16 August 2022
Gajalakshmi Paramasivam
BUDDHIST CLERGY IN BREACH OF THE
CONSTITUTION
In a hierarchical structure, Seniors share their
strengths with Juniors. Where the Junior becomes mentally stronger than the Senior,
there needs to be separation of powers between the two groups – so they
become of Equal status.
The Constitution
of Sri Lanka requires the citizens to render Buddhism, foremost status as
follows:
‘9. 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 the Buddha Sasana, while assuring
to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e).’
Buddhist clergy therefore have
the foremost responsibility confirm the above in practice.
Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha
Thera appears to be acting in breach of article 9 when he ‘found fault’ with
the President as follows:
[The current
president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was appointed to the post for the sake of the
Aragalaya and it seems he has not learned anything from the past, Ven. Dr.
Omalpe Sobitha Thera said.
Addressing the media, he emphasized
that the people who stole the national wealth should be brought to justice and
that corrupt people should not be appointed as ministers.
Instead
of new procedures, the President is seen continuing with the old practices. He
used to continue with this same selfish and inhumane political agenda with the
support of his old ministers, friends and relatives.
Therefore, we strongly advise him to
stop the old practices, punish the thieves, and bring the country's national
wealth back from the people who stole it, he said.] https://www.dailymirror.lk/top_story/Prez-has-not-learned-anything-from-the-past-Ven-Sobitha-Thera/155-243103
Let’s analyse this through Buddhist theory. Wikipedia presents the system of karma as per Buddhism as follows:
Karma and karmaphala are
fundamental concepts in Buddhism. The concepts of karma and karmaphala explain
how intentional actions keep one tied to rebirth in samsara, whereas the
Buddhist path, as exemplified in the Noble Eightfold Path, shows us the way out
of samsara.
Saṃsāra in Buddhism and Hinduism is the beginningless cycle of repeated birth, mundane existence and dying again. Samsara is
considered to be dukkha, suffering, and in general unsatisfactory and
painful, perpetuated by desire and avidya (ignorance), and the resulting karma]
The
system of Democracy facilitates a leader to represent a group that he believes
in. Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, reveals that ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe, was appointed to the
post for the sake of the Aragalaya’
If President
Wickremesinghe changes the system of Rajapaksas, he would carry avidya (ignorance) which would result in rebirth of those Sri
Lankans who carry characteristics similar to those of Rajapaksas. President
Wickremesinghe needs to represent the Sri Lankans who voted the Rajapaksas to
power and then decide whether to represent them or Oppose those Sri Lankans.
The quickest way to know this is by becoming Rajapaksas but not acting as they
did. This means ‘be like them but without taking any karma palan / karmaphala /
fruits of the work done’.
Ven.
Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera’s declares - ‘Instead of new procedures, the
President is seen continuing with the old practices. He used to continue with
this same selfish and inhumane political agenda with the support of his old
ministers, friends and relatives.’ The
‘old practices were’ with Mr Sirisena as the President. Given that this is the
first time Mr Wickremesinghe is President, the results would be different – especially
to those who use the secular pathway, instead of the religious pathway. The delisting of some diaspora organisations
and individuals from the terrorism listing is a strong indicator of this. This
is bound to strengthen the ‘intelligence sharing’ with those
nations that are more democratic than Sri Lanka. There is little or no money movement
in ‘intelligence sharing’ and hence no visible karma palan / karmaphala /
fruits of the work done. That is
the quiet way of ‘confidentiality’, which like our Queen, becomes in Democracy,
a heritage.
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