Gajalakshmi Paramasivam – 13 Aug  2015

Is Sri Lanka Part of India?

The rented accommodation in Colombo had cable TV and when I turned it on – most of them were Indian channels. In Jaffna too – I was struck by the greater Indian influence. During my stay in Colombo I thought more and more about whether culturally Sri Lanka was becoming part of India – losing its own individuality? My attention was drawn this morning to the Sunday Leader article ‘Hanuman’s Bridge — A Bombshell Before Elections’ by Gamini Weerakoon, in which he states:

‘Addressing a press conference held at the Abeyarama Temple  in Narahenpita (the cradle of contemporary political balderdash) Amarasekera as co- chairman of the Federation of National Organisations had warned that the the bridge was definitely a biggest challenge (sic) Sri Lanka would have to face in the future.  It would ‘heavily damage’ the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and some powers were trying to annex Sri Lanka to India through the bridges (sic), he had noted.’

The question of ‘Territorial Integrity’ is naturally linked to Sovereignty. Sovereignty itself is determined at three levels:

1.      The physical – through separation of Land in this instance

2.      Through Law commonly accepted by all concerned

3.      Through Belief.

This morning I received communication from a Diaspora leader about criticism some parts of  Tamil Diaspora, of  Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam on the basis of what happened in a local environment. My response to the Diaspora leader was:

‘It is indeed disappointing that Diaspora leaders are stooping down to using ‘what happened’ as their weapons. It is understandable that Politicians in Sri Lanka  would do this now as it is election time. But the Diaspora’s value is at its best when it expresses as per its Truth and/or through global principles in Administration. Then whatever happens at the local level – we would be winners.’

The above communication led me to listen to what Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had to say. His statements included reference to UN definition of ‘Nation’. As per UN:

[The nation-state "is one where the great majority are conscious of a common identity and share the same culture" ]

Hence the question needs to be asked whether Hindu Sri Lankans form natural Nation with Hindu India and Buddhists  form natural Nation with Buddhist China? Do these Natural Forces influence internal conflicts? If yes, how does a government override such natural influences to promote Nationalism within Political Boundaries?

To limit Nationhood to physical boundaries is to limit the person to the body. When such a person becomes the leader – the whole is led by body consciousness and suffers miserable old age due to excessive enjoyment at the physical level – as Sri Lanka is now suffering in parts where we have such leadership. Nation State as defined above, in today’s multicultural society strongly influenced by democratic rights,  is an unreality. Like the law of Thesawalamai in Northern Sri Lanka - it would suit people who live locally – benefiting from local powers and paying their dues / costs to enjoy those benefits. Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam may live in Jaffna but his mind has used global resources – especially English Law. The language in which Common Law is practiced in Jaffna at the primary level is Tamil but the principles are largely English and Roman-Dutch laws. If therefore one keeps using Political pathways – one would limit oneself to the body of Governance. This is ok if one does not claim rights as a global person. The number of Sri Lankans emigrating to countries where neither Buddhism nor Hinduism is religion of majority – confirm that there are not many Sri Lankans who are entitled to use Tradition as their claim. Tradition would naturally empower from within when we are true to that tradition. But it must not be ‘shown’ to get credit in a multi-traditional society. During election time local politicians could claim this but only to the extent they are purely local and the people their share the value with do NOT seek global benefits and experiences. That was the way Ganesh – the elder son of Hindu Family won the prize mango – symbolizing realization of eternity through the Traditional pathway.

Muruga the younger  son – like minority Tamils - went around the World – and when there was no prize for Him – He renounced His entitlement to Family wealth and set up His own empire from Zero Base. By following the rules Muruga fulfilled the requirements as set down by the leaders and yet when He could not win the stipulated prize He chose the alternate pathway – to make self-declaration that He was the winner as per His interpretation. He did not take revenge nor take handouts but set up His own empire on the basis of His ability to Observe. There can be only one winner at the physical level but all those who have truly won become Observers and therefore are above those who are being observed – including Parents / Governments who set the rules.  But once we take revenge – or take handouts from others -  we lose this entitlement to take Observer status as global family. THIS is the real risk of Diaspora communities who influence wars in their countries of origin through interference using money power. Raising our thoughts to Policy level naturally prevents us from interfering. We become the Natural UN for those local communities. By using that Observer status – we settle our debts to those communities through the exponential express pathway.

