Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

15 September   2021

Imaginary Unity vs Polarisation

Being polarised is better than imaginary unitary state to ‘show’ others.

‘Sri Lanka sticks to domestic mechanism; says UN probe will polarise country’ reports Economy Next, on the basis of the response by foreign minister G.L. Peiris.

To many in Sri Lanka, being Sri Lankan is a final goal. When we live exclusively in a particular area – the whole is a projection on that basis. Hence who names the whole acceptable to us is our leader. The war confirmed that Sri Lanka was already polarised. Separately celebrating victory in war – further confirmed polarisation. Politicians who desired votes accumulated emotional victory – which is not real. Only votes earned would lead to good governance of the whole. How it is earned is regulated through Administrative structures. Executive power exercised outside structured pathways leads to divisions in various forms.

When politicians go back to claim current benefits out of past achievements they surface exponentially – the cost that went into that particular outcome. Recently, I was directed to the following news report:

[In a significant archaeological development, carbon dating of excavations from the banks of River Tamiraparani in Tamil Nadu have been proven to be 3200 years old. This would make  Porunai civilisation the oldest in south India and bring Tamil civilisation closer to the Indus Valley civilisation. Chief Minister M K Stalin who announced this in the assembly has called for rewriting of the history of the sub continent's civilisation from the landscape of Tamil Nadu.]

It is similar to ‘Sinhala only’ policy by the then Sri Lankan government. Like language, History is only the skin of a civilisation. As per the system of karma – we need to transcend the physical to convert it to Energy. If we dig up graves and give them political life – we suffer the effects of plagiarism which begins with mental disorder. Those who resort to the past – confirm lack of skills to operate the current system.

When Sinhala only was announced – it wiped out the value of English/global culture  that was common to all cultural leaders. It tempted voters with greater benefits. Hence we went back to pre-colonial structure.

In a discussions regarding the Tamil Nadu discovery, Mr G Balachandran – a retired IAS officer stated that India did not always exist in the form that it does currently. Given the evidence of the spread of Hinduism – including to Indonesia, this is acceptable. If however, one tries to claim priority status on the basis of the past – then we would have awaken destructive forces exponentially. We know the fear of such exponential forces through natural calamities which now include the Corona virus. This virus is a natural force and hence is beyond our immediate control. The Sri Lankan war was similar due to the leaders invoking the past as Sinhala country and Tamil country. Desire with fear diffuses itself. Likewise polarisation in the consciousness of the other diffuses itself.

In Sri Lanka we did live as polarised groups even after the British left. We had our own cultural laws. When new policies such as Buddhism Foremost are part of the constitution, we disturb the memorials in our efforts to ‘show’ unitary structure.

If therefore the UN probe confirms polarisation – we would become more active so long as we do not enforce ourselves on each other. We would not enforce if we are conscious of the other half about which we know very little and hence attribute Equal status.

Being polarised is better than imaginary unitary state to ‘show’ others.

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

14 September   2021

Devolution or Separation?

Democracy ‘happened’ because Autocracy failed. When democracy fails – autocracy creeps back to continue along its old path. Then reverse pyramid happens. The Spirit is that of the killed Autocracy but the body is the young generation who inherit the fruits of Autocracy.  Those who are driven by brawn power tend to enjoy at the physical level while holding high positions of power as per  which they have the duty to ‘share’ the physical on merit basis. The measure of Merit is crucial to reliable distribution of the physical. In autocracy, it is measured through cleverness of the ruler. In Democracy it is measured through belief in oneself in one’s home environment. If we continue to use the ‘cleverness’ measure then we set aside democracy to that extent. Likewise, if we use belief based democracy, then we set aside  cleverness measures  to that extent. Until we transcend and lose sight of the physical, what happened / physical manifestations are essential. More essential is the measure used which are often inherited and therefore are exponential in power– be they positive or negative. The Corona Virus is such an example.  It confirms the that costs also spread exponentially when they are ‘free’ of their physical form.

Following is an excerpt from the  Update on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, at the 48th session of the Human Rights Council
Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva on 13 September 2021:

[The current social, economic and governance challenges faced by Sri Lanka indicate the corrosive impact that militarisation and the lack of accountability continue to have on fundamental rights, civic space, democratic institutions, social cohesion and sustainable development. ]

The measure used is the global secular measure. The measure that ought to be used is the Constitution of Sri Lanka. That constitution is incapable of measuring ‘facts’ due to the constitution being relative and not sovereign. As per science based measure the logic needs to be balanced at the total level. As per belief based measure the measure is ‘yesterday’s experience’ that has no residual form at present.

The update proceeds as follows:

[A new state of emergency was declared in Sri Lanka on 30 August, with the stated aim of ensuring food security and price controls, amid deepening recession. The emergency regulations are very broad and may further expand the role of the military in civilian functions. The Office will be closely monitoring their application. 

