28 March, 2024

Blog

Why A Peace NGO Might Not Employ The Buddha

By Darshanie Ratnawalli

 Darshanie Ratnawalli

Darshanie Ratnawalli

In western as well as oriental cultures, Superheroes conquer rebellious mythical creatures and win their territory for humans. The heroes of more muscular ancient traditions get to kill their creatures, while those of the early Buddhist tradition, the Buddha and his arahat disciples triumph through a different methodology, as killing of any being is simply not done. Even so, some memorable mythical creature overcoming episodes of early Buddhist lore owe their existence to a very muscular and masterful strand in the tradition.

The earliest such episode is contained in the Mahavagga of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka (Vin. I, 24, 25 @ p32-35, Horner IV[i]full text). Here the Buddha, in order to assert His spiritual superiority before a large group of Brahmin ascetics with signature matted hair, gives an extended display of super-human powers (three thousand five hundred miracles). The first of these is the overpowering of the magical Naga in the leading ascetic’s fire hut. This involves leaving intact the skin, hide, flesh, ligaments, bones, and marrow of this Naga while fighting his fire with like fire. “When both were in flames, the fire-room became as though burning, ablaze, in flames. Then the matted hair ascetics, having surrounded the fire-room, spoke thus: “Beautiful indeed is the great recluse, (but) he will be harmed by the serpent.”” He isn’t. Towards the end of that night, the flames of the Naga are extinguished while the multi-colored flames of the Buddha’s psychic power remain on His body. The Naga, though intact in body end up in such a state that the Blessed One is able to throw him into the alms bowl and show him as testimony of His triumph.  In the non-Theravadin Mahavastu, which presents the same episode in a later and more developed form, the matted hair ascetics, on seeing the blazing fire room, try to quench the conflagration and save the Buddha while the Naga after having been released, assumes human form, falls at His feet and craves forgiveness. (P108-109, J. Ph. Vogel: 1926[ii]full text)

Naga Apala of Swat Valley, Gandhara is another destructive Naga king tamed by a masterful Buddha of the muscular tradition. His taming while not known to the Pali Cannon or its commentarial tradition, is featured in the Vinaya of the Mula-Sarvastivadins (the Chinese translation of which only has survived), in the Divyavadana, and in the narration of Hiuen Tsiang, the Chinese pilgrim who toured India in the 7th century AD. According to the latter, this Naga afflicted the country by destroying all the products of the earth. The Buddha moved by compassion for the people arrives supernaturally. (Swat Valley was of course far outside the home territory of His ministry, the Madhyadesa). The Buddha’s companion Vajrapani does the muscular thing by smiting the Naga’s mountainside with his thunderbolt, causing the terrified being to come forth and pay reverence to the Buddha. Hearing the preaching of His law, the Naga’s heart becomes pure and he agrees to do without his sustenance, which comes entirely out of the fields of men. He only begs a harvest every 12 years, which the Buddha in His compassion grants. (Vogel: 1926, p121-122)

‘Vajrapani?’ I can hear you intoning explosively, ‘surely this concept of the Buddha having in tow, a hit-man with a thunderbolt has no place in the Theravadin tradition, which is more Gandhian?’ You’d be wrong on two counts. First, similes are all very well, but must you try to plant an ancient oak in a flower pot? Second, while Vajrapani may have undergone greater development in the non-Theravadin traditions, he is definitely pre-schism and belongs to the common ancient core shared by all Buddhist traditions. In my opinion, Vajrapani is the most potent personification of the muscular strand of the Buddhist tradition. He appears in the Theravadin cannon as the enforcer of a curious cosmic law, which applies when an interlocutor does not answer a reasonable question put by a Tatagatha. The Buddha himself invokes this law in the Ambattha Sutta (Dialogues of the Buddha, Part 1[iii], p108-136, full text) and the Cula-Saccaka Sutta (p322-331, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha[iv]full text) in similar contexts. The Ambattha incident is more colorful.

The young Brahmin Ambattha has insulted the Sakya clan (to which the Buddha belonged) three times; “So, Gotama, that is neither fitting, nor is it seemly, that the Sakyas, menials as they are, mere menials, should neither venerate, nor value, nor esteem, nor give gifts to, nor pay honour to the Brahmans.” The Buddha thinks: hmm, why don’t I start talking to him in his own language, and asks; “And what family do you then, Ambattha, belong to?” Ambattha is Kanhayana, a family whose lineage closet harbors a skeleton; “…if one were to follow up your ancient name and lineage, Ambattha, on the father’s and the mother’s side, it would appear that the Sakyas were once your masters, and that you are the offspring of one of their slave girls. But the Sakyas trace their line back to Okkaka the king.” The other Brahmins of Ambattha’s retinue, who are obviously not Kanhayanas are reluctant to believe this story. So the Buddha asks Ambattha to tell what he himself has heard from his own teachers about his lineage. Ambattha remains silent, which is when the Buddha cautions him; “You had better answer, now, Ambattha. This is no time for you to hold your peace. For whosoever, Ambattha, does not, even up to the third time of asking, answer a reasonable question put by a Tathagata (by one who has won the truth), his head splits into pieces on the spot.” At this moment Vajrapani makes his appearance; “Now at that time the spirit who bears the thunderbolt stood over above Ambattha in the sky with a mighty mass of iron, all fiery, dazzling, and aglow, with the intention, if he did not answer, there and then to split his head in pieces. And the Blessed One perceived the spirit bearing the thunderbolt, and so did Ambattha the Brahman. And Ambattha on becoming aware of it, terrified, startled, and agitated, seeking safety and protection and help from the Blessed One, crouched down beside him in awe and said: “What was it the Blessed One said? Say it once again!”“

As you can probably guess, this thunderbolt wielding Yakkha (for that’s the Pali word, translated as ‘spirit’) or Vajrapani is none other than Sakra/Indra, as the commentaries, edited and translated by Buddhaghosa inform us. According to this commentarial tradition, Sakra assumes the fierce persona of Vajrapani as part of a promise made when Brahma Sahampathi persuaded a reluctant Buddha to preach the Dhamma to an imperfect world, that if He would establish the rule of the Dhamma in the world, the Sakra would afford it the necessary protection[v]

There is a way in which one speaking truly of Buddhism could say: ‘Buddhist tradition is pacifist’.  But what is that way? A better question might be ‘What is not that way?’ If masterful and muscular motifs such as the above make you upset, hysterical, cheated (For an overt display of these emotions see “Which Buddha? Whose Buddhism? an article in Colombo Telegraph by Tisaranee Gunasekara), then yours is clearly not the way.

