Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

18 March 2019

Same-side Goal in Ethnic Politics

This morning, SBS News reported under the heading – ‘'Nothing will divide us': Faith leaders, politicians unite against hatred after NZ terror attack’

Not every Australian would identify with this unity. Last night, Twitter brought us the following message about Ms Chelsea Clinton on the issue:

[Clinton attended a vigil honoring the victims of the terror attack in New Zealand where 49 people were killed at two mosques. A woman present at the vigil confronted Clinton, saying the massacre was "stoked by people like you and the words you put out into the world."] - https://twitter.com/i/events/1106897599418662912?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email

I guess, this morning, when I wrote as follows to an engineering Alumni group of University of  Peradeniya, Sri Lanka,  I was in the position of the young lady who accused the ‘Clinton group ’  and the likes of Ms Indira Vasanti Samarasekera OC,  (née Arulpragasam) the 12th president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta are in the ‘Clinton group’:

[This group is trying to fool itself and others through this ‘reunion’. Until this ‘project’ the group did not share experiences as if it was ONE body. My brother had to abandon his hard-earned Engineering place in 1983 – after Sinhalese batch mates attacked him. I had to try very hard to persuade  him to complete his university education in Canada.

The Human Energy inherited from this Faculty needs purification before ‘showing’ improvements to visible assets. If the inherited Energy is positive, the system would work itself. If negative – the repeat of 1983 would be added to every future activity initiated by those groups that caused the violence within the University – including through heritage from this group, that failed to take affirmative action over the past 36 years of separatism practiced by this very group. 

The better way would be to go together to High Schools that produce high rate of Engineering entrants. As per current reports Moratuwa University is preferred to Peradeniya University for Engineering – especially by Tamil students. Restore the commonness of Peradeniya through improved  Human Values. If you seek to fool yourselves – that is fine. But please stop fooling the younger generation by pulling the money-cover over Human Values weaknesses in you. The Truth is known through your actual conduct over the past 36 years when the Nation was in ethnic crisis. Truth alone can unite us naturally.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam]

The ethnic problem of Sri Lanka was globalized and continues to be globalized by both sides to the conflict. When we are global, every other ethnic problem in any part of the world, becomes ours also. It matters not which side we view it from – so long as we use common measures of  global commonness.  

This morning’s mail directed my attention to the story of a former combatant-couple published at https://youtu.be/-R7fpltOw7k

The Truth that I  identify with  in that story is that to those  combatants  LTTE were the Government group. They were the non-State party in the Sri Lankan ethnic war. Tamils also made up two teams – one that supported the militants and the other than supported non-violent practitioners of the laws of Sri Lanka. The above victims belonged in the former team. By expressing expectations of support from the Sri Lankan government, they are confirming that they are expecting the opposition group to support their heritage!  

Recently in Northern Sri Lanka, when we attended Mallakam Local Courts at the request of the Opposition’s lawyer – at one stage I had to leave my husband with the Opposition lawyer to go downstairs and find the 84 year old lawyer who represented our side. When I came back my husband and the Opposition lawyer were missing and by systematic search I found them in the registry room where the Opposition lawyer was writing out the ‘joint motion’. When I asked my husband – he said that he noticed the Opposition Lawyer was in need of light and fan. Hence he also moved in. I said to him – that was ‘same side goal’.

The above ex-combatants were doing similar. In the meantime, TGTE – Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam is getting ready for its next term. The above mentioned story is a vote against the current TGTE  committee. To the extent we claim diversity we need to refrain from becoming ‘common’ in politics and claiming ‘same side goals’ as our victories.

As per my experience, UNP the political party has the strongest heritage in Northern Sri Lanka, through law abiding Tamils who have not expressly joined any non-political Tamil team in the ethnic conflict. This was confirmed when we met the Prime Minister’s group in February, at the North Gate by Jetwing hotel. The way Truth worked – the Hon Vajira Abeywardana, Minister of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government, chatted to us and made the common connection with my husband on the basis that he was an Engineering graduate from Moratuwa University. This was followed by an introduction to the Prime Minister who also demonstrated interest in the fact that my husband was teaching at University of Technology, Sydney. To me all this was confirmation of our positive heritage in the University of Peradeniya’s Engineering faculty which continues to connect us globally. We as a global family paid our respects to that University in 2013. The rest is led by our educational heritage of positive value.

In the process I appreciated the group value of UNP which connected us to a fellow engineer more strongly than we would have anticipated. That is the way of Truth. It lives in us as our heritage.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

17 March 2019

Reconciliation or Opposition?

