28 March, 2024

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Violence Is The New Nonviolence

By V. Kanthaiya

A Group of GMOA members and the medical faculty undergraduates were on their way to pelt stones on SAITM building in Malabe. On the way, they saw Lord Buddha meditating under a ‘Bo’ tree. They all went to him and told ‘Oh, Most Venerable! We are on our way to pelt stones at SAITM in order to protect the standard of the medical education of our beloved motherland. Please bless us’.

Lord Buddha opened his eyes and said calmly. ‘My dear children, Although, I have said to follow the path of nonviolence to resolve the conflicts, I have realized that it is not practical in this country. Therefore I ask one thing from you all. You can pelt stones on SAITM, with one condition. The first stone should be thrown by a member of GMOA who had not received his education from public money and does not engage in private practice. The first one should be the one who arrives to the hospital on time to see the patients and does not charge more than Rs. 1000. He or She should be someone who does not receive any commission from the pharmaceutical companies to promote a particular brand when there are cheap generic alternatives. And should be….”

Suddenly Lord Buddha was interrupted by an irritated GMOA member in the group saying that Buddha should properly educate himself on the affairs of the country and the international conspiracies against it. Meanwhile an undergrad in the group started to call Buddha as an agent funded by capitalists. Another called him as someone funded by NGOs. And then the group started to chant slogans calling Buddha as a traitor of the Motherland.

Hearing this, Buddha returned to his meditation and the Anti- SAITM, Anti – capitalism and the Anti – public convenience patriotic movement started its procession.  ~ An extract from the book to be written by V. Kanthaiya.

Photo credit – Maithripala Sirisena’s Facebook

After two and a half years, now it’s proven beyond any doubt that Yahapalanaya is a complete failure. It is an open secret that Yahapalanaya is a model government promoted by the international well-wishers of Sri Lanka and implemented by the minority of the Majority community and the Majority of the other minority communities. The key reason is nothing new and unusual. This is the typical reaction of the internal factors when and where a strong authoritative power is removed and replaced by more democratic system.

Sri Lanka has been under monarchy for more than two millennia and like all old world countries, we grew up listening to and reading stories beginning with ‘once upon a time, there was a king’. The reality is most of the old world civilizations including Sri Lanka are not culturally and psychologically ready for democracy.

This is the argument told by one of my highly educated, well – mannered friend and a mentor who proudly identifies himself as a ‘Sinhala Buddhist’.

This is not the view of this only individual. This is shared by millions of people in Sri Lanka who clearly identify themselves as educated, polite, refined, cow loving, urban, middle – class professionals and also ‘unique Sinhala – Buddhists’. They also believe that their race is on the verge of rapid extinction due to an unidentified international conspiracy.

The reason of this psychological phenomena is very deep. It all started in 1956, when S.W.R.D Bandaranaike discovered and informed the masses that Sri Lanka indeed belongs only to the ‘Sinhala Buddhist’ ethnic group as they are endemic to this island who do not exist any other part of this universe. This discovery forced the other ethnic groups who also started to believe that they are endemic to this island. What happened next until now is the post – independence history of Sri Lanka. However, that history will vary based on whose version you are reading.

What S.W.R.D Bandaranaike used was just a marketing technique which was first tested and proven by Adolf Hitler. The suspicion and hatred towards the minority ethnic groups by Sinhalese gave S.W.R.D a competitive edge over his rivals back in 1950s to establish himself as the guardian of them, and once the other Sinhalese political parties realized the power of this technique, they also started to adopt this at a higher degree, just to get more votes.

Throughout the history of civilizations, there is a dangerous pattern that religious institutions bonding with and influencing the political system to ensure the mere survival and existence of them. Be it the Catholic Church, Hindu Religious institutions and no need to mention about Islam. The ‘Maha Sangha’ started to practice the same methodology right after the independence of the country, not only to promote and increase the awareness of Lord Buddha’s teachings, but also to ensure the survival and existence of its institutional hierarchy.

