Prof. Chandre Dharmawardana
The Minster for `Parliamentary reforms and Mass Media’ is said to have proposed a bill to curb a number of human rights enjoyed by one section of the Sri Lankan public who are eligible to vote – namely, the Buddhist monks. For instance, they are to be denied the right to drive a motorized vehicle while other voters as well as ordained members of other religions are not subject to such a limitation. An even more bizarre piece of proposed legislation is to “prevent them from engaging in occult science”!
What are these “occult sciences”? Astrology? Palmistry? Casting out devils?, Blessing people? Invoking the power of the Gods, or of the triple gem (The Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha)?
Carrying out “Deva Pooja” or “Buddha Pooja”? Chanting words that are claimed to have special powers? Providing such chanted strings (“pirith nool”, bracelets), “Yantha” (amulets and Talismans) to politicians? Advising people regarding the occult question of what they should do to ensure a good life after birth? Does the minister consider “Ayurveda” also as an occult science?
That the minster even thought of enacting such a law clearly suggests that he is clearly under the control of some very dangerous occult and heinous forces. Perhaps Beelzebub himself. What he needs is to organize a large scale “Bali-Thovil” in the parliament itself to drive out the demons that have taken residence there. If that is “occult science”, then he should see other specialists in Mulleriyawa or Angoda.
Does it mean that priests of other religions can practice their versions of the occult sciences while the Buddhist monks cannot? It is well known that Pope Francis has recently called upon his priests to go back to the essentially medieval tradition of “casting out devils” and “evil spirits”. In June 2015, Pope Francis gave official recognition to the International Association of Exorcists (IAE), a group of priests with members in 30 countries, making it a pontifical entity. Evangelical Christians and other groups also have their IAEs, their specific traditions of blessing new homes and casting out “evil spirits”, speaking in tongues etc. The Holy mass is an occult practice where we are told that bread becomes flesh, and wine becomes blood. So, are they free to administer such services while the Buddhist monks are prevented from doing so by parliamentary fiat?
What about the Kururals, Swamijis and other Hindu Priests who carry out occult practices in Kovils? When the Poosari recites “sacred stanzas” and summons occult spirits using bells, mudras, mantras and hymns he is engaging in “occult science”. What about taking “prasad”, or engaging in bajams, frenzied dances, and in animal sacrifices to the Deity? Are all these occult practices allowed for all other faiths but not allowed for their manifestations in popular Buddhism? If someone feels that this is “not pure Buddhism”, that should be taken up with the learned monks, and not with a parliament whose majority is alleged to have not even reached the A-levels.
Then what about those rare Buddhist Monks or Priests of other faiths who may be dabbling in Quantum mechanics and Relativity, using the esoteric language of mathematics? That may seem an “occult science” to many people. Professor Polkinghorne, a theoretical Physicist that I knew slightly during my student days in Cambridge has today become an Anglican Minister and Theologian. He asserts that all knowledge is occult, and that its best presentation is found in the Anglican ministry!
If the minister wants to protect the public from frauds and quacks, the law has to be applied irrespective of a person’s religion or belief system. If a person practices “occult science” and does no harm to others, then it is not the concern of the minister. If it is a problem that affects the nature and style of monastic Buddhism, then surely it is up to the monks to deal with it, and the minister has no business there, any more than he should legislate what type of Physics or Metaphysics should be practiced by the likes of John Polkinghorne.
KA Sumanasekera / January 16, 2016
Unlike the other myriad of Professors who pop up here .with all sorts of praises to Yahapalanaya, like the devotees who carry their offerings to Lord Kataragamana.this dude seems to be bit different.
There wouldn’t have been any Sinhala Buddhists in Sinhale,if not for the Sangha.
Batalanada’s UNP hasa special grudge against them because of 1994.
National Bikku Front which is the main arm of the JVP confirmed it.
Batalanda’s buddy the Prince must be pissed off about it.
But the Bikku couldn’t careless.
Because this legislation is an open assault on them to eradicate any influence they have in the Villages and eliminate any opposition to the Elite , Anglican, NGO and Vellala rule in Batalanda;s new Federal Sinhale.
Wonder whether this penal code applies to the Faith Healers in Colombo who do Miracles on stage every Sunday in front of our Elite and collect 10 % of their wages as santhosams.
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kp / January 16, 2016
How brave and noble of these sangha! “They couldn’t care less”? Maybe we should go down Mahinda’s 2010 road and threaten to bomb the next Sangha Sabhawa.
It will never cease to surprise me how much of a deluded child you can be, Sumane. Never change. My mornings wouldn’t be the same without your childlike selective-memory rants.
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The Messenger / January 17, 2016
Prof. Chandre Dharmawardana,
It is tragic to see that the Buddhist religion in Sri Lanka is dragged down to such a low level by non-other than the members of the Buddhist clergy. These Buddhist monks (hora ganayas or cheevaradharis) are exploiting the respect that the Buddhist society has for the saffron robed Sangha (one of the triple gems/jewels mentioned by Buddha) and not only misleading some of the gullible Buddhists but also betraying Buddhism and insulting the Buddha.