This morning, I received an email from a Senior Sri Lankan of Sinhalese origin, under the caption ‘LTTE village & a Sri Lankan Military Officer show the world what Reconciliation & Peaceful Coexistence is all about.’  This was an article by Ms Shenali Waduge who strongly opposes Tamil Nationalism claims. In the case of New Zealand tragedy, the Prime Minister wears the attire that the victims would identify with. It is like the current Governor of Northern Province wearing the Veshti – when meeting with the folks of  Northern Sri Lanka on Public Day. The victims of war at Visvamadu, in  Northern Sri Lanka, would have cried with LTTE leaders also. Such shows of emotions would not be taken beyond their local time and place boundaries by a civilized society. It leads to suppression of the intellect which requires  higher platform than emotional platform and requires the ability to see both sides at the same time in the one mind. In both of the above cases – the attires are worn to facilitate the emotionally driven victims with the caring service provider. One could be more effective by taking an intellectual stand – wearing the attire of a different culture. Visvamadu to my mind, was part of Vanni area which came under the control of LTTE until they were defeated by the Sri Lankan military in 2009. Neither the LTTE nor the Sri Lankan Army had local ownership through natural life in that area. In 2003, when I was returning from Nallur temple to Kilinochchi (Capital of Vanni) – the morning after Shiva Raathri – an elderly man who said he was from Vattakachchi, said to me ‘Sister, please come to our area also’. I took it as him acknowledging the leadership of an educated person – which meant that to that elder – LTTE was also an occupying force. Only those to whom that area is ‘home’ through natural living, have the natural right to allocate leadership. Others are ‘taken’. Government by natural rights duly expressed through votes – is the foundation of democracy.

The guy who violated New Zealand’s democracy is an Australian. Our Prime Minister said that New Zealand was our family. Hence, the attacker - 28-year-old Australian citizen Brenton Harrison Tarrant, is family to New Zealanders. Using natural living as the base criterion – White Australians had to fight against indigenous Australians to raise Australia’s status in wider world – especially in the eyes of  Europeans of their culture. The fact that the policy was changed in the 70s does not mean that the thinking of the people changed. Hence to Brenton Tarrant, non-whites might have seemed like occupiers – the same way Muslims in Northern Sri Lanka were seen by the LTTE – resulting in the expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna. This kind of ‘only’ syndrome is necessary to generate extraordinary cleverness in those who are indigenous to that area. Brenton Tarrant was obviously clever to have avoided the authorities.

Here in Australia also, we are pursuing Reconciliation. Brenton Tarrant obviously rejected reconciliation. Even in families – we have those who reject multiculturalism – which often happens through marriage. Rejections often happen through those who have custody over richer wealth (money and status) who see no reason as to why they should share their wealth with an outsider. The dowry system addressed this by gender based separation – through which daughter inherited from the mother and son inherited from the father. The daughter took her inheritance to her new ‘home’.

Where there is culture based separation, cultural lineage is more clearly identifiable than when two groups assimilate. Equal Opportunity policies automatically recognize the need for separation to the extent they  preserve one’s natural feeling of ownership. One who feels ownership feels independence. So long as such is expressed within the boundaries of the structures that facilitated that ownership – they are healthy. That is why we maintain heritages as fixed assets.  Brenton Tarrant had every right to practice his cleverness within his ‘white-Australia’ heirs. Killing worshippers in the mosque is like asking Indigenous Australians to leave  urban areas developed by White-Australians. The parallel of that in Sri Lanka was for calls from the likes of Ms Waduge for Tamils who claim separate state to go back to India which is a heritage source to majority Sinhalese.

Reconciliation is a program and to the extent we ‘see’ benefits from it – we are limiting its value. The moment we ‘see’ the outcome as a substance – we need to separate and become each other’s opposition. That was the lesson that Sri Lanka’s Truth taught us by promoting Tamils to Equal position in 1977 and later in 2015. That Truth is now an inalienable National structure of Sri Lanka and everyone who recognizes that Truth has the higher wholesome experience. The experience Sri Lanka itself. Others who don’t – would be happier limiting themselves to their separate corners. The outcomes developed through one system should not be used indiscriminately in another.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

16 March 2019

An eye for an eye?

Gandhi stated that an ‘eye for an eye’ would end up making the whole world blind. Yet, that is what happened in Sri Lanka resulting in civil war. To my mind, that is what happened in Christchurch – yesterday – 15 March.

On Thursday, members of the Tamil Diaspora raised the question in relation to War Crimes – asking as to who would carry Kannagi’s anklet ? – with specific reference to the recent call by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister for closure of war chapter and new beginning. https://www.tamilwin.com/articles/01/209372?ref=rightsidebar-article    

Did they also contribute to the manifestation of Terror against Muslims in New Zealand, yesterday?