I note with interest the President’s recent meeting with some civil society leaders, and I encourage broader dialogue and steps to open Sri Lanka’s civic space.  Regrettably, surveillance, intimidation and judicial harassment of human rights defenders, journalists and families of the disappeared has not only continued, but has broadened to a wider spectrum of students, academics, medical professionals and religious leaders critical of government policies. Several peaceful protests and commemorations have been met with excessive use of force and the arrest or detention of demonstrators in quarantine centres. ]

When the LTTE was eliminated in 2009, it was after a physical fight/war. But 12 years later - the root cause of the war is yet to be discovered and shared with the People of Sri Lanka and beyond. Each time ‘victory’ is taken by either side – including through UN sessions, finding the root-cause is sent to the back-burner. That is why the government without policy changes, fought against Islamic fundamentalists after the elimination of the LTTE. Fundamentalism confirms attachment to the physical form of power. So long as this is exercised within the boundaries of belief – it is harmless and would diffuse itself with time. The current example is lockdowns within our home areas.

The UN’s approach indicates that the pathway used is ‘inquisitorial’ whereas in Sri Lanka – the war was through the ‘adversarial’ system which was naturally established on the basis of  the 1972 Constitution. Article 6 of that constitution stated:

6. The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster Buddhism while assuring to all religions the rights granted by section 18 (1) (d)

18. (1) In the Republic of Sri Lanka (d) every citizen shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and the freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching;

The Rights under article 18 are in the Fundamental Rights section.

These articles have been carried through to the 1978 Constitution.

Article 6 is relative and is NOT sovereign in terms of religion. Article 18 is Sovereign. Hence those covered by article 6 are outside the cover of article 18. The parallels in the current constitution are articles 9 and  - 10 together with 14, - respectively.

Where those in the military are largely Buddhists – the government has the duty to use the inquisitorial system. Hence Executive Powers are needed by the President.

The other side to the war are non-Buddhists. They are entitled to the adversarial system.

At UN level the Buddhist side needs to state the Buddhist tenets through which the Constitutional Rights were upheld. Likewise the Non-Buddhist side needs to confirm its belief based measures and then self-assess and present its own case. The UN lacks jurisdiction to use secular base where religion is part of the constitution of a country. It can take an impartial observer position by facilitating both sides to present their cases through UN’s Due Processes.

Within a country  - a judge has to go down to the sovereign part of the Constitution to measure fundamental rights on Equal footing.

As per my experience, when ‘Buddhism foremost’ article was introduced – there was hardly any show of opposition by non-Buddhist leaders or even educated leaders within the Buddhist community. The measure was my previous experience of opposition to Sinhala-only policy which led to riots in Colombo in 1956 and in 1958. Language is the body of our communications. Belief in the common value is the natural soul communication. Even after the war no Tamil politician is known to have presented a Bill to repeal article 9 – the Buddhism foremost article. This means they are looking for separation and not devolution.

The 13^th Amendment failed to include the repealing of Buddhism Foremost article – so Buddhists also would enjoy the blessings of Buddhist ancestors who realised their sovereignty through Buddhism. Any value has to pass the test of ‘zero relativity’ to qualify as a sovereign value and only such value becomes a heritage. A heritage based law is a naturally just law. Relativity based law carries the risk of unjust discrimination.

The 13^th Amendment effectively opposed Sihala fundamentalism through physical separation. This had the effect of rendering a pathway to Tamil Nadu whose political leaders initiated the support for armed rebellion by Tamils. It did not cure the relative value by opposing Buddhism foremost article, through Equal status article – similar to the language related article which is article 18 in the current constitution. Apparent Equality tends to hide lack of belief in the common whole. Belief works the system naturally.

The above mentioned report by the  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights includes:

[Despite various inquiries, the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 and religious leaders continue to call urgently for truth and justice, and a full account of the circumstances that permitted those attacks. ]

The question here is which pathway would be used – given that both sides are non-Buddhists and the current government shows attachment to Buddhist leadership? In fact the previous President also became a fundamentalist by ‘showing’ strong attachment to Buddhist looks. In natural justice – this government lacks the jurisdiction to take an impartial position that would be common to both communities. It has the jurisdiction to punish as per objectively measurable evidence through secular pathway but no more. The UN is expecting that which is not deliverable as a true outcome. Only a true law can deliver a true solution that would spread itself naturally.

The Commonness between Tamils and Sinhalese at grassroots level was confirmed twice during my time – 1977 and 2015 Parliamentary elections.  Vaddukoddai Resolution was made by Tamil politicians in  1976 and confirmed by Divine powers in 1977. The 2015 elections confirmed the feelings of Sinhalese at grassroots level – for the plight of Tamil victims of the war which was made visible for all to see – by the British – the link community.