So far, the governments of Sri Lanka and the ‘Maha Sangha’ worked in par. In fact, the ‘Maha Sangha’ established its image as a representative of the civil society and the public, throughout the period.  When there are business ventures commenced in rural areas by corporates or other established businesses, two separate donations are generally need to be paid; one to the local ruling party politician and other one to the village ‘Aamaduru’.

Another dangerous aspect in our society is that religious institutions remain above the law along with the military and the political elite. The people of this country believe that it is a sin to take the clergies to the court of law and if something of that nature happens that the Almighty would punish not only those who took the action but also everyone in the country.

Human Beings are said to be the only lifeforms who can rationally think. But religion has effectively made them just to believe what is told. Whoever question the teaching and the preaching of the ‘men of God’ is said to be anti-social.

Sri Lanka introduced the ‘War for Peace’ concept during the Chandrika Regime and the “Humanitarian Genocide’ in Percy Mahendra “Mahinda” Rajapaksa regime. Now the ‘Maha Sangha’ has introduced the ‘Violence is the new Nonviolence’ concept by publicly endorsing the myth that Sinhala Buddhists of this country are under threat from other communities and by saying that the new constitution making process should be scrapped.

This has revealed the root cause of the ethnic conflict and the fact that the Tamils and Muslim communities of this country will continue to be marginalized. However, the biggest revelation is that the ‘Maha Sangha’ has now started to favour more the likes of Galagoda Atte Gnanasara, rather than the teachings of Gautama Buddha.

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Latest comments

  • 19
    2

    gnansaraya the pig should be in jail for aluthgama . no justice no peace.
    asgiriya /polwatha all these monks are in for the money. all have wifes/mistresses and children. lets expose these monks, as these monks will create conditions for another 83 genocide. and war.

    • 0
      0

      Stop calling anyone pig when there are several pigs among your community. There will never be another 83 if Muslims behave properly respecting the customs of the country. If not there will be several Gnanasaras to give them the works.

  • 22
    3

    Like Trump being the Joke of USA, Buddhism has become the joke of Sri Lanka.

  • 2
    9

    “Humanitarian Genocide’ in Percy Mahendra “Mahinda” Rajapaksa regime.”
    You better check the meaning of ‘Genocide’.Typical Tamil propaganda BS.

    “endorsing the myth that Sinhala Buddhists of this country are under threat from other communities”
    Sinhalese have been under threat from Hindian Tamils for the last 2000 odd years. This is not something new. The latest threat was from Tamil terrorist outfit LTTE led by Prabhakaran.

    “by saying that the new constitution making process should be scrapped.”
    Sinhalese do not want a constitution prepared by Pakisothi and NGOs ‘wasalayas’ who are working as agents of various interest groups in the West. Ranil will show one draft to the people and table another one to the Parliament and get the approval from ‘Horikada’ MPs who are been bribed. He is that kind of a cunning guy.

    “This has revealed the root cause of the ethnic conflict and the fact that the Tamils and Muslim communities of this country will continue to be marginalized.”
    It is the Sinhalese who are getting marginalized. Vigneshwaran says Sinhalese are not welcomed in the North. Tamils are free to live anywhere in the country but Sinhalese cannot live in the North. Who is getting marginalized?

    “However, the biggest revelation is that the ‘Maha Sangha’ has now started to favour more the likes of Galagoda Atte Gnanasara, rather than the teachings of Gautama Buddha.”

    This is a complete distortion of facts for which Tamils are very good at. Maha Sangha did not approve Gnanasara’s behavior. Maha Sangha requested those who are ruling this country to pay attention to the threat from Wahabi extremists that Gnanasara is highlighting. Is there anything wrong with Gnanasara talking about the threat from Muslim extremists? Now all the leaders in the west who are Christians talk about this.

    • 3
      1

      Eagle Eye.
      Look up meaning of the word “genocide” in a dictionary.
      Nazis wanted to create a fatherland of super-Aryan-race. The only way was to exterminate non-Aryans.
      BBS’s mission statement is to create a Buddhist-Sinhala Only motherland. How can this be achieved?