Even during the 1950s, we have seen Buddhist terrorists among the Buddhist clergy such as Buddhrakitha Thero and Somarama thero assassinating Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranayake. Today we have the extreme version of them in the Buddhist clergy known as Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Sinhala Ravaya, both behaving violently and exhibiting barbarism, and now there is another new addition, Sinhale Jathika Balamuluwa. President Maithree and Prime Minister Ranil should take extra care and precaution against these Buddhist Terrorists who will not hesitate even for a moment when it comes to assassinating our leaders.
What is the point in having a Buddhasasana Ministry if it is only a silent observer to all the anti-Buddhist acts committed by the Buddhist monks? The new government under President Maithree should think of forming a Buddhist Disciplinary Commission/Committee under the Ministry of Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs to maintain the Buddhist Vinaya (disciplinary code) among the Buddhist clergy. Respected Buddhist monks of the Maha Sahgha can chair such a committee. All the rouge Monks (hora ganayas or cheevaradharis) who are hijacking the Buddhist religion with their anti-Buddhist activities and disrupting the peace in the country should be subjected to disciplinary action and should be disrobed. Buddhist disciplinary laws should be enacted specially for the Buddhist clergy who violate the Buddhist values and principles. This has become a very urgent need in Sri Lanka.
Buddhism needs protection from some of the Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhus who are openly vandalizing it.
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Rajash / January 16, 2016
Sri Lankan Buddhist monks have unlimited rights. They are sort of an untouchables.
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
It is CBK chintanaya. CBK wants, buddhism to be removed from primary school books, Sinhala dominanace removed form Sinhale
I heard one sinhala buddhists supporting the western encroachment wanted Sinhala buddhist dominance in Sri lanka to be destroyed in order to make it a playing field for them.
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Lankan / January 16, 2016
Jim Softy,
Buddhism doesn’t need to dominate. I think you are confusing a
philosophical teaching with racial dominance
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KA Sumanasekera / January 17, 2016
Jimmy,
My Elders tell me our Whisky Madam’s pop was a pure bred Elite Anglican who converted to ( or borrowed ) Buddhism to win Elections.
It cost him his dear life .
Sinhala Buddhist Elite and the Anglicans also hired their Sangha to fix him.
But him losing his life was not in vain.
Poor rural Sinhala Buddhists who felt sorry for him rewarded his Wife and his Daughter well, with nearly 25 years of Government.
And forcing the Elite to the wilderness,or back benches..
But the Daughter was devastated watching a Sinhala Buddhist , a non Elite for that matter grabbing power and doing good things for the dalits in the bush, which she and her extended family never did .
That anger, jealousy and frustration not only drove her to Red Label but in to the old Elite camp as well.
A UNP monk again came to their help and now we have Yahapalanaya which is hell bent on eliminating Buddha from Sinhale by castrating Sanga through a Penal Code.
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AVB / January 16, 2016
Prof Dharmawardana,
How could you missed the most important point in this issue which is debated a lot. In Siri Lanka, government under the constitution should give highest priority to Sinhalese Buddhism and should protect it (from itself ???).. For politicians in power, It is like managing Mihin Lanka or Air Lanka … These two airlines running at massive loss, but our politicians always manage and steer Sinhalese Buddhism in a very profitable way.. Don’t worry about this imprudent act of a foolish (in SL standards) politician, nothing will change…
Sinhalese Buddhist monks will continue what they were doing to this poor country in the last 65 years….
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Suresh / January 16, 2016
Religion should be taken out completely from the constitution. If Religion is included in the constitution, then all the four religions (none of them originated in Sri Lanka) should be given equal status.
If the reason for giving foremost place to a religion is due to period (ancient) then both Buddhism and Hinduism should be given the foremost place.
If the state gives foremost place for any religion, then the state has all the rights to interfere or set rules and regulations to make sure it is not misused.
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Medalankara de Choppe / January 16, 2016
AVB you are right. The good prof had lost his sense of balance. The proposal lacks one or two ingredients.Buddhist priests of the Thrawadi sects are banned from sex.They practise home sexuality as indicate by the fact that Thravadi priests are banned from sleeping facing donwards, which is to prevent them being sexed from the posterior. Secondly how many priests are chaste, how many priests are in toes with women? At least in one case I have heard of the woman residing at the priests’s itself.They should not only be thrown out of the priestly order but also castrated.If this country has a problem with the races, the main party behind all this are the Buddhist priests.
Who is going to discipline the monkeys at Asgiriya?
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Ken Dharmapala / January 16, 2016
Yes, Professor, politicians have no business to meddle in Buddhist affairs or, for that matter, in the affairs of any religion. The State and religions should give a wide berth to each other. In fact, we should remove all references to Buddhism in the Constitution – particularly the following:
The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e).
