranil has said the correct thing but he will be branded as a Christian disguised as a Buddhist! This is the tragedy of Sri Lanka. JR and Chandrika somewhat kept these saffron rogues at bay but Premadasa and MR and now MY3 are trying to take them to his lap.
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Dr C P Thiagarajah / January 31, 2016
The only courageous professor who can call a spade a spade Those who oppose him are bit racist in tone. By insisting on a unitary state they want to control the democratic rights of the minorities like what happened since independence in 1948. Finally the Sinhala rulers ended up before the UNHRC charged with war crimes etc. How foolish these Sinhala leaders have been. Professor H L Senivirutne’s critics should pay heed to the following lines from Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744). It is found in An Essay on Criticism, 1709.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again.
First find the actual truth. Do not believe Mahawansa in the origin of the Sinhala race which is not feasible according to DNA evidence.
A professor is a professor. Listen to him. Discard professors like Prof Peris who changed parties to enrich himself.
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2016
Dr C P Thiagarajah
“The only courageous professor who can call a spade a spade”
Being a Tamil you would not have heard about the other professors who also called a spade a spade, Prof Gananath Obeysekere, Prof R A L H Gunawardana, Prof Sunil Ariaratne, …… Prof Sudharsan Seneviratne, Dr Siran Deriniyagala, …. in their respective fields.
However Prof H L Seneviratne’s contribution is unique and timely.
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ken Robert / January 31, 2016
Prof HLS has the vision of uniting srilanka. His essays are vital in the national discourse on reconciliation.
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2016
ken Robert
Why doesn’t this island produce scholars such as Prof H L Seneviratne, Prof Gananath Obesekere, ….. any more?
Instead the country has produce a load of Dayans, Irathina Valli, Bandus, …. Nalins, ….
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Jim softy / January 31, 2016
american dollar say “UNITED WE STAND BEHIND”. what is that.
Queen is the head of the Anglican church.
what does this Professor has to say about that ?
He is old and forgotten, he does not want to talk how romans created Catholic church.
Why islamic countries have sharia law ?
So many dumb people who use their label to fool others.
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Agnos / January 31, 2016
Professor,
I would say that if Buddhists in Sri Lanka wanted a Vatican for the Maha Sangha, they could have it in a small area in Anuradhapura and near Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. But the rest of Sri Lanka should be a secular, elected democracy, with equal rights for everyone, with equal protections guaranteed not only constitutionally but also in the way everyday law enforcement is carried out. I have always told this to my Sinhalese friends since the mid 1980’s.
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Susruta / January 31, 2016
Very good, HL.
Clear thinking, which alone cane ultimately save us, is fast becoming a rare commodity in this country of ours, at any rate in its public sphere.
As someone else has also said, decent translations of these thoughts should be made available in Sinhala and Tamil.
May you live long.
Susruta.
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Douglas / January 31, 2016
Here we find two different sectors, viz. (1) The RELIGION and (2) The STATE. In this discussion, beginning with the title of the article refers mainly to “Mahasanga” meaning Buddhist Clergy, obviously representing the “Religion” called “BUDDHISM”. On the other hand the “President” refers to represent the STATE. As I see, this “Buddhism” is nothing but a “Way of Life” to be cultivated and adhered to make one’s life “Free and Happy”. However, I suppose every “Religion” aims at that goal. Then what is the STATE? Again as I see, it is the “STRUCTURE” that provides the subject people to live in peace, harmony and be happy. Here we see TWO very important things in COMMON, i.e. THE PEOPLE and the STRUCTURE needed to achieve the end goal of being HAPPY. Aren’t all that centered finally around PEOPLE? If RELIGION is a WAY OF LIFE and STATE is POLITIC, the question now is “How do we bring in harmony between Religion and State?
As far as Sri Lanka is concerned the best tool available to bring in that harmony is Buddhism, because that is (1) the taught way of life of the majority and (2) its teachings are the most adoptable to one’s life. Why it is the BEST TOOL? The following explains it all:
“Sabba Papassa Akaranan; Kuslassa Upasampada; Sa Citta Pariyodapanan; Ethan Buddhana Sasanam” meaning: “Refrain from Evil; Cultivate Goodness; Cleanse the Heart and that is Buddha Dharma” So what more advice you need to build and maintain that STRUCTURE needed in the STATE for the people to be happy and free?