Muslims have to make their own inquiries and stay within their own territory until they are ready for the secular law. Likewise, Catholics need to submit their pain to the Vatican which has the responsibility to make a declaration that as per the Catholic community’s belief that this is terrorism. In turn such a declaration – if true, would bring its own relief through the common clearing house of Karma. That is the pathway Jesus showed and its sovereignty was confirmed through His resurrection.  

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

13 September   2021

 

 

Politician Asuran or Thevan?

[For many of us, the only hope for the country lies in getting out of the country. This is by no means a recent phenomenon: we have been seeing the best among us depart these shores for greener pastures over the last 30 years. The reason used to be the war; now it’s politics. It’s as though peacetime has unleashed all the ugly things about the nation that the war had bottled up. Back then we had bombs in buses and snipers at day to think about; now we have bribes and graft, nepotism and despotism, to rage against.] Some reflections on Sri Lanka’s political “memers” -

by Uditha Devapriya

The war was with a known enemy – i.e. – Opposition who showed itself.  The Corona virus is an unknown enemy who has entered our allegedly sovereign territory to challenge our claim to being Sovereign – which is the ultimate goal of government and the destination of governance. Internal corruptions are various mutations that block this path to liberation. If we therefore learn about the virus – we would clear most of these blocks. If we lack the resources – the best option is to respect the virus as our internal opposition rather than our foreign enemy.

To the extent of our own experience as Sri Lankans, should we have expected adverse effects due to the virus, followed by economic downturn? As per our knowledge – the birthplace of the virus was China. If it had been contained within China, it would not have become a pandemic. When we emigrate to nations that are ‘outsiders’ to our local culture – our strengths and weaknesses – mutate and then spread exponentially, to the extent they are ‘free’. Likewise, the virus when it emigrates from its birthplace.

When I grew up in Jaffna, I was used to seeing snakes of the domestic kind in the garden and from time to time on our roof. But later – after living in town areas I developed an allergy towards them – as per the minds of town-folks. In recent times when I went to live in Thunaivi where the sight of snakes is not unusual, I intuitively prayed to them to leave me alone. Only once did I see a small snake and that too was when I was chatting to our old gardener who asked the little snake ‘where are you going in such a hurry’. Former Sri Lankan President – Mr Sirisena similarly prayed to ISIS to leave Sri Lanka alone. But most Sri Lankans had learnt to live with the war between the LTTE and the Government. That war was not between Asurar and Thevar / Brawn driven and higher law driven groups. It was between two Asura groups. The Hindu legend that confirms the value of war between Asurar and Thevar goes as follows

‘In one of  the Hindu legends about Equality – the gods and the demons are asked to churn the ocean to find eternal bliss.  God and demon are both in us.  They say that the  idle mind is the devil’s workshop. It is better to get the demon in us to work on the other side of the god in us, than to let him be idle. Hence discriminative thinking – between right and wrong. Why better – because otherwise the brain becomes idle and fails to use its higher powers.’

 In terms of majority vote –  the whole is divided into  two  – for example as Government and its Equal Opposition. In terms of Administration – it is Right and Wrong through common principle or value. Where no common principle / value / law is applied to find right and wrong – the decision in effect is to take sides  - as was the case when those above me judged me. In terms of ownership – it is the two sides of the One outcome. At ownership stage there are no rights and wrongs but just costs and benefits at primary level. At tertiary level – everything goes into ownership and even when not recognized by others – the value resides as Energy.’

In the above legend – the rod used to churn the ocean  is Mount Mandara. It is reported that this  mountain in India, is composed of fragmented stones but the whole is one single structure. To me, it symbolizes  many memories in One intellectual structure developed from Truth. Hearsay and mere knowledge would give us many structures requiring us to consciously switch from one to the other. That is the outcome through assimilation. Closures by completing the experiences are necessary for consolidated thinking.

The mountain  personifies  Puthi / Intellect.  In the churning process it has to turn one way first and the other way next to surface the whole Truth. In the legend,  the rod is placed on the back of a Turtle and the Turtle is said to be Lord Vishnu on earth. To me that meant that the Puthi/Intellect needed to have Truth as its base. 

 

The rope used to turn the rod is King serpent Vasuki  representing  our mind which needs to be worked so that  hearsay of the idle mind, would not  override our Puthi / intellect.  As my Guru says  rope may seem like a snake in the dark if  the mind carries fear of snakes or is generally low and depressed..  Work leads to knowledge of what it really is and this overrides the memory of fear.  ] – Chapter 10 – Naan Australian

 

As per the above legend, both bitter poison and sweet nectar came out of the ocean when it was churned. Lord Shiva consumed the poison to save the earth. This was prevented by Parvathi, who held it at Shiva’s neck . Hence Shiva’s name Neelakandan / One with Blue Throat. When the nectar came out – the Asuras took it and ran to their corner to consume it all by themselves. That is the parallel of plagiarism in the academic world and stealing the medicine – that would cure the body or prevent the virus from controlling our body. How it mutates would vary as per the weakness in that place. In Sri Lanka, it has jumped from China to Indian variant.