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Amarasiri / January 16, 2016
Prof. Chandre Dharmawardana
RE: Limiting The Human Rights Of Buddhist Monks!
‘An even more bizarre piece of proposed legislation is to “prevent them from engaging in occult science”!
“What are these “occult sciences”? Astrology? Palmistry? Casting out devils?, Blessing people? Invoking the power of the Gods, or of the triple gem (The Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha)?”
Do they want to turn “Sinhala” Buddhism to ‘Wahhabi” Sinhala” Buddhism. Have the Satan in the form of Mara, invaded Sinhala “Buddhism” as well, the way Satan invaded Wahhabism?
It is injustice to limit the Human Rights of the Buddhist Monks, unless they Voluntarily agree to that.
However, if the state gives Buddhist Monks more rights than the Citizens, then the Citizens should have those same rights.
1. Right to abuse and rape boys and no be persecuted.
2. Right not to work for a living
3. Right to abuse girls and women.
4. Right to demand food and compensation for services,
Child Abuse by a Monk in Habaraduwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNSC93mPs4I
Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNOfTGSADdY
Buddhism The Great Evil — Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcs2PSze0I
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Wise Owl / January 16, 2016
Being a professor, and given the bilge you have written here, I feel truly sorry for your students.
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Moderate man / January 16, 2016
Professor
No one needs to take rights of anyone as long as those rights harm the others, but if they do, they are not human rights in the first place
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The Citizen / January 16, 2016
Prof. Chandre Dharmawardana,
Are you going to be a silent observer/bystander to all the anti-Buddhist acts committed by the Buddhist monks?
Buddhism needs protection from some of the Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhus who are betraying Buddhism and insulting the Buddha. Buddhist disciplinary laws should be enacted specially for the Buddhist clergy who violate the Buddhist values and principles. This has become a very urgent need in Sri Lanka.
Let me list below what is being done against Buddhism by the Sri Lankan Buddhists or rather Sinhala-Buddhists (especially the members of the clergy) as I have observed.
Are the Buddhist bhikkhus practicing Ahimsa (non-violence), Karuna (compassion), Metta (affection), and Maithriya (loving-kindness) towards fellow humans (irrespective of race/religion) or are they in the name of Buddhism promoting ethno-religious (Sinhala-Buddhist) chauvinism and hatred?
Most of the Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus do not even follow the 5 basic moral principles (Pancha sila) what Buddha has preached. These bhikkhus are a damn disgrace to Buddha and Buddhism?
The Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhus in Sri Lanka are the most corrupt, most racist, and the most dangerous. Buddhist bhikkhus are supposed to have given up all the worldly things (Materialism) but in Sri Lanka, it’s a different story. The Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhus are Corrupt to the Core.
These so called Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhus in Sri Lanka do business, handle money, have Bank accounts and apply for Bank loans. It was found that a very large number of Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhus had invested money in Sakvith Ranasighe’s illegal financial companies. They even sell the ata pirika (robes and other stuff) that the people donate them to earn money. Some of them are even employed. They engage in gambling, buy and sell shares, buy lottery tickets and so on. See the number of Pin-keta (tills) in the Buddhist temples. What they do with all the money they collect? Most of the culprits caught in printing fake currency notes were found to be Sinhala-Buddhists bhikkhus. They make money by selling the Car permits given to them. They print, record and sell books, magazines and Bana/pirith CDs, etc. and earn thousands of rupees in a short period.
Buddha Business has made the Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus very rich. They own bungalows and real estates and have luxury cars and vans, employing drivers. Very soon they will also apply for driving license. They also have the latest most expensive mobile phones, lap tops, I-pads, etc. They do not go from house to house with the begging bowl as instructed by the Buddha, instead the villages bring food to the temple and also the Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus employ cooks in the temple. We have also seen Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus selling posters, begging for money, going from door to door asking money. Buddhist-bhikkhu led politicians wheeling and dealing in imported Mercedes Benz and being caught with the pants down illegally selling tax-free motor vehicles.
They grow hair and make themselves attractive, adopt customs, habits and lifestyles like normal people, have secret love affairs, some of them live in boarding houses instead of temples, they listen to music and watch movies and have illegal sex with women or young boys. They keep mistresses in the temple (Buddhrakitha Thero and Ms. Vimala Wijewardene), and even take part in criminal/terrorist activities such as assassinating Prime minister (Somarama thero). Some of them drink alcohol, I have heard about monks who even keep Beer in their fridge. Some of them even form trade unions/associations; there was a time when the leader of the Nurses trade union in Sri Lanka was a Sinhala-Buddhist bhikkhu (Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero).
Some of them perform false miracles and pretend to heal sick people with pirith water. They tie pirith thread and bless people expecting the people to fall on their legs and worship them. Some of them preach their own Bana (sermon) instead of Buddha`s Bana.
The Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus were war mongers, they supported and encouraged war. They take part in racist politics criticizing and condemning all other religions and races and creating communal hatred among Sinhala Buddhists and others. They take part in protest rallies, burning flags and effigies and also engage in fast unto death and even self-immolation. Some Buddhist bhikkhus shredded their robes to take T-56 and earn more respect. We saw how bhikkhus were involved in brawl in the parliament with blood soaked faces. A Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhu lobbed a grenade at the Shah Rukh Khan show in Colombo. At present the Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus lead by the Bodu Bala Sena leader Gnanasara Thero are engaged in violence against the Muslims and Christians. They stormed the Fashion Bug, verbally abused the Muslims (hambaya, goni billa), and threw rotten eggs at shoppers, attacked and destroyed several Mosques and Churches and at Aluthgama, they attacked burnt many Muslim shops, houses and people.
Another new trend is the love for eating non-veg food (Meat and fish) among Sinhala-Buddhists bhikkhus. A new school seems to see nothing wrong in Buddhists eating animal flesh (including fish). An article by Ven. Dr. Vilegoda Ariyadeva thero, a former University of Ruhuna academic is a giant step toward guilt-free `Buddhism-friendly` meat eating. Dr. Ariyadeva thero claims meat eating is customary in Theravada Buddhist societies. Now a days when the Sinhala-Buddhists bhikkhus visit houses for Arms-giving (Daane) they expect expensive sea food and sometimes meat too. There are also Sinhala-Buddhists bhikkhus in Sri Lanka consuming food/drink in the afternoons/night even though they are not supposed to do so.
Even though Buddhism does not have any caste system, caste is used among Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus more than lay people. Different nikayas are formed according to the caste. For example, the Siam Nikaya (Malwathu and Asgiri) will not ordained as a monk anyone from a lower caste.
The Sinhala Buddhists are more interested in worshipping the Buddha statue, Bo-tree, and Buddha’s Dathu (relics/body parts) and feeding Dana (alms/free food) to the Sangha (Buddhist bhikkhus) rather than following the Dhamma what the Buddha preached.
The Buddhism preached by the Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus is no longer able to provide any vision or guidance or constructive power but are only occupied in maintaining their own petty positions in an already atrophied hierarchy resting on a utterly disillusioned and rapidly crumbling society from which the spirit has long since departed. They have subordinated the interests of the society to national goals and the narrow ambitions of nationalist and racist leaders.
Today, Sri Lanka has become a strong hold of Buddhist aggression and terror and such acts are spurred by hardline Sinhala Buddhist bhikkhus. The terror attacks against the minorities were motivated by Buddhist bhikkhus (the prominent among whom is Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara) with the creation of the BBS (Bodu Bala Sena/Buddhist task force).
What is the point in having a Buddhasasana ministry if it is only a silent observer to all the anti-Buddhist acts committed by the Buddhist clergy?
All the rouge Monks (hora ganayas or cheevaradharis) who are hijacking the Buddhist religion with their anti-Buddhist activities and disrupting the peace in the country should be subjected to disciplinary action and should be disrobed. Buddhist disciplinary laws should be enacted specially for the Buddhist clergy who violate the Buddhist values and principles. This has become an urgent need in Sri Lanka if Yahapalanaya is to succeed.
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gamini / January 16, 2016
This Prof. has failed to understand that being a Buddhist Priest is when that person has shunned all desire in life. He owns nothing, not even a temple let alone Cars, Bank accounts, Computers, Cameras, Cell phones. Political rights etc. etc. What are the Human Rights the Prof. is talking of that is denied to Buddhist Priests? The Sangha should be purged of all the undesirables and banished like during King Walagamba’s time where all the Buddhist priests were banished from the Abayagiri Temple in Anuradhapura.
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Punitham / January 16, 2016
Dear Professor
1..Persuade the Maha Sangha to make the ordination age of monks to be 18+.
2. Stop the ”donation” of infants by parents to maonasteries.
3. Empower the monks who were donated to the monasteries when they were infants.
4. Make sure all the monks know Buddhist Perception of Nature when the country is in dire need of nature conservation.
5. Help the Maha Sangha to encourage monks to engage in nature conservation.
6. The current disasterous situation of sand/gravel mining (refer Environment Circular issued by Ministry of Environment on 29.09.2015)can be tackled through Buddhist Perception of Nature or by dedicated scientists
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Jagath Fernando / January 17, 2016
A few years ago a chief priest returned the Benz car given to him by the state since he did not get the color he wanted.!!!
If I remember correctly it was a E series Merc?
They live in luxury at the expense of the tax payer.
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Punitham / January 16, 2016
Dear Professor
To make the Bill redundant one can do the following:
1..Persuade the Maha Sangha to make the ordination age of monks to be 18+.
