By Darshanie Ratnawalli –
Darshanie Ratnawalli
I am the legitimate issue of a woman who unabashedly claims to admire the Bodu Bala Sena. This affords me a critical perspective into the issue, without which everyone is floundering like headless chickens. There may be other people, whose mothers etc. harbor soft spots for the BBS. But because they are not me, they would either try to keep these mothers in the closet or, in contradistinction, empathize with these soft spots; whereas I…Well you shall see.
My mother represents the Sri Lankan equivalent of Middle America and, as such, the demographic bloc that makes or breaks any movement dependent on mass support for its success. In Middle America (SL), one becomes a Buddhist by being a stakeholder of the Buddha Sāsana (deliberately called henceforth, the Buddhist Church of Lanka) and by emotionally aligning oneself with the age-old mission of fostering this Sāsana on this soil for the allocated five thousand years. Once one has fulfilled this basic requirement adherence to Buddhism proper becomes peripheral and is largely left to personal discretion.
This is the context which empowers my mother to look pityingly at anyone who’d urge her to shift her alignment and allegiance from the Buddhist Church of Lanka, where the religion stands together with the State and the people forming the famous ‘Loka- Sāsana’ axis, to Buddhism (stand alone, nonaligned to any worldly axis). The pangs of allegiance towards the BBS felt by Middle America (SL) would be silenced only if and when voices genuinely identifying with the Buddhist Church and its Mission are raised against the BBS. Spokespersons for Buddhism not aligned with the Sāsana will not have the credibility and be dismissed as naive.
A very good example is Rev. Galkande Dhammananda, whose message of tolerance presented as two video clips on the web became an instant hit in certain circles, with monks of his ilk hailed as what this country needed in thousands. According to Prof. Sudarshan Senevitatna, ‘Rev. Dhammananda has been extremely concerned about the subversion of a doctrine of peace for destructive parochial ends and is committed to what he believes as re achievement of peace and understanding, a sentiment that comes from his heart’. Well and good. The only problem is Middle America (SL) will instantly spot the ‘missing ingredient’ in his message. The missing ingredient is the Sāsana. Why is there an implicit as well as an explicit absence of this entity in his message? Why does an overwhelming concern for the Church (the Sāsana) fail to find expression in his message? Perhaps the Rev.Dhammananda thinks that all Churches are parochial institutions that subvert peaceful doctrines. But the Sāsana is not a dirty secret nor is Middle America (SL) going to disown it no matter how many protégées of Sudarshan Seneviratne do it.
Supposing another erudite monk came forward and put forth a parallel message; A) frankly acknowledging the challenges encountered in the present day by the Sāsana, with its inbuilt drives for maintaining a certain brand identity for the country (These drives are by no means criminal or unique to this Church, nor is this brand identity non inclusive- being merely asymmetrically inclusive or differentially incorporative); B) emphasizing the need to find modern and non-regressive ways of countering these challenges, drawing on this particular Church’s rich heritage of tolerance compared to all the other Churches; C) stressing the critical need for Bhikkhus with the intelligence, education and the exposure to the wider world to be at the helm of these counter moves; D) admitting that the degenerate, debased and degrading nature of the BBS movement reflects the overall deterioration of the entire Sāsana; E) reiterating nevertheless that live seeds of resurgence still exist.
If such a message could be put forth on behalf of the Buddhist Church of Lanka, it will be heard. At the moment, with everyone mouthing platitudes about Buddhism, BBS stands tall as the sole champion of the Sāsana, heir to its legacy, executor of its mission and the focal point by default, of Middle America (SL)’s allegiance.
Another toxic ingredient is the absence of true redemptive intent in the current civil initiatives against the BBS. What The Hour demands of these initiatives are clinical, secular perspectives (in contrast to the wet schmaltz aspired to by the Candle People) that can spotlight and challenge all negative patterns in the fabric. Every Buddhist archeological site in the North and the East obliterated by a bulldozer, built upon or otherwise encroached into under the aegis of uncouth, unscrupulous and unethical Muslim and Tamil politicians, whose regional political clout earns them Government sanction, deserves a candle. We need to searchlight the literal excrement dumped into the Dighavapi site (the encroachment into this ancient archeological site also consisted of building toilet complexes on it[1] as well as the metaphorical excrement dumped by the BBS upon the Lankan social fabric. Every ancient landmark such as Matota(Manthai)[2] and Kuragala targeted by obliterative agendas should be co-candled with every Muslim enterprise threatened. The psychical darkness[3] that begets all brands and hues of intolerance should be switched off equally.