The Buddha reluctantly corrected (he refused to give an opinion until asked for a third time) wrong beliefs held by various professionals about rebirth potentialities earned by their particular professions, assigning Battle Slain Hell to career soldiers who die in battle (Gamani Samyutta, Yodhajiva @ p1333, 1334, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, Vol.2[vi] full text) and the Hell of Laughter to professional performers (Gamani Samyutta, Talaputa, ibid). Yet, He legislated to refrain from infringing on the rights of royal armies by banning ordination of serving soldiers seeking to avoid the karmic demerits of engaging in battle (Vin I, 73, 74 @ p91,92, Horner IV – full text). Although he made it an offence for monks to go and see an army fighting, he amended that rule to facilitate monks who had sufficient cause to go there, such as their presence being needed and requested. For example, if one’s uncle was ill in the army and sent a message; “I am indeed ill in the army, let the revered sir come. I want the revered sir to come”, one could go-(Pacittiya 48 @ p374, 375, Horner II[vii]full text). If one’s king should ask on the eve of going to battle; “Give us, that we may treat them with honour, bhikkhus who shall go on with us, since the sight of bhikkhus is blessing and protection for us”, then too presumably one could go. It was in response to such a request from Dutugemunu that 500 Bhikkhus accompanied him to battle-(Mahavamsa[viii], XXV.3, 4 @, p170- full text)

@ http://ratnawalli.com /  and rathnawalli@gmail.com


[i] The Book of the Discipline (Vinaya-Pitaka), Volume IV (Mahavagga), translated by I. B. Horner- (full text)

[ii] 1972, 1926, English, Book, Illustrated edition:Indian serpent-lore; or, The nāgas in Hindu legend and art”-(full text) by Vogel, J. Philippe (Jean Philippe), 1871-1951

[iii] Dialogues of the Buddha, translated from the Pali by T. W. Rhys Davids, Sacred Books of the Buddhists, Vol. 2- (Full text)

[iv] The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, a new translation of the Majjhima Nikaya: Translated from the Pali- Original Translation Bhikkhu Nanamoli, translation edited and revised by Bhikkhu Bodhi – (full text).

[v] Vajrapani, Buddhist Dictionary of Pali Proper names, where most entries have been taken from ‘Dictionary of Pali Proper Names’ by G. P. Malalasekera

[vi] The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, Vol.2, Samyutta Nikaya; Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi-(full text)

[vii] The Book of the Discipline (VINAYA-PITAKA), Volume 2 (SUTTAVIBHANGA), translated by I. B. Horner – (full text)

[viii] The Mahavamsa translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger, 1912- (Full text)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Latest comments

  • 8
    4

    I am sure that the author agrees that the NGOs can always employ the “prophet” Mohamed. After all these are NGOs that employ the most unpatriotic scum from developing countries so that they can take a gun to the countries’ culture and do their best to destroy it.

    Yes, Buddha will never qualify for NGO employment. You need rapists, violent murderers, pedophiles, and that type of person and Mohamed qualifies. Just read the Quran.

    My open challenge to this nappy haired woman (if the picture is any guide), what have you to tell us about Mohamed? ISIS? AL Qaeda? Islamic barbarism modern and past? Destruction of Bamyan statues of ancient world heritage? Coming destruction of Borobudur temple? Hundereds of Christian being massacred in Iraq and Syria?

    Dear reader, I will bet you money, they will not spend any time doing research or writing one word because they are hired guns that can only go for soft targets. The fanatical Moslems in whichever the country they live will not let them get away with one criticism of the “prophet”

    • 3
      4

      I am a great admirer of the Buddha and his wisdom.

      However he himself was not aloof of weaknesses: He abandoned his young family for this selfish needs.

      He didn’t set an example to people by earning for a living rather than begging.

      After all, all prophets and founders of religions gave rise to dogmas whether they intended it or not.

      As the famous innovator and original thinker of our time the late Steve Jobs said: Why should we follow other people’s ideas and dogmas when we can think and find it ourselves.

      Galileo Galilei, the famous scientist said: I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.

      We don’t have to believe Prophet Mohammed, the Buddha, the Hindu, Christian or Jewish texts as gospel truth: Let’s think and move the frontiers of knowledge forward.

      Half the religious problems of the world will then be solved.

    • 3
      1

      For those who look confused,

      Jesus was preaching non-violence when he said “If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also”. He also taught people to love their enemies. However, the Bible also says that he acted violently when he entered the temple courts and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. In other words, Jesus was not always peaceful, at times he had also been violent.

      Darshanie Ratnawalli by citing the Buddhist texts is trying to prove here is that even the Buddha was not always as good/peaceful (loving and kind) as we Buddhists believe. At times even Buddha had been violent, so violent that he is not fit even to be an employee for the Peace NGOs.

      On the other hand, Tisaranee Gunasekara believes (“Which Buddha? Whose Buddhism?”) that the real Buddha as we all know was non-Violent even though the Mahavamsa has wrongly interpreted that the Buddha practiced violence. However, Darshanie Ratnawalli says that not only the Mahavamsa but also the Tripitaka portrays that the Buddha was violent at times.

      • 1
        6

        I am saying that there are muscular and masterful strands in the Buddhist canonical tradition. The tradition never represents the Buddha as violent either in the way a reasonable person in the 21st century would define violence or in the way a reasonable person in the pre-Christian centuries would have defined it. Masterful, powerful, muscular, dominant, assertive are not synonyms for ‘violence’. All the hysterical peoples who pretend to be horrified when they see the same strands in the Lankan chronicles are simply uninformed and simplistic. Good NGO recruitment fodder. For them an oak is only nice when you can plant it in a neat flowerpot.