2. Stop the ”donation” of infants by parents to maonasteries.
3. Empower the monks who were donated to the monasteries when they were infants.
4. Make sure all the monks know Buddhist Perception of Nature when the country is in dire need of nature conservation.
5. Help the Maha Sangha to encourage monks to engage in nature conservation.
6. The current disasterous situation of sand/gravel mining (refer Environment Circular issued by Ministry of Environment on 29.09.2015)can be tackled through Buddhist Perception of Nature or by dedicated scientists
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diagenes / January 16, 2016
All Buddhists are equal. But Buddhist monks – the majority of them – are going to be more equal! They think this yellow robe makes them immune to all existing laws! Man, If you really want to be a Buddhist, keep away from the temple where some of these Buddha Puthrayaas sexually abuse novices, copulate with ignorant upaasaka ammaas who are given to understand that Siddhaartha Gauthama attained Enlightenment by performing Bodhi Poojaas ..& practice all the vices imaginable. If the Buddha knew that his Puthrayaas would be this type of Devadattayaas, he might have embraced some other religion!
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Mallaiyuran / January 16, 2016
Like many PhDs appear in the CT, Chandre PhD displays the Sinhala Intellectual PhD Syndrome, the confusion in the subject he takes, in addition to his unfortunate possession of hate Devil which needs occult science’s help to get rid of it. We are absolute support to “organize a large scale “Bali-Thovil” in the parliament itself to drive out the demons out of parliament, though with two minor adjustments. First the Bali-Thovil very important is to the PhD like Chandre Dharamawade who by their propagandas invoke, elect, send and maintain their existence of the demons of the parliament and the second ,money for the large has to come from those who created the monsters, the PhDs.
The so called Sinhala Buddhist special unit, saffron robe clad, army is employed by Appe Andu by the Article 9 of the constitution to protect the “Sinhala Buddhism”. As a matter of privilege of an employer, Appe Aandu has all right to redefine what “Sinhala Buddhism” is and how an employee of it should behave too, compiling with the existing labor laws. Chandre PhD draws wrong parallels here to other priests. We can see that too. But in India a Sannyasi is person who denounces his legal rights and enjoys some minor exemption to comply the counties laws, unlike the saffron clad army of Lankawe, who enjoys the facility of having the cake and eating it. So the argument of confused PhD showing the Saffron robe clad Army as average citizens is null and void. They are government employees paid by government and rather not suitable to claim as a kind of welfare recipients because of the existence of Article 9.
When a priest taught science to Chandre PhD, he has been made to confuse about the difference of occult science and science. On the extreme height of the scientific theories, some sounds like occult science. Those scientists well aware of the nature of theories they propose and constantly work on them like they worked on Phlogiston theories. But it is not for the average innocent citizen to believe on that and act. Even new medicines are required to be proved by clinical test and needs to be prescribed doctors to ensure the need of it to the client. It is not a matter for faith like Pirit Nool or Bali-Thovil. There is no element of believe in that. Still, some time, due to nature of the complexity in that new area, scientists create some faulty argument, like Chandre PhD has done here not being able to understand the complexity of the bill proposed by the minister. So science does not require anybody take anything but freely open for disprove any of the wrong theories proposed there. Even the use of “occult science”(using the wording similarities of Physical science chemical science, biological science… – but occult in only wording used purposely to confuse moron PhDs like Chandre – but not a recognized branch of science) word is with ill-intention of this PhD who thinks he can export his faulty understandings in the minds of the readers that playing Bali-Thovil and casting demons is part of science.
The moron PhD is comparing the other priests with saffron uniformed army. The other priests are not recognized by constitution as special category, so they are allowed to do any average citizen’s legal rights allows. As Moron PhD had indicated, this crowd is a special category, not average citizen on the eye of the constitution. So further, as indicated by the moron PhD, the average Buddhist citizens will not be prevented driving cars by the proposed laws.
The existing Lankawe’s laws are dealing with fraud and deceit. This is not a law to prevent deceit and fraud. As long the astrologer not crossing the line and the client is approaching him after knowing that he is not a professionally qualified Psychologist that kind of business is allowed even in secular western democracies too. The law is not charging the Saffron robe clad army as engaging in fraud and deceit by practicing occult science. It is simply not recognizing it as falling within the recognized form of Buddhism, so it is not for what the army receives its salary for. Quoting the pope is completely irrelevant because of that this moron PhD is asking the Buddhist to follow the guidance of the pope. Pope is not making any law to the world of Catholics and Christians that hereafter they all respect and engage the services of IAE. They rather will be following the countries’ law in engaging the exorcist. It is not granting a legal status for exorcism so the government paid employees can practice that. (It may or may grant something in Rome).
The Article 9 makes the Popular Buddhism into Government’s Buddhism. It has nothing to do with pure Buddhism, so no need to consult with Buddhist authorities.