      • 1
        1

        K.Pillai———–

        “Nazis wanted to create a fatherland of super-Aryan-race. The only way was to exterminate non-Aryans.” —

        Please note the Sinhala/Buddhist Aryan fascists want to build an exclusive Sinhala/Buddhist fascist Ghetto.

  • 2
    11

    Evangelical Christian explaining What buddhist should do, what Sangha members should do… What should Sinhala Buddhist do now ?

    • 5
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      All SIN KELEY BAUDDA AMADURU must be compelled by all Lankan Buddist And Gvt must order to follow BUDDAs way such as ..
      GO BEGGING DOOR TO DOOR FOR FOOD.
      STOP INVOLVING IN POLITICS.
      STOP SEX WITH BOYS and WATCHING BLUE FILM.
      STOP ALL HATE CRIMES AGAINST MINORITY.
      MUST DO ONLY PANSALA WORKS.
      and more….

    • 4
      0

      “What should Sinhala Buddhist do now ?”
      Put their tail between the legs and listen.

    • 5
      1

      Jim softy the dimwit—- “What should Sinhala Buddhist do now ?” —— Stop making fools of themselves and destroying Buddhism. Is it too difficult?

  • 3
    13

    Kanthaiya, idiot, —
    Chelvanayagam and Nandikadal Prabakaran were not Tamils, Hindus, and Sri Lankans. They were invaders of the Island of Sinhale (Sri Lanka).
    Kanthaiya, you forgot to mention in your crappy article “The inventions/introductions of Eelamist Tamils Kallathonies and Coolies in Sri Lanka”, e.g; ‘Trying to invade other people’s country and getting your ass kicked badly in return, then calling it ‘genocide’, and how all these Tamil shenanigans have made Tamils in Sri lanka proven liars and how word ‘Tamil’ becomes a synonym for ‘liar’ and a person who occupies other people’s country based on lies.

    • 7
      2

      “They were invaders of the Island of Sinhale”

      Sinhale???
      My FOOT! LOL!

      Then Vijay and his 700 thugs must have been tourists…

    • 2
      1

      “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

      Proverbs

      • 2
        1

        Burt —“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
        Please pass this following quote to Johnny Baby:
        It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. —–Mark Twain

  • 4
    2

    This is what Buddha would have really said : “Don’t throw stones. Never throw stones. Tell SAITM to pay their money to GMOA and GMOA will take on SAITM students. Welcome the capitalists, but socialize your capitalism and create an honorable tax structure, decent minimum wage, and emergency services so the masses can given their due respect. Sri Lanka is my chosen Island for Buddhism. Let all be fulfilled. Sadu, Sadu, Sadu.

  • 7
    1

    Those Sinhala Buddhists who genuinely feel that Sri Lanka is under threat of being over-run by ascendant minorities that are asserting themselves as never before, and are also increasing in numbers with foreign-backed sources and funds should perhaps investigate these concerns and bring them to light so that legal recourse to remedy the condition can be initiated, rather than sound racist or stupid instead.

    • 3
      2

      Dear Lasantha, You seem to be a reasonable person. Do not blame all Buddhists who are making genuine concerns. There appears to be a dangerous situation developing in Eastern Province, which has been brought to light by the Buddhist priest of the vihare in Batticaloa. A large mosque is being built in Poonani at the border between Polonnaruwa and Batticaloa districts, probably from foreign funds, where there is hardly any Muslims. He wants the government to stop construction of this Mosque and if not he will take action. There are several documented atrocities committed by Muslims on Hindu temples in Eastern province. There is a risk of Tamils in eastern province joining the Buddhist priest in his mission to bring justice to Tamils as the Tamil leaders have failed due to fear of repercussions. This Buddhist priest has also made it clear that he will give leadership to Tamils to get back their lost properties which have been appropriated by Muslims. With the prevailing animosity against Muslims, this matter can escalate. Government is turning a blind eye on atrocities committed on Tamils by people like Hisbullah and Rishard Baddiuddin who are confirmed racists. Please impress upon fair minded people to intervene in this to rein in these Islamic extremists and prevent Buddhist backlash. No Buddhist should be found fault later for this if the government allows the problem to escalate.