        • 2
          0

          DR

          “Masterful, powerful, muscular, dominant, assertive are not synonyms for ‘violence’.”

          But however, Masterful, powerful (overpowering, super-human powers), muscular, dominant, assertive, etc are NOT synonyms for Loving Kindness (Metta), Compassion (Karuna), sympathetic (Mudita), and equanimity (Upekkha) either, the attributes of the real Buddha that Tisaranee Gunasekara was talking about.

          • 0
            7

            even the most masterful and powerful episode in the cannon starring the Buddha and all the episodes in the Lankan Chronicles featuring the Buddha do not fall short of mettha, karuna, mudita, upekka. Think of a father who can feel all four but still could be masterful and powerful. We all have our own ‘real Buddha’. I was/am trying to see through the ‘real Buddha’ of TG, a female of a certain understanding and persuasion whose capacity for outrage exceeds (in my opinion) her capacity for sense (what Jane Austen would have called sense). We may not have to look further than Mahatma Gandhi for her ‘real Buddha’.

            • 3
              1

              DR

              The real Buddha that Tisaranee talks about is the Gautama Buddha that we are aware of right from our early days (Daham School), the Buddha with the attributes Loving Kindness, Compassion, sympathetic, and equanimity.

              According to you, “all the episodes in the Lankan Chronicles (most masterful and powerful) featuring the Buddha do not fall short of mettha, karuna, mudita, upekka.”

              However, Tisaranee quotes the Mahavamsa by saying “the Mahawamsa-Buddha sets an example to Mahawamsa-Buddhists by vanquishing the yakkas; he strikes “terror to their hearts by rain, storm, darkness and so forth” and chases them from the future holy land”.

              Now, where is the mettha, karuna, mudita, upekka when the Mahawamsa-Buddha (not the real Gautama Buddha) strikes “terror to the hearts of the Yakkas by rain, storm, darkness and so forth” and chases them from the island”.

              Do you think a father who can feel all four but still could be masterful and powerful will practice terror to the hearts of his children and chase them away from the house???

              • 2
                10

                All heroes vanquish mythical creatures. This is the tradition. It is well known in all the legends Buddhist as well as Other. The same Buddha who vanquished the Naga WITH FIRE in the Vinaya Pitaka moved from the same temporal sequence and vanquished the Yakkas in Lanka with fire. Look at the story in the Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa. Read the story in the sources, count how many times the word ‘compassion’ is mentioned in the Yakkha vanquishing episode. An identical island was rolled near Lanka by the Buddha. The Yakkas happily went into that. Then i was rolled away to its original place. The word ‘chase’ was used by TG. According to the conventions of the legend it was a compassionate act. According to the conventions of the legend the over-powering the naga of the fire hut was also compassionate. The flesh, skin, etc was left intact. The stories are there to be read according to their own frames of reference. Not according to the standards of people with axes to grind. You and TG should simply have played with your rubric cubes and done jigsaw puzzles instead of attending Sunday School. Would have helped you to be less wet. Even now it’s not too late to found “THE SOCIETY FOR THE GENTLE HANDLING OF MYTHICAL CREATURES OF ANCIENT LEGEND SO AS TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO FUTURE WET BLANKETS”

                • 4
                  2

                  DR,

                  So, according to you, the tradition of vanquishing the mythical creatures by fire and striking terror to their hearts by rain, storm, darkness and so forth is called ‘compassion’. GREAT!!!

                  I wonder if those who stuck terror in the past like V. Prabakaran and Bin Larden also perceived things in a similar fashion. ‘Striking Terror is Compassion’.

                  So, by playing with your rubric cubes and doing jigsaw puzzles instead of attending Sunday school during your young days, this is how you learned to understand things, LOL.

                  May be the Education Ministry is not aware of such a wonderful practice to make the kids think in a different perspective.

                  When you lose an argument you also lose your temper??? You need to grow up young lady. May be in another 10 years you may be able to understand things in the right perspective. Till then you can continue playing with your rubric cubes and doing jigsaw puzzles if you think it can help (very doubtful).

                  • 2
                    10

                    Should have used your Sunday School time to talk sex and related topics like we did. 1) Would have given you the moral robustness not to be so dripping wet 2) taught you to enjoy a good story on its own terms

                    • 3
                      1

                      Oh really???

                      I don’t know whether to laugh at you or pity you, anyways Ha, Ha, Ha (LOL) leaving ‘compassion’ aside.

                    • 5
                      1

                      ಠ_ಠ foaming at the mouth and dripping wet eaten
                      soap flakes in lieu of corn flakes.

                      What a way to enjoy breakfast with heroine
                      and the house of heroin DM Jaya _ wewa.!

                      Stop QQ crying and viper your nose please.( (@_@)

                      http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaliya_daman_by_Krishna.jpg

                    • 5
                      2

                      Girl,
                      You used Sunday school time to talk sex???
                      All about dripping wet???
                      I can imagine you getting horney and getting wet but what did you mean by dripping wet???
                      Did you mean getting wet on the face, dripping??? Girl I can relate to your wild imagination. These stupid fools who talk about Sunday school can never understand such pleasure.

                • 6
                  1

                  “”Sunday School. Would have helped you to be less wet.””

                  Darshanie Ratnawalli

                  Stewing and scrambling about, `mad as a wet hen`!

                  But,I like wet hair, ponytails and sweatpants.

                  I like SpongeBob SquarePants.!

                  Us more se shuru karen , hum ye zindagee ღ☻ღ
                  ⍟❥☻ ツ

                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1pGCFnbLYA

                • 4
                  2

                  The above is nothing but bluff. Why not accept her stupidity??? When cornered, she goes kneeling down below the belt (I mean talk sex).

                  Playing jig-saws!!!
                  That is exactly what she is doing. Collecting articles and books written by others (mainly foreigners) and playing jig-saw puzzles with them. Unfortunately she is not able to put the rubric cube right.