The Hindu sacrifices are not comparable with issuing Prasad, though nothing has special recognition in any law. There is nowhere a law says Hindu sacrifices as popular Hinduism. Hinduism is not an organized religion like Sinhala Buddhism controlled by Ayathula and Appe Anduwa. So anything goes there, even unlawful acts. On the contrary, there is law on the opposite side. Sacrifice Practices continue as illegal activities and through loopholes. So, it not an argument to be presented to modify a new proposed bill.
Chandre PhD is scared to go and cite his own theories in the Thread where M/S Sherasinge is discussing about the Article 9. So his is taking this new twist.
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Mallaiyuran / January 17, 2016
No religious man should have any privileges. That is against the Hindu and Buddhist principles. Alms are only for the satisfaction of the giver. No a privilege for Sannyasi or monk. A religious man can select services for humanity as a way of living. But a Sannyasi or monk not required to do that. Deed itself is burden, irrelevant of good or bad. I am not sure about the Buddhist position. But I think it must be same with Hinduism. Deed is the Karma. Saiva Siddhantham differs according to the writer and the interpreter of it. So one sector advocate good has to be rewarded, bad has to be punished. But they are commonly referred as Irul Seer Iruvinai. Auwai singing Ganapathi’s grace as “Iru vinai thannai aruthu irul kadinthu” (cutting off of the both deeds and remove the dark -ness for thoughts) Further good and bad are not on the act. It is only the status of the mind. For example a alm seeker may not receive extras and donate them. That lets him the owner of the property until it is donated. Then one hungry person may eat without the permission from the owner. The ownership in Saiva Sithantha is not the authority over product. In that sense anybody is a trustee, the guard and the thief. By their own selection, Sanyyasi and Monks not just loses the privileges, they give up their basic rights. That is the reason they do not use their basic right of getting employed.
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Adrian / January 16, 2016
Prof is talking Nonsense.
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justice / January 16, 2016
The “occult sciences” mentioned by the author were never approved by the Lord Buddha – who wanted his disciples to live a life of poverty and celibacy and spread his teachings.
Buddhist Monks – or any other persons – who practice them are cheating the laity for monetary gain.
As Buddhism has the status of a State Religion, these ‘occult sciences’ need to be proscribed.
Hence a Code of Ethics for Buddhist monks will only enhance their stature.
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Asoka W Ottawa / January 16, 2016
Prof, are you writing this as a true Buddhist or as a masquerading Buddhist in a far country? It clearly seems you do not live in Sri Lanka to understand and feel as we in Sri Lanka do of the destruction of Buddhism that is taking place here.Indiciplinene among the Sangha is extremely high because every monk does as he pleases. Some are having unofficial families, homosexuality is high, recently a monk was arrested for deriving vycarious pleasure by recording a German woman been molested down South, Mahanayakes use temple money and buy Mercedes Benz cars, people monks like Ghandassara of BBS are on U Tube uttering raw filth, some monks in the city where you live abroad are modelling for magazines, some monks are earning a good living by willingly becoming tools in the hands of politicians. The list good could go on and on.
This state of indiscipline will destroy our noble philosophy in our motherland soon if a disciplinary code is not introduced.After all it is the heads of the Nikayas and not laymen who will be empowered to enforce the disciplinary code according to the proposed plan.. So please Prof. CD enjoy your luxurious life style, which is a far cry from your pauperish Sri Jayawardenapura days and keep that pen of yours firmly in the cover. Buddhism does not need bad Buddhists when “Good Buddhists” like you are around?
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Hilda @ J'raramaya / January 16, 2016
Yes a monk in the Hilda temple in Ottawa was shown in robes striking an amazingly tingling, steamy, sexy pose for the IKEA magazine. This is shame. What are the nit wit Dhayakayas doing ?Even white devotees were shocked by this and it was shame for all of us including our kids who go to this place.
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maalumiris / January 16, 2016
Some monks in Sri Lanka (you know who you are!) are bringing Buddhism (and by extension, Buddhists) into disrepute and ridicule. This as far as I can see, is a crime and should be punished… IF this whole business of “the government being the guardians of Buddhism’ is to be taken seriously.
If the Prof. is making the case for the HR of monks to be preserved, then an equal case can be made that the HR of the people who monks target and victimise should also be preserved. if necessary, by prosecution of the monks. A rare happening nowadays.
The Vinaya should be able to be enforced LEGALLY and not just as part of the temple procedures
Once Monks join the fold of humanity and stop behaving like beasts, THEN we can look at preserving their rights.
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sinhalese buddhist / January 16, 2016
Any and ALL clergy should be answerable to any and ALL laws in the country, that a lay person is answerable to.
Clergy should not have any more rights than laity to hate speech and incitement of violence. This applies not just to buddhist monks, but also hindu and catholic priests and muslim clerics.
Although the most visible abusers of their religious status has been the BBS recently, let us now forget the catholic clergy who supported the violence of the LTTE and other militant groups. Also the muslim clerics who have advocated attacks against other muslims (sufi vs. Wahabbi) are not exempt either.