Neither side to the Lankan war has set out to churn the polluted ocean. They are both asuras and as a Thunaivi resident said to me about her community – they would fight against each other and will kill each other. Democracy is wasted on them. In fact we need to protect Democracy from such groups who embrace the armed pathway. Only politicians who use belief in democracy deserve to lead through democracy. The rest have to alternate between unity and separation at the physical level.  We the People need to learnt to with them – without following them.   Towards this we need firm belief in the divine pathway of Truth.

 

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

12 September   2021

 

 

Healthy Opposition to the Virus

 

Neelakandar Kandasamy, as per my observations facilitated by the Sri Lanka Reconciliation Forum Sydney, is a reservoir of Common Sri Lankan Political facts of half a generation before mine. Today, Kanda wrote in response to my article ‘Corona Asuran or Avatar?’:

‘Dear Gaja 

In your email you have a question in your mind that Corona is in the form of Asuran or Avatar. This issue is related to natural justice and nature. Nearly one month  ago, I emailed my friend of mine in Sri Lanka mentioning that nature is very powerful.  Mr. Pieter Keuneman, may be in 1947, when he was the chief editor  of Sunday Observer, he wrote in his editorial "If we go against nature, nature will go against us".Many friends told me that this article was republished by the Lake House NewsPaper  soon after the Tsunami in 2004.

Subsequently, I have emailed another friend Mr.K.K.S Perera, who is a veteran journalist. Mr. Perera is my long standing friend and I have constantly been in touch with him. I appreciate his intellectual honesty and professional integrity. Both of us belong to old school.I have mentioned in email that now we confront  various disasters:and calamities.All these calamities are the manifestation of our behaviour.Also I mentioned that "" It was yesterday Tsunami, today is CoronaVirus, Tomorrow will be Global Warming and Climate Change. This plight will go on until we change our values and behaviour.

Now, you can understand that coronavirus is whether Asuran or Avtar. Many friends still, saying that it is not a bad person, but we are bad people, we are responsible for this miserable episode. Nature will not tolerate and wait to punish culprits. Nature and Natural justices are inextricably linked to each other.’

I admired and appreciated as to how Kanda had merged his values with those of pre-separation(mental)  Sri Lanka. My search without any particular expectations led me to the following in the article – ‘The July 1983 Anti-Tamil Riots -As viewed by the Communist Party legislator Pieter Keuneman by Sachi Sri Kantha’:

[In one of the humorous cartoons that appeared before the 1956 general election, Collette (a gifted cartoonist of that era and a Burgher ethnic), vividly etching the prevailing political divisions, drew a fleeing Mother Lanka with raised hands, screaming ‘Help, Help! I don’t want to be saved!’ Six political types, each with a placard, were shown harassing her. From the facial lines and the garments adorning them, each of the types could be easily identified. From left to right, the politicians with their placard slogans were as follows:

C. Suntharalingam – “Lanka must be saved from majority oppression.”

John L. Kotelawela (then Prime Minister) – “Lanka must be saved from communism.”

W. Dahanayake – “Be saved from English.”

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike – “Lanka must be saved from UNP dictatorship.”

Pieter Keuneman – “Be saved from US capitalism.”

R.G. Senanayake – “Be saved from the Indians.”]

The above confirms our diverse pathways in Politics. In the above John L. Kotelawela (then Prime Minister) was opposed by Pieter Keuneman – the Communist. Tamil leadership was opposed by R G Senanayake using fear of Indians. The two who do not have opposition are Dr Dahanayake & SWRD Bandaranaike. They were both distracted by the language convenience. Dr Dahanayake  followed Mr SWRD Bandaranaike to the throne. I explained my insight into this ‘Balance Sheet’ as follows:

[Thank you Kanda for that valuable feedback. I began valuing KKS Perera highly when he responded to me on the basis of the core message in my email. Now I value him even more because of your own valuation of him. Thank you.

You have answered my question in terms of Corona in your own way. It is both (Asuran & Avathar) at one time at one sovereign place. It is Asuran to those who have developed powers that are net liabilities that they are not likely to settle in this life and Avathar to those who have  developed powers that are net assets that they are not likely to get in this life. Then they are like Krishna. Thank you so very much for your contribution in this]

The key value of my response is that the whole needs to be Sovereign to balance the positive with the negative. That is when we revolve around ourselves and attract the global Energy]

To live with the Virus successfully – all we need is healthy opposition and not fear. I believe that when we invest regularly in good health – mental and physical – that Energy rises from within to eliminate fear. If every suburb looks after itself – not by irradicating but by Equal Opposition we would become operational and independent of the virus.