*The article is reproduced courtesy of The Nation and I am @ http://ratnawalli.blogspot.com/ and rathnawalli@gmail.com
[1] This titbit was shared by Dr. Nimal Perera, Deputy Director General, Department of Archeology at a Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka lecture (24th September, 2012) on ‘New discoveries from Deeghavapi and Nilagiri sites’.
[2] Matota (Maha-Thittha) is an ancient port in Lanka and archeological landmark, which is currently being effaced through the over enthusiastic building activities conducted on behalf of the Tiruketiswaram temple.
[3] Note the staggering degrees of ignorance (that can truly be called illiterate and uncouth without prejudice) that characterize the two opposing poles generating the present climate of tension. One pole exemplified by Face Book hate speech groups hold fast to the belief that underwear sold in Muslim owned clothing stores are lined with chemicals that can cause sterility. The other pole includes journalists such as Dharishna Bastians and Latheef Farook who recently wrote articles propagating the belief that the Sinhalese Brahmi rock inscriptions(which are typical of garden variety cave donations to the Monastic Buddhist Church of the 2nd century BC Lanka, that are found all over the island except the northernmost extreme, where there are no caves.) of the now famous Kuragala are Arabic inscriptions. Farook actually went so as far to state that the only evidence that Kuragala was a Buddhist monastery of the 2nd century BC is a board placed by the Archaeological Department in 1972. Compare this ‘native ignorance’ with the presentation by British Civil Servant, C.H.Collins in Journal R.A.S (Ceylon) Vol. XXXII, No 85 of 1932.
Justice Lover / May 5, 2013
Dharshani Ratnawallie makes a point but what she doesn’t understand is that a nation, religion, organisation, political party or at the lowest level, an individual is destroyed not by forces outside but by forces from within. As the Buddha has taught us every phenomenon in this world has to pass through three stages, birth, existence and exit. How this happens at an individual level has been explained by the Buddha: harbouring defiled thoughts in oneself and allowing a cause and effect course to run its course making the previously existed one now a new one but not completely different from the previous one.
This is what BBS is doing to Buddhism. If one watches what is happening as an independent observer, one is able to gauge it. But if one does so as a member of the either group, one is unable to do so. Sadly, Dharshanie with her immense intellect and wisdom belongs to the previous group which is there to destroy Buddhism from inside.
Watch this over with equanimity as the Buddha watched how the Sakya clan was destroyed completely during his own life time.
/
Don Stanley / May 5, 2013
These are excellent points. Buddhism today in a MODERN CONSTRUCT which has a POLITICAL ECONOMIC (SASANA) BASE. The organizational structure or SASANA is corrupt to the core and highly CAPITALIST and materialist in ethos and world view as reflected in the performance of the saffron thugs.
The various monks with massive EGOS – podi Hamuduruwa of the Beirea Lake and the heads of nikkaryas are in COMPETITION with one another – search of wealth and lucre and land/ territory for their material-spiritual empires!
Monks in various alliances with politicians who are patrons are competing for capital and land to build their personal empires while marketing political and politicized Buddhism to a fawning and ignorant laity..
Check out the monks and the big shows put on in the form of Perahara for high paying dayakkaya – highly egoistic enterpirses..
And indeed Sudharshan Seniviratne and Co. would do well to locate analysis of today’s MILITARIZED Lanka Buddhism in the neo-liberal capital material world and do a political economic analysis.
There has been no analysis of this phenomenon and the BBS epitome of a SYSTEMIC PROBLEM of MODERN PUBLIC RELIGION – Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and HINDUISM within the MAJORITARIAN – RACIST NATION STATE.
/
Dinuk / May 5, 2013
Sri Lanka is indeed the miracle of Asia!