Leaders who want it easy – tend to use old ways to cling to power. They fail to change as per the real changes in their environment. They want the benefits of those changes – for example global money power but not the Policies.

Both Hinduism and Buddhism recognize the system of Karma. As per this system – we carry our own individual god within ourselves – commonly known as our conscience. Ultimately we are regulated by this god within. This god within has the same power as God – the Universal Power. Hence this god within carries our true virtues and sins. The strongest of these are the ones that are performed / accumulated when we think we are ‘free’ of external supervision.

To the extent Sri Lankans believe in Buddhism and/or Hinduism the origin of their belief is Indian. When does a Buddhist or Hindu become Independent of this origin? When does the child become independent of the parent? Is Australia independent of England?

Just yesterday, I wrote to a young and ambitious member of the Thunaivi Community in Northern Sri Lanka, that he needed to settle his debt to Thunaivi to get promoted to Vaddukoddai (the Land where the first Political declaration of Tamil Independence was made). Likewise, I believe that to become independent of our parents/origins – we need to settle our debts to them. In terms of migration, we need to settle our debt to our country of origin to progress naturally to global level. In terms of family – we need to settle our debt to Service Providers within the family to become independent of the family. A debt is settled by:

(1)   Money wealth

(2)   Status respect

(3)   Belief that we are One.

An adult child who feels that the problems of the parents is hers/his – completes the relationship to become family. If one is not able to so believe – one must settle one’s debt by paying money and/or through allocation of higher status to the parent in Common groups. This leads to structural independence. Once we take up a position, we are independent of the individual person. Thus minorities could be independent by remaining minorities and showing that position and working within the boundaries of that position. This is my discovery here in Australia. I now tend to take the position allocated to me by the person with officially higher ranking. This relieves me of leadership responsibilities. I become wholesome without conflict, by limiting my visible contribution to the actual position allocated by the other person. Where we expect ‘promotion’ by the senior – we would tend to go beyond this limit. This breeds expectations – especially leadership expectations. When such expectations are not met – we feel disappointed and depressed or take revenge.

If for our own sake, we seek to contribute more – we need to first complete that relationship and become Equal to the senior. By paying our dues – through money and status respect – we become ‘even’ / common in that system that allocated us the junior position. Once we become Common we are Equal Leaders. But to earn this entitlement we should no longer  expect benefits from any part of that relationship but submit our unrewarded work contribution to ownership. We would then fill the gap through feelings of ownership. Those who are truly self-sufficient would do that even though initially they may tend to be emotional due to the ‘gap’ between costs and benefits.

Separation of Powers facilitates such Equal status and diversity. Hence the Separation between the Executive and the Judiciary. Likewise between those of different cultures. Common pathways – such as Global principles and values need to be strong to override religious and land-based cultural habits. Weakness in this area contributed strongly to the ethnic war in Sri Lanka.

 Migrants of Sri Lankan origin  need to pay their dues to their Service Providers in Sri Lanka as a first step towards progressing to becoming global. These Service Providers could be:

(1)   Individuals

(2)   Positions

(3)   Policies

As per my god within - by practicing the Professional Principles and Values I learnt as a Sri Lankan – AND – by attributing credit to Sri Lanka – I settled my dues to Sri Lanka at the highest level and became whole Sri Lankan ready to be global. Likewise, by attributing credit to Australia where I learnt as Australian – for example Equal Opportunity principles and values. If Australia through its Policies had not been officially committed to Equal Opportunity principles and values – then I would have needed to allocate higher status to senior Australians – to confirm structural ‘settlement’ of benefits received as a junior. Instead I stated my claim as an Equal through the legal process. Majority migrants from Sri Lanka – known to me – are of former category. Likewise, majority Tamils and majority Sinhalese when they migrate to various parts of Sri Lanka where the other has majority power and/or traditional power. The reason is lack of investment in Equal Opportunity principles and values by those who get into leadership positions through the subjective pathway.

