Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

30 October   2016

Which Dictionary – Hindu, Buddhist or Secular?

“You use a lot of words you don't know the meaning of.  Invest in a dictionary.    Yours to click....yours to educate yourself. Anyway, happy Diwali/Deepawali” – 'Malinda Seneviratne'

That was in response to my message:

‘Just make sure that you have earned my space to promote your blog. We call this plagiarism. Do you call it genetic history?’

I responded again to Malinda’s dictionary message as follows:

‘You thus confirm that the same word would mean different logic to different persons. Given that we are talking about Sri Lanka – and English is not the first language but only a link language – I ought to click the Tamil-English dictionary and that too only if a Tamil differs in her/his interpretation to mine. The dictionary facilitates a common start. Likewise, the word of the law. The rest must work as per our belief,  for us to reach commonness’

Then I noted the above Deepavali Message by the President of Sri Lanka who claimed that Sri Lanka was a Buddhist Country. As a Hindu, I identify with the first paragraph of the message. The second paragraph however confirms that the President is using Deepavali – a Hindu Festival to give a victory message.

Reconciliation between Buddhists and Hindus cannot happen once the declaration is made that Sri Lanka is Buddhist country. Hindus have to accept that they are officially juniors  in Administration and if they need their own internal solutions – they need to seek through their own pathways. If Hindus kept looking towards Buddhists to handout Hindu messages – they disrespect Hinduism. Three decades of war – is not an expression of Truth particular to any one position. The Buddhist dictionary would not have a definition of Deepavali. The Hindu dictionary would not be read by a Buddhist President committed to Article 9 of the Sri Lankan Constitution. If s/he did – it would pollute the Buddhist pathway. With Article 9 – in the Constitution, there can be no reconciliation between Buddhists and any other religion. With Article 10 and 14 (1) (e ) – in place no religion has the right to reconcile with another, once it exercises its own ‘freedom’ on the way – which is facilitated and protected through these articles. Due to Article 9 – Buddhists have head-start and therefore Seniority.

The word of law – like the definition of dictionary – gives one a common start. There is no such common start once one religion is given head-start. Elimination of the advantage in a language understood by the smallest religious minority   practicing  their respective religion is essential for a zero base start and reach the destination of Commonness.

A good example that comes to mind is the group of refugees who flee Sri Lanka to take refuge in Australia. They often use the laws that are available – and explain their reasons to fit within those laws. Likewise, the Australian officials as per their understanding of the laws and those whom they identify with strongly – are likely to be accommodated more comfortably  by these officers interpreting the facts to suit the laws. If those officials are healthy for Australia – that is positive recruitment. Where the other side is  very different to us – the interpretation would be as per our own Truth. This Truth would be  as per their true investment in the law by the Australian officials and as per   true experience in the case of the genuine applicant. Where latter is weaker than the former in terms of work and sacrifice of earned entitlements – the former must lead and hence provisions similar to Article 9 of the Sri Lankan Constitution. Where the latter is stronger than the former – the latter needs to be facilitated to work the system until there is a clear breach of law at which point – the assessment must be taken at the net value of the contribution by the Applicant as produced by the Applicant. That is how the ‘User Pays’ system is effectively managed in a healthy democracy.

In terms of Hinduism – the President of Sri Lanka is a minority participant – and his facility to participate in Hindu Affairs must cease at the point where he acts in breach of Hindu Laws. The Leader of the Opposition who is a Hindu is reported by Daily News – to have shared the following message :

[My heartiest wishes to all the Hindus who celebrate Deepavali the festival of lights. Deepavali is a significant festival for the Hindu people as it records that Lord Krishna slew the evil king Narakaasura on this day, Opposition and Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan stated in a message to mark Deepavali. The message: “The festival also signifies the importance of self-enlightenment where one is reminded to wake up from the slumber of ignorance and to pursue knowledge. As light dispels darkness, so should knowledge dispel ignorance.

On this very special occasion I wish everyone will be freed from darkness in their lives and have a prosperous and a peaceful Deepavali.”]

I am not able to find fault with the above message which is Common to all Hindus. It leaves each Hindu to work out whether s/he is on the side of Krishna or on the side of Narakasuran - not to ‘show’ others but for her/himself. Usually, during such celebrations – the positive forces are high and they have the effect of confidentially curing – especially those who seek to cure themselves. Towards this we need privacy from those to whom we are ‘outsiders’.

 The  President’s message  has separated Hindus into  LTTE being the parallel of  Narakasuran and the Armed Forces as  Divine Forces. But then the armed forces are not Hindus. Under those circumstances 18 May is the Secular  parallel of Deepavali to all who are led by President Sirisena. It is a day of mourning to Tamil civilians who lost lives due to the Armed Forces’ ignorance. Hence those official Armed Forces are the parallel of Narakasuran’s forces and their leader is the parallel of Narakasuran to the Tamil victims who did not resort to arms nor to support the armed LTTE.

Eventually the deeper motive happens one way or the other. Hence if our Truth is right – as per the laws of our environment – it would be healthy to share that Truth. If the Truth is wrong – then it is better to confess to God – if we cannot improve performance and get the ‘right’ ticks. Towards this one has to recognize one’s own weaknesses and surrender one’s entitlements to the one with positive value. Where earned credits are sacrificed – they become structures and systems. Where one contributes beyond the limits of one’s position in that system – one develops Energy that combines with Universal Energy which is called Truth.

Article 9 confirms that Buddhism is not structured to be above the Secular system. The Power that ‘tells’ / facilitates is the higher power. Hence, the Sri Lankan Buddhist who uses Article 9 is limited to human systems which fall short of Universal Powers. Hence they cannot contribute to Dharma – so long as they uphold Article 9 whose power is derived from Human system and not Divine Truth. By renouncing the official powers – Lord Buddha contributed to Divine powers from early stages. His true heirs would be amongst those who so renounced. This is NOT the President nor the Prime Minister.