Sinhala Buddhism has patented and spawned the original BUDDHIST TALIBAN – the BBS – ironically state-sponsored, its impunity is ensured by the Rajapassa military dictatorship.
The distortion and destruction of Buddhism in Lanka is complete – only the decayed symbols and outward show of Buddhist Capitalism and materialism is evident.
The Monk organized Peraheras are the equivalent of Rajapassa’s Night Races.. grand shows empty of content and Buddhist values of simplicity and ahimsa and anantha..
/
Safa / May 5, 2013
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” – Buddha
Even as a Muslim, I accept the above position. So it his high time that true followers heed the advise of the Buddha and do what is right by themselves and all people and humanity. Just because BBS is clothed in robes does not support their actions of vituperative hate and intolerance. The voice of truth does not need any lable or religon, it stands on its own merit.
/
Bedrock Barney / May 5, 2013
Darsahnie, good analogy but Middle America or the red states are drag on the rest of the country. Most progressive issues such gay marriage, gun control, climate change etc etc don’t make much progress because of middle America holding onto a past that doesn’t exist anymore. Holding onto ones culture and past is wonderful but it is also important to be firmly rooted in the present.
The need of the hour is to deliver the people from perennially inept and corrupt governments. Governments whose bread and butter is dividing society along ethnic, religious or class lines. The BBS provides the ‘whipped butter’ for the bread.
If our people are to have a chance, to catch up with rest of the world as so much time was lost fighting each other, then we have to get united fast. The BBS is not helping.
It is nice to be nostalgic and cherish our religions and culture but it would be so much better if we it on a full belly.
We have to put our faith in the youth. The oldies are just too jaded, including my mom.
/
Hela / May 5, 2013
Darshanie very correctly points (intentionally or unintentionally) to parochial agendas hiding behind the anti BBS campaign. She urges those pious folks to rise above their focus on BBS and build a platform against all forms of extremes, Sinhala/Tamil/Muslim racism, religious fundamentalism & bigotry. The question is whether such a platform can be built when there are questions about the sponsors themselves.
/
Concerned citizen / May 5, 2013
So you’re a woman who unabashedly claims to admire the promotion of violence, hate speech and discrimination against a helpless minority?
There’s stupid and there’s you! Every thing the Budda stood has been blatantly violated.
Only if you were subject to such treatment, to live in fear not knowing what’s going to happen to you next maybe you will understand.
Also you might want to consider how a convicted criminal (Hit and run, drunk) managed to ever become a monk!
/
Leela / May 5, 2013
Concerned citizen,
From what you have written here and your accusation against this young lady Ratnawalli for not standing by Buddha Dhamma, I feel you even lack the basic understanding of Buddhism.
Google ‘Angulimala sutta’ and read it; if such a bandit can become a refuge under Buddha, for we Buddhists, a (Hit and run, drunk) becoming a good man later on in life is a very simple matter. You have an unforgiving vicious mind. I feel pity for you.
Leela
/
J.Katriarachchi / May 5, 2013
I too feel pity that you expect an ‘Angulimala like dhaku’ to thrive while wearing a robe, while no Tattagatha is living at present to admonish him other than the President and his cohorts. History revisited cannot be rejoined in connivance to your foolish theory. Do understand Leela, never ever to play the Jury in interpreting Buddhist testaments into your own choice, you will feel the consequences that are imminent if you hold onto this diacritics.
/
Sunil Dahanayake / May 5, 2013
Good article. Supported by a research article. We need more articles like these.
/
Roy / May 5, 2013
A good article for some, you deserve a lingerie fro No Limit.
/
Mulla Billa / May 5, 2013
Pssst!. Heres a secret from Victoria. Lingerie from Fashion Bug work better in birth control than the ones at No Limit.Dharshanie needs to be given the Bug as the next generation can do without her ilk.
/
karl singham / May 6, 2013
Talking of her clothing and apearance, in her pictures:She looks like Tamil more than an AriyaSinhala…Even her name sounds suspiciously Hindu…
/
priya / May 21, 2013
Hope the lingerie are tainted with good chemicals. I saw a poster saying that if you visit Fashion Bug store you would become infertile in Walsmulla.. Can there be a more foolish statement than this. I think Fashion bug can export this to China, or even India which is struggling to control their population. If our teenagers wants to avoid pregnancy, they need not use dangerous chemicals such a 72 hour pill or nor plant. How easy it is .. Fashion Bug and No Limit should openly advertise their lingerie saying that it will make you infertile. Boom the sales would go up.