                  At one time she is calling all these episodes (found in Pali cannon and chronicles) as Indo-Aryan Myth and at another time she is defending the Myth as truth when some very popular writers like TG criticize them as myth (I see a green eyed monster here). DR’s capacity for jealously and cocky exceeds her capacity for sense, here JF exposes it with his smart arguments making her feel like a cat that crapped on the rock. She thinks that by criticizing the famous scholars, academics and erudite writers she will be able to gather an audience (her imaginary ‘target audience’). So far, she was able to gather only some old and insane blokes who obviously thinks she is great. She also gets irritated with people who disagree with her, considers them as stupid/dumb, not realizing fact that smart people do not consider others stupid (even I was told once to do puzzles).

        • 2
          1

          Sinhala was a violent race/tribe right from the beginning and that may be the reason for portraying even the Buddha (the religion they adopted) as violent (striking fire/terror). Rathnawalli is denying what she said earlier because she got scared that her own tribes (Sinhala-Buddhists) will dump her or she may face the same fate that Kuweni faced.

          • 7
            1

            Suresh

            “Sinhala was a violent race/tribe right from the beginning and that may be the reason for portraying even the Buddha (the religion they adopted) as violent (striking fire/terror).”

            I suppose the Tamils are a peace loving people.

            Tamil Saivate deities are portrayed with Trident and Spear.

            Cattle rustling was considered to be a valorous manly activity.

  • 9
    6

    .
    Lord Buddha may have said many good things, but did he say anything about runaway husbands? he himself a runaway husband, isn’t he?

    :-)

    • 7
      11

      He did not have a brothel to run to when he was lonely like Mohammed had. He sat under a tree and meditated.

    • 8
      4

      He was not running away. He left home to find a cure for a sickness that his family had (and all living things have). This sickness is birth suffering and death. After he found the cure he returned to tell them about it. Learn something before posting crap.

      • 0
        3

        .
        There was a tamil movie called ‘aval oru thodarkathai’. The runaway husband (father) informs that he is coming back with lots of wealth…. rest…. please see the movie.

        :-)

      • 6
        4

        Well his cure has not worked in Sri Lanka.

        Those who learnt what he told are running amok in saffron robes killing minorities. Sad but true.

        • 5
          3

          What, all of them? Please don’t generalise.

          • 1
            2

            Paul,

            I agree we should not generalise.

            However Sinhala violence against minorities have always been there. And the so called majority Sinhala Buddhists have if not tacitly approving such violence, have not raised any significant opposition to such attacks. Organisations such as BBS, JHU etc are the creation of the government and are permitted to do all sorts of violent acts against minorities with total impunity.

            In this instant Paul, I am sad to say, in spite of having to impinge on the sensitivities of good people like you, one is is not too far wrong in generalising.

            Sadly Buddha’s message has not worked in Sri Lanka.

  • 4
    15

    Disclaimer. Thanking the positive commentors, yet emphasizing that comments and the commentors on this site are not connected with me in any way. All the comments are entirely a reflection on the democracy and the discretion of this site. I haven’t solicited those comments in any way, nor am I part of any “circle” consisting of these commentors. They are completely unknown to me and I haven’t submitted my article to them. This disclaimer is to establish the widest distance from and renounce all responsibility for the levels of comprehension of those outside my intended target audience. In other words, this is not my group. Although there are sites out there that are maintained to facilitate discussion within a group, this is not to my knowledge such a group-site.

    • 6
      3

      It is interesting that the writer has turned to English translations of the Dharma by various foreignersnwhose translations and interpretations are grossly inaccurate most of the time.

      The only Sri Lankan reference has been limtedto G. P. Malalasekera. Hw can one try to become an authority on Buddhism by refering to suh pretenders as I. B. Horner, Jean Philippe, Rhys Davids, Bhikkhu Bodhi and Wihelm Geiger, without turning to the canon written in Pali? Much is obviously lost in translation.

      Shame! Shame!! Shame!!!

      • 3
        1

        Hmmm! All of what we read today about any of the ancient scripts/writings has been translated – from the original which would be unintelligible to most ordinary folk. So tread carefully for we are, most of the time, at the mercy of the translators. None of the ancient scriptures were cast in a modern language.Even those translations by the erudite and very capable G P Malalasekera, by his own admission, have lost something in the re-telling.

      • 2
        0

        Bhikkhu Bodhi a pretender? Just shows how much you know.

      • 1
        0

        Because this lady’s mission is to cough-up to anti-Buddgist interest groups. To copy and post from sources as long as they are incriminating to Buddhism, she does not need any knowledge or training in what the Buddha taught.

        • 4
          2

          paul

          “To copy and post from sources as long as they are incriminating to Buddhism,”

          There is a humongous difference between Buddhism and political Sinhala/Buddhism. No one in his/her right mind would insult Buddha’s teaching.

          However it is good to find incriminating evidence against Sinhala/Buddhism and the evidence is littered around the island.

          Sinhala/Buddhism deserves condemnation on a 24/7/52 basis. Bashing Sinhala/Buddhism should be everyone’s religious duty. You give it a try you will good about it and yourself.

          I do all the time and am free from unnecessary burden.

          • 1
            3

            “Bashing Sinhala/Buddhism should be everyone’s religious duty”.
            ..’of every non-buddhist and un-buddhist person’ like yourself should have continued.

            • 2
              1

              paul

              “’of every non-buddhist and un-buddhist person’ like yourself should have continued.”

              I wrote earlier:

              “There is a humongous difference between Buddhism and political Sinhala/Buddhism. No one in his/her right mind would insult Buddha’s teaching.”

              Please stop pretending that what you practice in this island is Buddhism or Buddha’s teaching. Grow up and see the difference.

          • 1
            3

            Native Vedda:

            “Sinhala/Buddhism deserves condemnation on a 24/7/52 basis. Bashing Sinhala/Buddhism should be everyone’s religious duty.”

            What about wearing only a loincloth and running through Colombo with an axe? Should it be condemned?

            • 1
              0

              never such a sight,

              Ding dang “dunce.”

  • 1
    1

    Where is your usual disclaimer?

