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.