/
Probono Publico / May 5, 2013
bad idea Roy as too much of lingerie from her and then the BBS chaps will get excited !
/
Fair N Square / May 5, 2013
correction.. the BBS guys will get SEXCITED…
/
priya / May 5, 2013
I wish the author would write in a simple language and use metaphors like Middle America- I do not understand much of what she says excepting that she supports BBS. Has she heard what BBS is preaching here.
/
beeta akka / May 5, 2013
Aney silly little Priya girl, you will never understand what this western educated Hamu is trying to say because she is of a different social class than us. Cant you see the way she is even dressed. Just like Lindsey Lohan on a day without her usual ‘fix’ or Britney Spears who has just discovered that Victoria has not told her any secrets. No time to even comb her hair, all Pattalila.So how can she make herself clear to you or me. Her language is too much even for me Aney. Even I cant understand whether she is for the BBS or against them. Too complicated to understand.I think she has lost the whole plot by trying to impress readers with her western edication.However one thing I know is that her mother deserved to have a daughter like her for whatever reason.Both must be show boxes for all to see.
/
Nokol / May 5, 2013
Surely you couldn’t impressed Beetakka, probabl your choice could vary for some unwary dikes.
/
AYMAN / May 27, 2013
THEY ARE OBSESSED WITH GALABODAWATTE!!!!
HE IS SEXCITING!!!!!!!!
/
priya / May 5, 2013
I wish the author would write in a simple language and NOT use metaphors like Middle America- Correcting what I wrote before
/
Wuliangguobinjiu / May 5, 2013
“The BBS That My Mother Likes”
Your mum must be as boring as you are.
Say,Who defends paedophiles and begging bowl?
/
xuijnibouggnailu / May 5, 2013
Leela & owlish brother Lester.
/
lankaputhra ranasinghe / May 5, 2013
There is no value of referring to racists bootlickers like Sudarshana Senaviratne. He will tell anything to protect the government and their supporters.
/
Fair N Square / May 5, 2013
It shows where she comes from.. BBS are half naked men, she seem’s half naked too. C’mon IF she was smart, she could of used a better picture with some decency.. after all BBS is a religious entity but fanatic…she seem to be blinded by arrogance…
She has all the right to say anything, after all aren’t we a “demoCRAZY” NOT democracy…… we need the …. Good bad and the UGLY to make a society…. She represents the latter… (^-^)
/
Mulla Billa / May 5, 2013
@ fair N square
Congrats and well put. You simply stole the words from my mouth. Was in stitches over “could of used a better picture with some decency”.How very true.
/
fair man / May 5, 2013
Let my fair lady enjoy the dress she likes and write any snobbish or stupid English she wants. I knew you guys want to issue a fatwa against her for not wearing gonibilla. That’s what I’d fight against you lot with tooth and nail.
/
Bolt&Nuts / May 5, 2013
Which tooth and which nail.
/
Fair N Square / May 5, 2013
umm was Dilantha referring to her kind as NIGHT CKLUB Buddhists I wonder, She feels ashamed to call the place of worship A Temple but a Buddhist Church. LOL.. cute A blind leading a blind ….
/
Fair N Square / May 5, 2013
CLUB*
/
Probono Publico / May 5, 2013
Well for one she is dressed like a ‘nightclub Buddhist’ as dear Malinda pointed out the other day at people who wore western dresses and spoke English
on a serious note what does this young lady got to say about pluralism or about non violence and tolerance preached in real Buddhist teachings? and how it contrasts with the sayings and doings of the BBS (
/
piranha / May 5, 2013
What an analogy! Middle America and the BBS.
Does middle america support fascism and violence?
Do they go around attacking minorities or people who follow other religions?
The thrust of this article is an attempt at giving intellectual support/excuses for the activities of the dastardly BBS. The writer of this article should be ashamed of herself. Why don’t you become the spokesperson for the BBS?