  • 2
    2

    The title is “NGOs will not employ the Buddha”. I agree wholeheartedly. The NGOs cannot employ that upstart from Jerusalem Jesus Christ either with his terrible “turn the other cheek” type of pacifism and humanity. But the NGOs can employ dastards as they always do, who are out to destroy the same culture they grew up in for a pittance in dollars and other filth, such as most NGO employees in Lanka, who are out to hurt the country’s image, hurt its leaders and traditional Buddhist values. They draw a blank in front of barbaric Jihadism, fanatic Wahabis, horrors of Moslems stoning women to death,and the unspeakable barbarism of ISIS. Will this woman Ratnavalli ever have the guts to review and analyze Islam’s “prophet” and check his employability?? No way, that would be too much bad publicity. The poor, Third World Lankans with their innocent Buddhism, legends, etc is a soft target so she does her research on that and takes her pen to destroy whatever she can and tries to pronounce the employability of their Buddha. She leaves the sharks like Mohamed alone, that might get her in real trouble somewhere in the world!!

    Readers beware, these are charlatans. They have nothing but hatred towards the poor and innocent Lankans, particularly the Buddhists and Hindus, who are docile, mostly mired in poverty and are never able to even say a word to defend their heritage and their Buddha in the English language in a forum like this

    • 3
      1

      Will this woman Ratnavalli ever have the guts to review and analyze Islam’s “prophet” and check his employability??

      Surely, there is no need to. The answer is obvious. In any case let Tisaranee Gunasekera write about prophet Mohamed, and then Ratnawalli can write a critique of what Tissaranee G has written, as is the case here. But Jay Chambers is giving sadistic advise here, and we should not follow that.
      Tisaranee too should be encouraged to keep shut in the face of the caliphate, just as Obama and Dick Cheney and Rumssfeld and George Bush and Tony Blair are doing. Geogre Bush and Colin Powell and others can now claim that THE weapon of mass-distruction IS indeed found in Iraq – it is the New Islamic calipahte.

      Staying within the topic, it looks as if Ratnawalli assumes that all parts of the Vinaya Pitaka are formulated and inscribed during the Buddha’s time? This is an oft-made assumption. But it is surely not so. It should also be recognized that the Pali canon re-inscribed in Alu Vihara, Sri Lanka, was also to play the role of a work of wondrous “science fiction” as well as the “western” for those times. How can you have Lone Ranger who corrects injustice without Tonto (Skara) at his side. Arthur Clarke’s first incarnation in Sri Lanka was a lot earlier than in the 20th.

  • 4
    2

    I tried to understand what Dharshanie is saying.

    I don’t think, none who commented here understood what she is saying. One is talking about mohommad. another is talking about leaving the wife alone etc., etc.,

    I think, Dharshanie’s point is these NGOs who are talking about democracy, human rights, and many other related topics are not for peace. Because of that, they would never employ a person like Buddha for peaceful purposes.

    TG is certainly a NGOs who is trying to do that kind of things. Who is funding her, I don’t know.

    Western countries and the Church use NGOs to spread democracy and human rights. They are for other purposes and related needs. But, their major goal is making their victim country (or the country that they want to democratize and make a heaven for human rights) an undisciplined society where anarchy reigns and every one goes in their way and the country comes last. So, that the church can convert easily and the west as the country’s is politically unstable can flood with their business and if the country has resources can exploit those resources.

    NGOs are mostly working for their livelihood. They are there to screw up the victims and make a living out of that.

    • 0
      1

      .
      You are correct… I never understood Rathina Vallie.

      :-)

      • 1
        0

        Me neither. But now i understand NGO’s mission a bit more clearly, thanks to you Jim softy :-)

  • 4
    1

    If Buddhism is practiced and observed why do we need peace NGOs.

  • 4
    1

    If Buddhism is practiced and observed properly there is no need for peace NGOs.

    • 2
      1

      Yes there is a need, because there would always be terrorists and their supporters around.

      • 4
        1

        paul

        “Yes there is a need, because there would always be terrorists and their supporters around.”

        You mean the state, rulers and their cronies are the permanent terrorists.

        • 1
          2

          The state are temporary terrorists. They will not last.

          • 5
            1

            paul

            “The state are temporary terrorists. They will not last.”

            So are the non state terrorists.

            One can be tough on terrorism however one also has to be tough on causes of terrorism.

  • 0
    0

    Having said that what a old of crap is this

  • 2
    2

    Jay chambers, reading ur comments shows ur hatred towards Islam and also lack of knowledge about the Quran. First have an open mind and read the Quran and understand.

    • 1
      0

      Dr. Who:

      Every religion when it goes to a new culture it changes in order to suit the new culture.

      Why African and Arabic muslims are extremely violent ?

      Why Quran is easy to be interpreted by every Claric or mulla and why some Quran interpreters are promoting violence against living beings ?

  • 3
    2

    Darshanie is discussing literature, traditions, views, opinions, not the practice of Dhamma. There is nothing much more to say.

    • 4
      2

      paul

      “Darshanie is discussing literature, traditions, views, opinions, not the practice of Dhamma”

      She is not discussing literature, traditions, views, opinions, …..as you foolishly think but her stupidity. She knows how to titillate old coders like you also she knows how gullible these old codgers are, her intended target audience.

      • 1
        3

        So, she is discussing her own stupidity. A fascinating observation. Congratulations genius.

        • 4
          1

          paul

          “Congratulations genius.”

          What a stupid observation.

          I am not genius. I am bit thick.

          • 0
            1

            yes it shows – unfortunately

            • 3
              0

              Dawn Dale

              “yes it shows – unfortunately”

              I am elated that you have now seen it.

              By the how long did it take you to work it out?

  • 4
    0

    Jim Softy says “I think, Dharshanie’s point is these NGOs who are talking about democracy, human rights, and many other related topics are not for peace. Because of that, they would never employ a person like Buddha for peaceful purposes.”
    Well, Darshanie, do you agree with this?.
    Jim/Darshanie, kindly let the readers know whether the GOSL, who are also talking about democracy. HR and many other related topics employ a person like Buddha for peaceful purposes?.