All over the world there are wolves (calling themselves men of religion) parading in sheep’s clothing; Sri Lanka is no exception.
No constitutional guarantees should be given to protect such wolves.
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
That is true. Only thing is Sri lankan justice and law is partial.
Sangha member Gnanasara was summoned to courts for something he did.
But, the Mannar Bishop Kassippu joshep was never arrested or questioned for harbouring Bank loots behind the altar, Giving lodging and foods to LTTE cadres, storing LTTE weapons or his subordinates being the Suicide – Jacket Transporting.
It is similar thing with the Minister Rishad Bathiuddin. He had said he was one who came to colombo with a plastic bag full of things. Now, he is a very rich guy with lot of lands and houses every where in colombo including colombo -7, no one knows about his bank accounts even though he gets funds from a QATAR – muslim NGO specializing in Jihad in the future in the name of islam. Anyway, Rishad Bathiuddin’s speciality is settling muslims in muslim villages while only one muslim businessman had claimed that he had a property there. All other resettlers have properties else where, and 60% or so of the resettlers had sold their properties and moved back to their former location. Because their new place the second property. That is only in wilpatthu. Who knows about other places. So, why he is not arrested ? Justice and LAw is only for some people.
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Tamil from the north / January 17, 2016
Jim Shitty, gnanasara was arrested for something he did? hahahaha………..you call this Buddhism? gnanasara is a low life thug who is in orange cloth pretending to be a monk. What is so noble about this hooligan? he should be shot like a rabid dog. You are comparing this hoodlum to a peaceful Bishop. This Bishop fought for the rights of the oppressed. gnanasara set fire to mosques. I hope one day someone will find you and either give you a thundering thrashing or fill that vacuum head of yours with a brain. You little racist loser, go and get a life.
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
Chandra Dhramavardhane thinks buddhism and some buddhist practices are “occult”. That shows you don’t know the subject you are talking.
You understand quantum physics is not Occult. On the other hand, Advanced buddhism. abhidhamma, could not have been ever understood or explained if Quantum physics was not explained by mathematicians and physicists. buddhism is a way of life. But any religion get mixed with local cultural practices when it comes to any society. For example, the buddhism that practices in the west is not what is practiced in Asian countries.
the govt need’s to control buddhism is mostly political. Politicians always find the reason to do waht they want in the society. So, it is the buddhists monks who need to be careful.
On the other hand, eVen during the buddha’s time there were monks like Devadaththa. Kings did not come to manage those situations vis their rules. But, the now the politicians want to do it when most of them are pests on the society.
I think, the Anglican theoretical physicist that you talk about is an idiot. Because, not every pHD is that intelligent. So, you say, that there is a theoretical physicist who is dumb.
I think, if Chandrawardane is genuine he has to start reading and understanding buddhism in depth.
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Kumaraiya / January 16, 2016
Jim Nutty!
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mori / January 16, 2016
Good heavens !!! All hell has broken out because the Prof has spoken for the Buddhist monks. Why? This govt is set up by the nasty Tamil diaspora backing and you can hear their voices here. That is the naked truth. Those countries that diaspora live in, like the UK and the US have declared their countries as Christian countries. No one in those countries is even allowed to challenge that even though there are large minorities with other faiths. So why only in Sri Lanka the majority cannot declare their rights? Democracy is about majority, not dancing according to minority tunes. F*** off you murderous and treacherous Tamil Nadu sakkilis – go live there and set up your Ee-goolam there,
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
Prof Dharmavardane has talked for monks, but, the presentation is in the wrong way.
What is happening in Sri lanka is political.
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maalumiris / January 17, 2016
@Jim_softly
I agree, it IS political.
Why ? Because monks are meddling in politics where they have no business to be.
Government and Religion must be separate. Wherever it is not, there is usually trouble for everyone
Bhikkus involving themselves in politics, abusing the law etc. should be administered a swift kick and brought to book
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EW Golding / January 16, 2016
Good one Dharmawardena, I don’t often agree with you but this time I like your mordant wit and cynicism towards all religions and all mumbo jumbo – the Buddhist version included. I think you are, secretly, a Rationalist – good!
I endorse the TOTAL separation of faith from state. I want the repeal of ‘special place’ for Buddhism in the constitution. I think everyone, including ordained persons of every religion, should, as far as the laws and the courts are concerned, have the same rights; to drive, to eat anything (including pork and beef) at anytime (even after noon), to marry (and to fornicate, note fornication is a moral not a criminal offence in most countries including Sri Lanka), to enjoy a whisky and soda, etc etc.
If followers of some religions don’t like their monks doing any specific things, let them take action WITHIN their organisations or churches; for example expel them. Or better, one should abjure religion in perpetuity. Don’t come to the state and the courts to clean up the shit and piss inside religious orders. As far as the citizen is concerned, these are private matters.