In Vaddukkoddai where the first Political Declaration of Tamil Independence was made – I am treated as an ‘outsider’ by those who consider Vaddukkoddai to be their ‘traditional’ area. But ‘thinking’ and ‘believing’ are not often the same. Truth is the basis of belief.  As a believer – I take my ‘minority’ position as ‘outsider’ in Vaddukkoddai and the rest of my contribution beyond my ‘position’ requirements – is naturally promoted as ‘ownership’ contribution. Until recently – I did not appreciate how this system worked and hence felt hurt and upset when I was not recognized on merit basis. Now I fully appreciate – that to the extent I contributed of my own free will and did so genuinely – I am able to work the ownership powers in that area – to my satisfaction – which is to know the Truth. Knowing and accepting the Truth settles all scores to render inner Peace. My inner god who keeps account of my true contributions and sacrifices, shows me the Truth at the maximum point where the person concerned would deliver as per her/his position. But in the past I continued to expect as per their promises and the system’s promises and failed to recognize the Truth that was there for me to recognize. Now I quickly look within – often through meditation and know the limits – whether I should leave or the other should leave.

Thus, through my Truth I observe the other’s Truth and therefore do not expect to be recognized beyond that person’s true status. The rest of their contribution is irrelevant to me and I shut my mind to it.

India is the origin of religious leadership of majority Sri Lankans. Majority in India are Hindus and hence to that extent believers in Hinduism would participate naturally in Indian leadership. A Buddhist who believes would not seek separation but  would, at regional level take minority position to confirm structure.

A Sri Lankan who is yet to believe s/he is Sri Lankan would need this structural positioning to function in a multicultural environment. So long as we fulfill our duties as per our positions – we are wholesome – and therefore are equal owners of the whole. Thus the Vice Chancellor / CEO / Head of State is equal to the toilet cleaner (Pariah) who believes in the whole. A Vice Chancellor / CEO / Head of State who is yet to complete her/his position duties  is of lesser status than the Pariah who has promoted her/himself to ownership level. At belief  level – the contribution is exponential. Such a person would invoke the power of Truth – as I believe I did at the University of New South Wales and later contributed to Mr. John Howard losing his seat. I believe I as a strong marginal force in both instances. The Judiciary did not uphold my judgment but Natural Powers of Ownership did. The wider the ‘gap’ between Costs and Benefits the stronger this power of Ownership working to uphold the Truth of the real owner and against the leader who failed to deliver as per his position.

At primary level – it is one to one and is driven by visible majority. At secondary level – the value is weighted as per the position hierarchy. A leader  who is politically driven would find it difficult to fill the gap to become true owner. The Opportunity Cost of high positions through subjective influence is this weak ownership power.  

Thus, one who is a true Hindu in Sri Lanka would find it easier to reach the Belief stage more quickly than a Buddhist who relies on majority power or Constitutional support. Such Hindus would Naturally invoke the leadership powers of India – and one does not need a bridge to do this. One who abuses majority power in Sri Lanka would fear majority power in neighboring countries. As we sow, so shall we reap.

Tamils do not need separation to invoke this power of wider world. All they need is Belief.

Talking about Belief – I was pleasantly surprised to see the paintings of the last king of Kandy - Sri Vikrama Rajasinha wearing a Pottu and looking very much a Tamil – adorning the walls of the hotel where I stayed this time in Colombo as the relative I usually stay with had gone overseas. I was surprised because the painting of the throne that I published at  http://austms.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/king-zeid-raad-al-husseinof-lanka-as.html   was welcoming me as if I were family! That is the power of Belief.  That to me was ownership power in UN.