/
Probono Publico / May 5, 2013
Yup your spot on while Gnanasara goes about in a thuggish way this lass tries to do so in an intellectual way which is as despicable as the other way
BTW what a comparsion with middle america,I thought these patriotic Buddhist chaps were totally anti american and anti western and now she is trying to draw a paprallel with America oh tempor oh mores!
/
Siri / May 6, 2013
If writer´s mother respects BBS, so what about the talks of her daughter ?
That is what comes to my mind instantly while reading this article.
/
UPUL / May 6, 2013
Nice of you to find the time to comment on an issue you claim not to understand.It is even nicer of the editor to provide you the space to make your comment.
Sri Lanka is not middle America although the levels of ignorance might have some parallels. Please let us gamayas figure out how to sort out our headaches. We do not need big words and long quotes! Its just about knowing what is right, and what is not!! The Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and all other teachers have strived to give us the fundamentals to work out the impossible. Some manage to do it, but the majority just can’t overcome innate selfishness. I hope you have progressed in your journey to control your tendencies. The rest of us have to earn the money to buy bread for dinner, before we think of all this.
/
Sun / May 6, 2013
Many those who join those buddhist activities cant know what kind buddhist monks they are. I am quiet confident that the writer or her mother and almost everyone up there are not informed about the leading monk of BBS, and his real charactor. Not sane people would follow any abusive religious leaders.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/full-court-report-bbs-leader-gnanasara-pleaded-guilty-to-hit-and-run-and-drunk-driving/
As CT revealed it lately, Ghansara is a drunkard person that had once went amok on a lanken highway, where on the earth the theros from lanken behaved in that way – he had even injured two innocient cilivians by his illegal driving. All these brought to surface by CT and other media in SL. So these evidence were prima fasie anyone to draw their own conclusions whether to say yes to this saffron dressed man who has been violating lanken buddhism in an unique form of his manner.
/
Roy / May 6, 2013
Dear Middle american girlie,
After reading all the comments, I think it is a good idea to stick to America and find some sort of temple of Doom.
/
sara / May 6, 2013
I have read the book ‘Art of Living’ by S.N.Goenka and was highly impressed by the Buddhist way of life and Buddhism preached by Lord Buddha.
This book was available at the Buddhist Centre at Anderson Road, Dehiwela. The violent form of Buddhism as practised and preached by BBS and their associates is not in keeping with what I have read. Being a Muslim, I would also like to read the source of their version of Buddhism. Will someone please let me know?
/
Daham / May 6, 2013
Sara, recommend you read,
http://www.dhammaweb.net/books/Dr_Walpola_Rahula_What_the_Buddha_Taught.pdf
and watch some videos in,
http://www.facebook.com/bahujana.hithaaya
/
aiyo / May 6, 2013
A typical malinda take on a racist bunch like the bbs. Utter rubbish wrapped up in a bunch of big words.
/
Netizen / May 6, 2013
Actually, she does speak sense, but in an unnecessarily academic way that may miss the ordinary, hurried reader. KISS is a better way to communicate such an important message.
/
Netizen / May 6, 2013
KISS = Keep it simple, sister
/
Senguttuvan / May 9, 2013
Not the message the wife passed to the husband about to make a speech – KISS // Keep it short, stupid…
Senguttuvan
/
Janaka Edisinghe / May 6, 2013
Easy way to make Money go to Budugaya .. The Good noble Man Buddha is abused today all for Money -no accounts or auditing done for all the donations that come in to Temples in Sri Lanka.
http://youtu.be/l-49xBZwxro
/
Janaka Edisinghe / May 6, 2013
In Defense of a Noble Prince who walked this earth long ago
=================================================================
Millions of Rupees will be wasted on Wesak day on Electricity while ordinary Citizens in Sri Lanka can not afford to pay even a weeks bill.
Why This Pseudo Buddhism at the expense of poor people who are already suffering?
What is Sri Lanka Buddhists really following ? really it does not have even an atom of The Buddha he even refused to be known as Lord still they refer to him as Lord..? if this is not Pseudo Buddhism then what else can we name it?