Now the confusion is in regard to the reference “Mahasanga” the “Clergy”. This confusion can be understood well if we can differentiate between a “BUDDHA” and a “BUDDHIST”. Simply, a BUDDHA is not a BUDDHIST and a BUDDHIST is not a BUDDHA. Most of these “Mahasangas” are simply “Buddhists” who fall into that category described by the writer of this article. If the President and all other people who run the machinery of State and also the people who want to “cultivate” a life of Happiness and Freedom can find “Mahasangas” who are “BUDDHAS” and get “ADVICE”, certainly our country and the people will set an example to the rest of the world.
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Jim softy / January 31, 2016
And, the political system was an oscillating one between a temporary centralization and its inevitable end in the break up of the system into warring groups.
that should be why Vatican is broken down now and anglican church as well as the British empire became history.
In Sri lanka Buddhist monks close to the kingdom at least 2560 years.
Only the dumb old people can not understand it.
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Jim softy / January 31, 2016
HL Senevirathne:
[Edited out]
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Burning Issue / January 31, 2016
Jim,
It seems that you have been doing overtime on the thread; what has made you feel hot under your collar?
You need to understand a plain and simple truth; a truth and nothing but the truth that is that, Sri Lanka never had been a unitary state until the British amalgamated separate territories to form a single unit. I have written it in simple English and even you should understand it!
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CountryFirst / January 31, 2016
Drowned out by a vociferous anti-MahaSangha crowd’s collective appreciation of Dr. HLS’s position regarding the MahaSangha……
Contrary to his statement that “The story that we had a unitary (ekeeya) state in ancient times is a myth. We never had a unitary state until British rule unified the country.”…the island had indeed been a single Realm at several periods of its history, although the word “unitary state” had not yet entered the lexicon.
Dr. HLS owes the silent readership of the ColTelegraph an explanation lest his credentials as an academic and a social anthropologist who should be more careful, nay stringent, regarding historical facts be marred.
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Kailainathan / January 31, 2016
The president was elected by people !! Not by mahasanga !! He have the mandate from the general public !! If he have any doubts he should come again and ask the people !!
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B Mackka / January 31, 2016
Where in the constitution is there the legal provision for such advise? The weakness of our politicians and leaders to utter such populist words which undermine their own responsibility to govern the country as well as the rights of the people.
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Tony Francis / January 31, 2016
Prof Seneviratne,
Your’s is a brilliant advice to President Srisena and others who are still believing in the Myth of Sanghas either due to their analytical
ignorance or those who use the Sanghas to fuel their racist minds or
improve their personal wealth & fame.
Going are the days that anyone could use Religon – for that matter
any Religion – to satisfy their egoism, thereby causing immeasurable
hardship to the poor souls of the Country.
Could the Prof get his article published in Sinhala & Tamil as well.
Would the President wake up & Lead the COUNTRY and not be mislead.
Tony Francis
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Rajash / January 31, 2016
Please excuse my ignorance, but how does one become the head of Mahasangha and how many are there in the council and how are they elected.
Are they scholars educated guys? Do they understand economic, finance, word affairs?
The people vote for and elect the resident and MPs based on the manifesto? It’s the responsibility of the parliament to honour the peoples mandate.
Surely The people didn’t vote to be governed by an unelected body?
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2016
Rajash
“Please excuse my ignorance,”
You are rest assured, we always bear with you. Being ignorant is a virtue in this island. Carry on being an ignorant.
According to one wise senior monk and governing council member many years ago, the board comprises of 11 senior monks.
He told me that decisions were made democratically by the council members. Twenty years ago he was confident that the Sangha Council could be persuaded to accept and support the first draft of Chandrika’s constitution. He was very optimistic about dawn of peace, ……
When I asked him whether Prabaharan would accept any peace deal supported by new constitution, given that the mistakes he stupidly made in his life time (stupidly manoeuvred himself into a corner) the monk was confident that VP’s advisors would persuade VP to do the right thing.
VP not only cheated you Tamil guys but also this venerable wise Buddhist monk.
Were you VP’s adviser at the time?
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Rajash / February 1, 2016
Sorry to disappoint you and the Tamils and Sri Lankans as a whole but I was not VP’s adviser at any time. I wish I was .
“..decisions were made democratically..” That is fine as long as the decisions were/are about governing the Mahasangha and not about governing the country…they don’t have a democratic mandate to make decisions about the country.
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