  • 1
    2

    Hey Dr. who, surprise, surprise! Yes I have read the hate-filled terror manual that you call the Quran. I have spent a fair amount of time wondering how a normal human beings can be driven to commit the barbarisms such as beheading tied, gagged prisoners, stone to death a woman for engaging in love making, cut limbs of prisoners, raze to ground the like of ancient Universities of Nalanda, blast to smithereens the ancient statues of Bamyan Buddhas, engage in the most despicable rape and pedophile activity, fleece unbelievers such as the innocent villagers in Lanka and make them paupers by the vilest form of rapacious business practises, connive to acquire land through mosques and make the poor Sinhalese villagers lose their prime land, import the worst form of drugs, crack cocaine and spread that among non-Moslems, etc. etc. I know you, I know your “prophet” and so does Narendra Modi’s BJP. If the village idiots who make up the majority of the ministers and officers in Lanka do not rid the country of this menace, then India has a moral obligation to intervene on behalf of the non-Moslems. It also has a massive security problem with a Moslem majority Lanka that is coming soon, as early as 2020, which will align with all forms of fanaticism from Jihadis, ISIS, etc detrimental to India. If the Sinhalese leaders fail their people and do not act decisively to wipe out the Jihadi menace, then India must intervene. All non-Moslem Lankans take note, if you don’t act this is guaranteed to happen. As one Lankan monk from the emerging Buddhist groups said recently, do not send these uncouth, NGO leaning eunuchs to the parliament. Send those with a spine who can stand up to the Moslem terror, who can align with Modi’s India, Israel and all such progressives and handle this menace and sustain Lanka as the innocent, wonderful country it has always been with innocent, smiling non-Moslem people who wish no one any harm (and not head to toe covered black ghosts and ragged, bearded fanatic Moslem ruffians, with their mosques screaming to them ten times a day) .

    Ratnavalli, since you are a scholar, why don’t you meanwhile tell us if and when you would do a study of the Islamic scripture and tell us about any extremism or fanaticism therein, in a similar vein to what we heard from you about Buddhist texts and some obscure, fringe details that make the Buddha unsuitable for that most wonderful job in the modern world – the NGO employment? We would love to know from your whether historical Mohamed would pass the NGO interview process and Jesus as well. By the way to help you cut down on research time I will be happy to guide you to the pages and the Suras in the Quran that speak to the most heinous and barbaric utterings that ever passed for a religion, if that can help you to expedite your research. The character of historical Mohamed, as told by the Moslems themselves, is waiting for your discovery and wonderful scholarship and you will find multiple accounts of barbarism there happily assigned to the “prophet” by the Moslems themselves. Of course you will need some air cover before you publish the NGO test results for Mohamed, you cannot publish any finding under your own name (assuming that the picture here is yours and you are who you say you are). If you don’t want to be Salman Rushdie you will need the usual pseudonym, but if you are an honest person you would do this research and explore the characters of Mohamed and explain how you find the comparison with the Buddha and Jesus and whether the NGOs would give him one of those highly desirable jobs.

  • 0
    0

    I have often wondered who the “intended target group” is for Darshanie’s articles. Care to enlighten us?

    As far as the current article goes, the gist I took from it is about the danger of trying to pigeon hole a world religion that has continued to evolve over several millennia, over many different cultures.

    Apparently Tisaranee G. continues to argue that what happens in SL. is not very-Buddha-like or un-Buddhist, if you will. Those among the muslims who advocate peace would say the same about the actions of ISIS, Al Qaeda etc. not being very “Islam-like”.

    Reality is the Buddha does not seem to have unconditionally denounced violence, if Darshanie’s version is to be believed. She might be correct. I have read somewhere that the Buddha did not denounce lying (musawada) unconditionally either – he seems to have said it’s ok to lie in order to save a life.

    Bottom line for me: who knows what the historical Buddha said vs. what the people who wrote and interpreted the various texts thought and attributed to the Buddha?

    So saying the Buddha would not have approved this or that is as pointless as asking people WWJD (what would Jesus do).

    I would encourage people to leave the Buddha/Jesus/the Prophet and other such historical personages alone, and not try to use them or attributions to them to push contemporary agendas.

    • 0
      5

      sb, you could be it! part of my intended target audience. Only glitch is you comment. Still it maybe a one-off thing and not a habit.Take care that you keep it that way, under control.Like an occasional ‘trip’. Your insights are good, I’d hate to see them get growth-stunted and smug by overactivity in the comment sections.this is sometimes the case with kautilya aka prof. CD (i assume).

      • 1
        0

        WHAT???

        Gam Vasiya aka Prof. Chandre Dharmawardana now writes as Kautilya??? He should stick to Natural Science instead of Social Science.

        • 0
          1

          Yes, Ratnawalli made the correct guess. I have always thought that Kautilya = CD

          Now, can you tell me at least 4 other aliases of Backlash?

  • 1
    1

    The Buddha founded his own Non-Government Organization (NGO). It was called the Sangha. The more important question is would the Buddha have wanted to work for another NGO when he already ran one.

    • 2
      1

      Dr Romesh Senewiratne-Alagaratnam

      “The Buddha founded his own Non-Government Organization (NGO). It was called the Sangha.”

      Buddha didn’t fund the Sangha from his own wealth for he renounced every bit of his wealth, power, family, and comfort.

      It was the trading community, local people and kings who provided for the growth of Sangha.

      • 1
        0

        Native,

        I said that he founded the Sangha not that he funded it.

        • 1
          0

          Dr Romesh Senewiratne-Alagaratnam

          I am sorry.

  • 2
    1

    Very interesting…

    So our Buddha’s stoushes were mainly with the matted haired Brahamins.

    Shaolin Monks took the fiery skills and and our poor Sinhalese ended up with all peace.

    And our Dalits who are the great majority of the inhabitant population were taught that it was all “Karma” to be poor and forced to wear it even by the NGO financiers in the West who ruled us for five centuries,

    The Elite, the Anglicans and the Vellalas who inherited reins from the British still continued to promote our Karma based poverty until the current Regime took Development to the Villages.