/
osama bin daring / May 6, 2013
This article by this confused woman reminds me of an old saying. “Mothers deserve the daughters they beget.”
/
darshanie ratnawalli / May 6, 2013
The need of The Hour is not tolerance, compassion, love or anything noble like that but people with functional IQs who can read, understand, discern.
/
Netizen / May 6, 2013
Compassion, love, tolerance are requisite if one is to take the trouble to really read and assimilate. A compassionate writer will also keep the prose simple bearing the reader in mind, then there will be less argument and more agreement. Dhamma is required more than anything else, not for religious reasons but for the sake of humanity.
/
Probono Publico / May 7, 2013
without tolerance compassion or love IQ level being good is no use
Also note that BBS and its supporters dont have IQ nor tolerance hahahahaaaha (buggers without IQ believed that NO LIMIT was serving toffees which make Sinhalse lassies like you infertile and since tolerance was never their trait they attacked Mosques and Christian workers!)
in keeping with Bodu Bala Sena style its best that you shed your western dress and stick to lankan attire or else BBS donkeys will label you as a ‘nightclub Buddhist’!
/
sara / May 6, 2013
Thanks Daham. Is this the Buddhism followed by Bodhu Bala Sena? Is this the Buddhism followed by the monks who attacked fashion bug?
/
Daham / May 6, 2013
Sara – There’s no Buddhist way that one can follow and behave like BBS or monks who attacked fashion bug. We need to differentiate between real Buddhist monks and rogues in robes.
It is also necessary for all of us to realize that there are issues that Buddhist also are facing today. But the resolutions can not be found the way that BBS or Ravana Balaya or any such extremist party wanted or seek.
/
Sujewa Ekanayake / May 7, 2013
Re: this: “I am the legitimate issue of a woman who unabashedly claims to admire the Bodu Bala Sena. This affords me a critical perspective into the issue, without which everyone is floundering like headless chickens.” Being the daughter of a woman who admires the BBS most likely makes you a person with a biased perspective – one that aligns with your mother’s – not a critical perspective. For it to be a critical perspective you need some distance from the subject.
BBS is simply a racist organization. It is the kind of activism Sri Lanka has seen before. Against the Tamils from around 1956-1983, which resulted in the civil war.
Sinhala Buddhist Power organizations will not lead to peace & development in Sri Lanka. Just as they do not in other countries. Since you are using the US as an example, the BBS is similar to the Ku Klux Klan – the KKK – they also claimed to be a devoutly religious organization, looking out for the interests of White Christians. Such organizations are kept in the margins by a majority of Americans at this point in time – as the US has seen that attempting to build an anti-racist society is more beneficial than supporting a racist one.
Good luck with your delusions. Hopefully the majority of Sri Lankans will soon come to realize that the BBS & similar organization are both anti-Buddhist (their work will not benefit Buddhism) and also anti-Sri Lankan (their work will not benefit Sri Lanka). BBS, their supporters, similar groups, and apologists such as yourself are merely attempting to exploit the unsettled, under-developed, economically unjust post-war situation in present day Sri Lanka for short term personal & race motivated gains. Hopefully this period will be brief and true, useful leaders & useful movements that benefit all Sri Lankans will emerge as a response to the sad state of affairs on the island at the moment.
/
quidproquo / May 7, 2013
Sujeewa, you completely missed the point of the article. The writer is not justifying the ethnocentric vitriol unabashedly dished out by the BBS. She is, instead, attempting to understand how and why middle-class Sinhala Buddhists like her mother may be drawn toward such a disgusting organization, and proposing a few alternatives that may allow for a redirection of course. I do not necessarily agree with her proposals, but see such an analysis as an important, reflexive, step located at the intersection of epistemology (how people understand the world) and ethics (how people act in the world, based on that understanding).
/
CINCINATTUS / May 7, 2013
Sujewa Ekanayake:
Excellent response:short.straightfoward,unpretentious and to the point.The BBS is certainly closer to the KKK than to “Middle America”.Whatever one can say about this middle america they certainly have rejected the ideology of the KKK though sadly it is sprouting in many guises in the land that the Buddha selected as his special place.