    • 2
      0

      Lasantha Pethiyagoda ” and bring them to light so that legal recourse to remedy the condition can be initiated, rather than sound racist or stupid instead.” ————-Seriously, is it possible to reason out with paranoid Sinhala/Buddhist noisy minority?

  • 0
    5

    V. Kanthaiya in “Violence Is The New Nonviolence”.
    At one stage US, UK, USSR and France had the bomb and justified the bomb as weapons of peace!
    The article has some stuff in the main part but Kanthiaya’s imagination of Buddha is inappropriate bordering into poor taste. Wonder how a Hindu God reacts to violence against Dalit, Jesus for the economic bondage of the poor countries by the rich or Mohamed to the way Muslim women are treated.
    Kanthaiya trivializes the medical students by portraying them as without a cause and the medical profession as greedy money makers.
    SAITM issue is a class war.
    Doctors may be making lot of money but so do lawyers, accountants, police, armed services personnel, businessmen and above all politicians. Why pick on doctors and leave the bloody lot out, Kanthaiya?
    The Sangha is being manipulated and Lankans are concerned. The manipulators are running out of options. So let the people judge.

  • 4
    1

    Nunuku-whenua was a Moriori chief and famous sixteenth century pacifist.

    The Moriori are a Polynesian people who settled in the then-uninhabited Chatham Islands around the year 1500.[1] Following an intertribal conflict, Nunuku-whenua, a prominent Moriori chief of the Hamata tribe, established “Nunuku’s Law”, which forbade war, cannibalism and killing in any form.[2]

    The law was strictly abided by, and peace was maintained in the Chathams until the islands were invaded by about 900 Māori from two iwi, the Ngāti Mutunga and the Ngāti Tama, in 1835. The invaders had guns and massacred the Moriori, who gathered urgently for a council at Te Awapātiki. Although youths argued in favour of armed resistance, elders ruled that Nunuku’s Law could not be violated for any reason. The Moriori population, conquered and enslaved, fell from over 1600 in 1835 to less than 100 thirty years later.[3]

  • 0
    0

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  • 2
    7

    Kandiah, it is very obvious that you are an Evangelical priest. What do you know about violence? The end justifies the means. Even if we regain control of the country by murdering millions of minority, it is ok in the name of Budhism. We have the ultimate duty to safe guard Buddhism, this what Buddha would have wanted. Stop preaching about violence, what were you doing when LTTE was violent on us?

    • 0
      2

      I will not sing the praises on the virtues of Buddhism. If Buddhism was any good or had any positive influence on its followers, it should have had a better survival rate with a healthy growth in population to show for it. Instead the opposite has happened. Not considering the island-wide gambling dens, boozing with issuance of liquor licences (which clearly indicates government support), It has been totally wiped out from the land of its birth, including most of the neighboring countries as well. The only exception.being SL. Just a cursory review on Youtube will give some indication on how many do actually convert to Buddhism, in comparison to conversions to other religions. In such desperate situations, desperate measures are being taken to stop the erosion before it is too late, and that is why we see so much hullabaloo thru violence, false flag alarms, designed to provoke a backlash that would put the minorities in bad light. Jealousy,, pure and simple, to settle old scores and grab a share of the economic pie, which the minorities have worked hard to achieve.

  • 1
    0

    Kanthaih,

    Very nicely said

  • 1
    1

    Is Colombo Telegraph the mouth-piece of the LTTE diaspora ? How about telling the readers about all the atrocities committed by the LTTE for three decades against innocent civillians for a change ????

    • 2
      0

      Telling what is known is not news. Colombo Telegraph is a news medium with an interactive option. If you need a gossip paper try the “Daily Crap” also known as “Daily Mirror”

  • 3
    0

    Buddhism needs to be safeguarded, from sexual abuse of boys by the monks, from hate speeches on other religious persons, from luxury living by the protectors of buddhism!!

    No wonder why hundreds of buddhists are seen in hindu temples and in evangelical churches asking for help and intervention from hindu gods and christian god. Not to mention hordes of buddhists at St. Anthony’s church.

    Please Try all you can to save Buddhism now or in about 60 to 70 years this Sinhale buddhist paradise will be a Muslim paradise – a land of dates and honey.