    Now the same West are sending their NGO emmisaries to keep peace and put in a good word to the Dalits how good God is and slip in a few santhosams to keep them happy.

    And to help the the descendants/ followers of matted haired Brahamins as well as their Political allies to get the reins to rule our Dalits again..

    Now you know why Buddha has no place in the NGO network.

  • 1
    2

    I think this whole thing about attacking NGO’s is based purely on the age old Sinhala Buddhist addiction to envy.

    The NGO’s speak better English, dress smartly, drive brand new vehicles and spend a lot of money. Whereas the average Sinhala Buddhist have very little or like in most cases almost nothing. They envy the Tamils saying that they hold the best jobs, are the most educated and the most successful in business. They envy the Muslims for similar reasons plus their legendary fertility rates. The Godfather is exploiting the miserable envy driven masses for the votes.

  • 0
    2

    “The Buddha founded his own Non-Government Organization (NGO). It was called the Sangha”

    Is it the same Sangha that is now runnng riot in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, burning,destroying and killing innocent people? Hell of an NGO. Will put all others to shame.

  • 1
    1

    In defence of Islam, and the many outrageous insuations against our Holy Prophet of Islam, made by Jay Chambers, (Islam has withstood much more aggression against these types of attacks, during its 1430 year history), it would be a good challenge for those students of comparative religion, to get to the bottom and elicit the truth about this religion of Peace called Islam. They owe it to themselves to investigate and do their own reasearch before arriving at any conclusions to educe the truth. It doesn’t take much to surf the Inhternet and there are loads of information, but be warned there are as many Islamophobia sites run by anti-Islamistd from which Chambers gets his daily fill to propogate his hate campaign, as there are many genuinely Islamic sites to gather authentic information and to learn the truth about Islam and how it was born into existence.

    It must also be said that the campaign carried out by IS carried out by Muslims, has nothing to do with the riginal teachings of Islam, since theirs’ is a political campaign against jews and Shiite influence from neighboring countries, as well as opposition to foreign forces occipying their lands. Of course they are involved in ctimes against hmanity through horrendous killings, but that is for the UN to resolve.

    The other issue of capital punishments carried out under Islamic Law which Jay has tried to portray as being ghastly, has to be seen in its right perspective. Even our own courts system has the death penalty which is referred to as capital punishment. This is also a type of killing which some may oppose, and we know it was in practice, but of late such killings have not been carried out for various reasons. But what has that done to people on death row and to the prison occupation itself. Insufficient cells leading to overcrowding, increased costs of maintaining prison gaurds, insufficiency in facilities, high cost of food expenses, on and on. The short and long of it is there are no effective deterrents to prevent repeats of those crimes. Whereas in the case of Islamic Law established during the lifetime of the Prophet the capital punishments formulated at that time is still carried out to this day. No changes have ever been made in the criminal justice system. They were designed to be visible to all. Conducted in public from simple canings to beheading. These were the punishments carried out at that time, and has never been changed since. It is an effective deterrent, and the prisons in those ME countries are virtually empty. Those who have been employed and lived in the ME in Arab countries will vouch on the safety and security of their belongings. Doors at home are usually left unlocked all the time, even when going out shopping or at bed time at night, and it must be known that those countries are mostly populated with foreign workers from all of the Asian countries. People go for prayers to Masjid with a simple ribbon tied across the door to signify ‘closed for prayers’, not a pin will be touched. Can this ever be dreamed in our part of the world? How did this come about? It stems from the dire consequences criminals will face if they dare to commit an offence. The severity in punishment also applies in promiscuity and revelry which could cause marriage breakup and societal decay.

    In this case, Jay is completely ignorant what Islamic Law entails and why and how it fights crime. Instead he has come out all guns blazing, exposing his stupidity and ignorance, through his misguided interpretations on Quran and Hadith, (life stories of our beloved Prophet). As a rule, we Muslims we will never attack another religious leader as it is forbidden in our teachings, but will criticize its adherents if they act stupid.

    Another revealing fact is that there are close to two billion Muslims living in the world today, and between two to three million Muslims gather in Mecca during the season of Hadj (just 3 weeks away) to pray in unison to their One God, Allah. Surely they cannot all be wrong in following a ‘barbaric’ religion as Jay Chambers claims Islam to be. Instead, it is he who has gone bonkers, and is trying to nourish his bigotry to keep himself ticking. Be at peace with yourself Jay, before your sickness gets the better of you and before long, you end up going completely insane.

    Why Prophet Muhammed is considered the most influential person in history, out of a top 100 list, written by a Christian Michael H. Hart. Check Youtube and see why many Buddhists and Christians are converting to Islam, the many recorded debates between Christians and Muslims, including interviews by those who have tried and tested all of the major religions in the world, before deciding on Islam as their religion of choice.

    • 0
      0

      It might be worth watching these views expressed by British Muslim MP George Galloway of Respect Party on ISIS and Israel’s role on wiing out Palestine on the pretext of hammering Hamas.

      ISIS abd Gaza Massacre – Breaking the set
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUf_HItERkRB3vnkWt2RSOLg&v=YIU4aZ7uBtc&feature=player_detailpage

      MP Seech – The crisis of Palestine (Full)
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=V0gEzPG82pc&list=UUf_HItERkRB3vnkWt2RSOLg

    • 0
      0

      Others may not agree with you Mara-one.

      “The question: why were the journalists beheaded in Iraq and Syria — and countless Shiites and Yazidis too?

      The reason is simple. Because the Koran orders precisely this punishment for enemies of Islam.

      ‘I shall cast into the unbelievers’ hearts terror; so smite above the necks, and smite every finger of them,” says Islam’s holiest book.

      And this: “And when you meet in regular battle those who disbelieve, smite their necks …”

      Then there is the example of Prophet Muhammed himself, as told in Ibn Ishaq’s sacred biography: having captured the Jewish Banu Qurayza tribe Muhammed “sent for them and struck off their heads”.

      And this is the truth that Muslim leaders refused to address, let alone admit.

      The jihadists behead people because the Koran orders it. And they quote the Koran — “Slay the idolaters wherever you find them” and “fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief) and worship is for Allah alone” — to justify their slaughter.