/
darshanie ratnawalli / May 7, 2013
oh you got past the headline and the photograph and got through the first para? So proud of you my boy. Read on. The good parts are yet to come.
Para 3- I talk of the need to silence the pangs of allegiance towards BBS, Excited?
Para 5- I call the BBS degenerate, debased, degrading; (happy?)
Last Para- I refer to the metaphorical excrement dumped by the BBS onto the social fabric. (Salivating now?)
If you manage to read up to the third endnote…. ah
/
Sujewa Ekanayake / May 8, 2013
I read the entire article before commenting the first time. So let’s take a look at a couple of lines towards the end this time:
“Another toxic ingredient is the absence of true redemptive intent in the current civil initiatives against the BBS. What The Hour demands of these initiatives are clinical, secular perspectives (in contrast to the wet schmaltz aspired to by the Candle People) that can spotlight and challenge all negative patterns in the fabric.”
Really? I heard about two recent projects against the BBS – the candlelight vigil & the Rally for Unity. The first appeared to be an excellent & quickly organized attempt by a few motivated young people to voice their opposition to how the BBS speaks. Not sure what’s toxic about that. If calling for right speech according to Buddhism is toxic, then you must find the rest of Buddhism unbearable. The second event – the Rally for Unity was apparently much better organized, & supported by several individuals with a higher profile & also supported by the gov via the Police being instructed to do their job/protect the protestors. Both events showed to SL & the world that there is a vocal opposition to the BBS & similar misguided organizations.
What’s needed is not criticism of a few who chose to light a few candles against the darkness but for the majority of the Sri Lankans to reject the BBS & similar movements openly, work on creating a common Sri Lankan identity & conditions (justice, good laws, law & order, economic development, greater access to capital for all) that would make it difficult for future separatists & racists – Sinhala religious ones or other ones – to get much support for their misguided & destructive projects.
Re: this: “The psychical darkness[3] that begets all brands and hues of intolerance should be switched off equally.” Yes, that’s a good idea, obviously. Precisely what the candle light vigil activists & the rally for unity have started – however, this is a long process, specially in Sri Lanka, where not much opposition to the BBS & other Sinhala Buddhist Power organizations were seen until the 2 protests I mentioned happened. Also, the Sinhala Buddhists targeting Muslims is a problem of a different scale than Muslims acting against any interests of Sinhala Buddhists – simply due to the difference in the size if the two groups – one the majority group & the other a minority group. Why the Sinhala Buddhists behave like a persecuted minority when they are in fact the majority, controlling the government, the military, the police, & a significant amount of land & wealth in SL is a mystery to me. One explanation is bad leadership – both the religious leaders & secular leaders/politicians – instead of dealing with the actual problems that they could easily solve if they really wanted to (peace among the majority & minority groups, creating a corruption free/opportunities rich economy, developing far better relations with other nations) resort to a tried & failed approach to leadership – which is to try to stay in power by appealing to a tribal sentiment – that of “our tribe, the Sinhala Buddhists, are under attack, and these monks & these politicians are the only ones who can save them, etc” type attitude.
Fortunately for SL, there are many who are working now, silently mostly & also a few openly, on the ground in SL to change the current unfortunate state of things. They will succeed, as 2013 is not 1982, & the BBS & similar destructive, separatist, racist movements will fail. Poverty, under-development, lack of national unity, lack of good laws, lack of law & order enforcement, a lot of great talent & wealth driven out of the country due to racism, lack of good friends world wide are all choices made by Sri Lankans (or made for many Sri Lankans by a few misguided Sri Lankans) in the past. Having seen the not-so-great results of those choices part of the current generation & hopefully much of the next generation will choose differently, more wisely. And hopefully many world wide will help when Sri Lanka starts to do the right thing. Sri Lanka now has the potential to quickly become an inspirational, wealthy, & productive country – a true & useful leader among nations. The Candlelight Generation & their fans & supporters will make it happen :)
/
The Cross Reference Girl / May 14, 2013
and you talked about one-upmanship? (May 13, 2013 in reference to the montessori teacher). have you no integrity, you ostentatious wannabe ‘lecturer’?. XD
/