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
EW Golding.
If he believes in Occult how come he becomes a Rationalist.
Besides for a rationalist, theoretical physicists are Occultists.
Rationalists are just idiots who think every thing is material and can be explained with known logics.
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Jim softy / January 17, 2016
I endorse the TOTAL separation of faith from state. I want the repeal of ‘special place’ for Buddhism in the constitution
EW Golding the Donkey:
Ask the same thing from Vatican which is a sovereign country, from Saudi Arabia which is a sovereign country and from UK where Queen Elizabeth is the Head of the Anglican church.
Understand, at least one church in the world is headed by a woman (wink ?) from a dysfunctional family.
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
There were bad apple monks even during the buddha’s time. Buddha had to proclaim Buddhist discipline (vinaya pitaka) only 20 years after beginning of the Buddhaa Sasana. The reason was this bad apples. Some of these bad apples were princes of kings. MY understanding is Because of that Buddha was careful. Notice, Pirith always say at the end Raja bhavathu dhammiko or the king becomes just.
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Jim softy / January 16, 2016
IF the Govt’s excuse is that buddhist monks are misbehaving, that is not new. There were misbehaving buddhist monks even during the Buddha’s life time. Monk Devadaththa needed to share the Sangha among Buddha and he himself.
In Sri lanka too, there were monks in the past times, who used buddhism to live their materialistic life.
govt knows all these things, yet why do they want to have laws now.
It is simply political. Because, in Sri lanka buddhism is being destroyed in a very fast rate. Monks are talking. Govt does not want that. Because politicians are there to suck life blood from the country and live their lives.
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Non-Buddhist / January 17, 2016
We non-Buddhists LOVE to see the Buddhist monks breaking the laws (including Buddhist values/principles), misbehaving in public, and acting like thugs. We not only enjoy the fun but also show the whole world via social media how barbaric the Sinhala-Buddhism is. We fully support Prof. CD’s views, please do not bring any laws to restrict the fun we are having in the name of Sinhala-Buddhism.
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HER BEE PEE / January 16, 2016
[Edited out] Please avoid typing all capitalized comments – CT
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Daham / January 17, 2016
“Professor Polkinghorne, a theoretical Physicist that I knew slightly during my student days in Cambridge”
This old professor who was known as “Ganja Dharmawardene” is still showing his inferiority complex by trying to boast that he studied at Cambridge.
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Jim softy / January 17, 2016
Prof Dhamawardhane:
As Some one said, Buddhist Sangha don’t have human rights. They have agreed to living with minimum leaving everything materialistic behind. Only thing applicable to them is Buddhist Disciplinary code which is humongous than all the LAW books in Sri lanka. Govt, knowing that there is a Humongous buddhist Disciplinary code, trying to enact other laws means, a different objective.
Besides, Human rights are applicable in the West where Christianity reigns and Almighty creator is allowed to exploit every human being and human beings exploit animals.
With respect to Eastern philosophy it is different. We all came from the same source, so that, have compassion for everybody.
Those monks who are doing wrong things are guilty of breaking their promises and getting into materialistic life and nothing else as non-buddhists want to exploit.
Anyway, what you write proves, you are not a buddhist. If you say, you are buddhist, I write the rest. You have not studied buddhism for a long time.
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Emil van der Poorten / January 17, 2016
In our efforts to emerge from a Kleptocracy, actively supported by the Sumaneys of this country,this piece of rubbish is yet another red herring across the trail that should lead to justice and the rule of law for ALL Sri Lankans.
Why on earth differentiate between any “ordinary” Sri Lankan and priests of ANY denomination in this country? This is patently illogical and absurd.
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Park / January 17, 2016
Not only for Buddhist monks, a law should be enacted to cover all religious priests. It is important to establish a body as in Buddhism for other religions as well. Religious priests should be governed by law.
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Adrian / January 17, 2016
By worshiping excessively the believers prove that they don’t understand what is religion is all about. They think god will make them lucky. Such greed is sowed in the genes itself, especially of those of Sri Lankan’s.
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nihalka / January 18, 2016
No government should be given a role in supporting, protecting, managing affairs of any religion. A government should protect all faiths by not selecting any one religion for special treatment and let the devotees manage their own affairs. The sole problem lies in the Government trying to give one religion status of a ‘State religion’.
If Buddhists wish to have state patronage for their religion, then they should let the state/politicians manage how the religion is conducted. The best solution is not to give any ‘special’ status to a religion in the constitution of the country and thereby not invite any interference by the state in its affairs.If Buddhists or any other religious group wish to see that their religion is destroyed by fraudulent monks, that should be their privilege. Any monk/priest engaged in illegal practices/frauds should be dealt with the normal laws of the country like any other citizen, and the fact the person wears a robe of particular color should not matter.
Keep things simple and we will have no problems.
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