      Yes, Islam, itself, is one of the “root causes” of this horror in the Middle East — and in Nigeria, Yemen, Libya, Chechnya and more besides — but it the only “root cause” we dare not publicly debate”.
      http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/muslim-leaders-continue-to-betray-australia-by-condemning-tony-abbott/story-fni0ffxg-1227050599768?nk=a6aa2db1ba7221ac82bf9857067b0b1d

      • 0
        0

        Ibn Ishaq’s sacred biography is not an accepted religious text that Muslims will accept. Never heard of him before. There are many such texts available and you and pick and quote all the skewed misinformation if you are looking to attack Muslims and their teachings.

        Even from what you have quoted from the Quran, it needs further analysis of why and how it came to be revealed with such severity in punishment. Anyway, why pick up all the negative points when there is so much positive revelations from Allah that we can all benefit from.

        Paul, why don’t you watch Joshua Evans to learn more on the subject
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qmd1CbkjZy8

        • 2
          1

          It is because of this Marwan:
          It is the faithful good Muslims who go by the strict interpretation of Koran who behead their perceived enemies whereas among Buddhists, it is those who do not go by the strict interpretation of Buddha’s teachings who misbehave and attack other religions.

          As anyone with a balanced mind would understand,this is very dangerous situation and such teachings, and more importantly people who preach or practise these archaic teachings have no place in today’s society.

          I challenge you to quote one instance where Buddha used the words such as attack, struck heads off, hearts of terror, smite above or below necks or similar. Please quote with sauce. In other words, anything short of good words, deeds and thoughts towards your friends and enemies alike.

          • 1
            1

            Sauce to read source:-)

  • 2
    0

    The Buddha, also called Gautama, was a man and not a god.
    He himself said so.
    He showed the correct way of life for his followers, disciples and other laymen.
    He or any others, never performed “miracles”.
    Large volumes of stuff about him were invented and published after his death.

  • 0
    1

    These Buddhist monks are so bad they even cause innocent, saintly Muslims to declare Jihad against them

    “Tens of thousands of rioters left a trail of destruction in southeastern Bangladesh as they torched Buddhist temples and homes near the town of Ramu. The violence was sparked by a photo posted on Facebook that allegedly insulted Islam.

    A 25,000-strong mob set fire to at least five temples and dozens of homes throughout the town and surrounding villages after seeing the picture, which they claimed was posted by Uttam Barua, a local Buddhist man, AFP reported.

    The group chanted “God is Great” while setting fire to the centuries-old temples”.
    http://rt.com/news/buddhist-temples-torched-bangladesh-342/

    • 0
      0

      Paul, these religious flare ups keep occurring at many of the hot spots of the world, but it is foolish to blame the rest of the community for these breaches. Religious teachings and beliefs have nothing to do with it. Just as BBS, SR and SU bigots went on the rampage attacking Masjids, burning, looting and rampaging Muslim homes and business establishments down south in our country, no one claimed that Buddhism as a religion had anything to do with it. We all accept that the pure teachings of Buddhism was far removed from violence and anguish that ensued. We can only blame the miscreants who caused this stir through incitement and provocation. They are not Saints as they now try to project themselves in its aftermath. On another day and in another place, the reverse may be true. But that is the way things go, and the caravan will trundle along. These are vagaries that are to be expected in poverty stricken regions of the world. It is when the law enforcement authorities turn a NelsonIan blind eye, that the grudge of reprisals loom.

      • 1
        1

        Marwan,
        You say “these religious flare ups keep occurring at many of the hot spots of the world, but it is foolish to blame the rest of the community for these breaches. Religious teachings and beliefs have nothing to do with it”.

        If others who write on these pages have similar views, then there wouldn’t be any need for these arguments. But if you read through CT articles and numerous commentaries over the years you would have noticed how Buddhas teachings and Buddhists are being blamed wholesale for all ills in sri lanka.

        • 1
          0

          Lord Buddha’s eachings are peaceful and we all agree with that. But the same cannot be said of his followers including some of the antics of our local Buddhist monks. Show me anyone Buddhists who truly lives upto the true teachings of Buddhism. In the same way, Muslims do lot of unfair and foolish things too, but it is unfair to attack the Prophet and the religion of Islam as in this instance. We need to make a clear distinction between the two.

    • 2
      1

      paul

      “These Buddhist monks are so bad they even cause innocent, saintly Muslims to declare Jihad against them”

      The Buddhist monks are compassionate and don’t wish harm to others.

      The Sinhala/Buddhists monks are indeed cruel hate mongers. They lead thugs in riots.

      • 1
        1

        Obviously that must be something to do with Sinhala race- a job for ISIS to sort out with the help people like you perhaps?

        • 0
          0

          paul

          My stated objective is to liberate Buddha’s teaching from Sinhala/Buddhists and convert Sinhalese from Sinhala/Buddhism into Buddhism.

  • 0
    2

    Well well so called chambers ur comments show that u have read nothing. U have knowledge about Islam or Quran, u are same as some extremist who are against Islam. Ur knowledge is more from BBS books and western media and Israel propaganda, u can fool some of the people not the majority.u can live in your own dream and spread hate among community’s.that’s what u all are paid for.

  • 0
    0

    One important thing about dealing with Moslems is to state your position fully and then stay away from the rest of the discussion, since it is inherent in their thinking that no matter what facts are shown, their stance on their “religion” is always correct. This is enough for this column now. Ratnawalli, the woman who can only for for weak, innocent targets such as the friendly native Buddhists of Lanka has her challenge, to do some research into the “religion of peace”, where men kill other men, behead people, rape and sodomize while yelling “Allah Akbar, God id Great”, the latest being the beheading by ISIS. Youtube and other media are full of the stoning to death and other Moslems barbarisms, the legacy of “prophet” Mohamed.

    I will write to the impartial readers in other columns in near future.

Leave A Comment

Comments should not exceed 200 words. Embedding external links and writing in capital letters are discouraged. Commenting is automatically disabled after 5 days and approval may take up to 24 hours. Please read our Comments Policy for further details. Your email address will not be published.