    • 1
      1

      ‘this Sinhale buddhist paradise will be a Muslim paradise – a land of dates and honey’. Like Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine……….

      • 2
        0

        Paul “Like Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine……….” True Paul we were not far behind Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine………. in 1915, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1971, 1977, 1983, between 1987 and 1990, from 1981 and 2015. ……… By the way did you really think we were like Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, ……etc?

      • 3
        0

        “Sinhale buddhist paradise”

        If this is a joke: it does not sound funny.

        First thing “paradise” brings to mind is peace and harmony. May be it was like that under the British. Sinhala Buddhist as usual ruined it no sooner they got their hands on it. This country has not had peace and harmony since independence.

  • 3
    0

    History repeats. Maldives was not a Muslim nation nor was India having a large ratio of Muslims centuries back. Malaysia now is in the verge of losing it’s “pure ethnic” majority. Sri Lanka is at the door step. Whether you like it or not it is coming. From a minority Muslim nation to a Substantial Muslim population ( financially, politically and internationally strong ) followed by a Majority Muslim nation in the next 70 years the most!! Many civilizations and nations have come and gone. Sri Lanka may not be an exception.

    Who knows, Ven. Gnanasara may start chanting Allah ho Akbar in his later stage.(age)

    • 0
      0

      Agree.
      By killing tamils or the Muslims you cannot save the country from it’s transition – (i.e.) to a country with substantial muslim population. It may take 60 -70 years given the different birth rates by the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims. Ven. Gnanasara is shouting out loud but is not being heard as his tone and language is not quite parliamentary but there is a serious message there. No one can stop this process , unless the birth rates are increased among the sinhalese, which is not possible given the economic situation and living standards among the majority.

      Nature and history will do the needful. Not to forget – the 65 Mn tamils across the Palk Street and the increasing Indian dominance in SL.

  • 4
    0

    All these violence and racism is not done in the interest of religion or well being of citizens, but are signs of lunacy and lack of education – at all levels including the legislature. The true nature of knowledge and character of clergy has to come out one day and that is what is being displayed by Gnanasara and the sympathizers. It only shows that monks are ordinary layman in robes. Those who worship them also have to examine their heads.

  • 4
    0

    “However, the biggest revelation is that the ‘Maha Sangha’ has now started to favour more the likes of Galagoda Atte Gnanasara, rather than the teachings of Gautama Buddha.”

    That is why we call ‘Sinhala Buddhism’ which has nothing to do with teachings of Gautama Buddha.

  • 4
    0

    Lankan Buddhism is not at all a Buddhism. What happens if all the Buddhist countries practsing some sort of Buddhism that call their Buddhism as Mayanmar Buddism, Chinese Buddism, Cambodian B , Laos B, Tibet Buddhism, Nepali Buddhism etc.,as they please ?

    Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions have only one worded or may be a different worded name for Christianity of others sectors. Lankan thing is the most corrupt one and they are famous for the “Sunday SIL & Monday kill” fun fill adventure, which is enjoyed and welcomed by all and sundry except some sensible others. Al these people are misusing Buddha’s name for their own benefit. That’s all.

    A religion should be left alone for it to survive by itself and it should not be pampered in any way.
    The majority ardent Sinhala folks will realize the fact of this matter sooner or later, before the country is divided or taken over by some other strong nation next door.

    Remember we the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are blood brothers & sisters and no one can deny the fact & DNA. Just forget all the past mistakes by all and get together to build our nation to stop the undesirable things happening ! We will never get a country like ours and do not destroy it for political or religious reasons. And do not ever think that Lanka is a Sinhala only property or a Buddhist only enclave.

    No one can extinguish all the minority communities from SL and if any one things they can, they are a dreaming lot of fools ! It is our country and your country..do not forget it. It’s no one’s sole property.
    We minorities will fight to death, if we have to, in order to retain our ownership and rights.

  • 0
    0

    SURELY………..Colombo Telegraph IS a Mouth PIECE Of The Dirty Murderers ——-The International BEGGARS the LTTE

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