Mother Kannagi was a dutiful wife who supported her husband even after he took a mistress and abandoned wife Kannagi. Mother Kannagi related to her husband through his position and not as an individual. Quid pro quos and eye for an eye happen when one sees the individual without the position. The risk is that any excess destroys the structure of the revenger – as in ‘As you sow, so shall you reap’. That risk is high with the emotionally driven. Hence, we were warned against sharing graphic details of yesterday’s massacre – something that happened freely in 2009 in relation to the Sri Lankan war. Once we act to manifest the other side at that level – we become incapable of preventing another war.

Kannagi did not question her husband about taking a mistress. When Kovalan had financial difficulties she gave him her anklet to sell – towards maintaining family life. Her forbearance resulted in her becoming the Respectable woman. A respectable woman carries Divine Energy that manifests Itself. They are what we call miracles. It was this Energy that burnt down Madurai. As I wrote yesterday in Tamil – once Truth is manifested with belief – its other side is guaranteed to be manifested at the right time and place in the right form – to strengthen the believer and those who believe in the believer. That is the duty of Truth.  

A Tamil citizen who was true to her/his position in Sri Lanka would have had this power to burn down/damage  Colombo if s/he had been seriously denied her/his  position entitlements and/or those relatives through whom s/he lived had been wrongly killed as Terrorists. It was not Kovalan’s Mistress Mathavi who burnt down Mathurai. Mathavi gave birth to Manimekalai – who it is believed came to Northern Sri Lanka – Naina Theevu. Mathavi became a Buddhist after Kannagi burnt down Mathurai.

There was no such single Tamil citizen who questioned the government and had the power to burn down the kingdom of Kotte. But parts of that structure were seriously damaged in 2015 when all such Law abiding Tamils questioned the Government through Due Process – at UN level. Only citizens who commit themselves to the lawful pathway and continue beyond – despite  custodians of structured powers failing them, have the power of such Divine Energy. This is commonly known as Soorasamharam / Annihilation of the demon. I believe that my contributions to Equal Opportunity values here in Australia also was part of that Energy.

As per Mathavi’s example, Freedom Fighters ought to have renounced worldly life and embraced celibacy – after 2009. The deaths in Mullivaikal at the feet of Vattapalai Kannagi Amman – confirmed that they were given refuge by the Respectable Hindu structure and thereby brought about natural closure.

Gandhi forewent pleasures of the senses and thus conquered his lower self. This naturally elevated his contribution to national and global levels – because he thought global and not just local.

We, the minority communities of Australia and New Zealand need to elevate our grief to the higher level by preventing lower level revenge actions which usually trigger off chain reactions.  Every such escalation at our local levels goes towards global peace. That is when we have Kannagi power to influence Soorasamharam / Annihilation of the demons in Governance who take quid pro quos and thereby give birth to Terrorists amongst those to whom they are heroes.  

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

14 March 2019

My Freedom or Our Independence?

I learnt through Daily Mirror article ‘What does freedom mean to you?’ that today, CNN celebrates  ‘My Freedom day’.   Freedom has positive as well as negative aspects. Freedom without independence, to my mind is negative.

The most recent value of Freedom was manifested recently in the case of Cardinal Pell, here in Australia. The judge separated the individual from the institution through whose power the abuse surfaced. Channel 9 news,  reports as follows:

[In his sentencing, Judge Kidd said Pell was not to be held responsible for other abuses within the church.

"You are not to be made a scapegoat for any failings or perceived failings of the Catholic Church," Judge Kidd said.

"Nor are you being sentenced for any failure to prevent or report child sexual abuse by other clergy in the Catholic Church."]

It may not be the role of this particular court to look into the failings of the Church in this regard. But is the Church not responsible for failing to seek and find its own Truth about itself? Is the Government of Sri Lanka not responsible for crimes committed by its soldiers during the war? Are the People who promoted their sons and daughters to fight for ‘freedom’ not responsible for the damages of the war? Are they entitled to expect the benefits of higher institutional values that bind us together towards enjoying benefits without denying others their earned benefits and opportunities?

Freedom at the primary level, to my mind, often places a ceiling on shared values. Often when large institutions are in the custody of unearned benefits – including status, they naturally promote abuse of  power which has the effect of being worse than expressions of freedom by those who are outside the influence of such institutions.

I believe that when we are naturally bound by common commitment and/or grief, we are more likely to develop tall structures that would protect natural rights of all concerned. This requires the ability to take as program, that which is not recognized through cash and status benefits. Recently one of my students in Public Service was lamenting that the position she was currently in, was not directly benefiting that particular institution. I then said that I saw it as a program to confirm the Government’s investment in law and order. The Mother’s contribution in a traditional family often becomes Program that shows no visible value for the contributions. It goes towards the cohesive nuclear force that binds the family and works the ‘system’ – often towards development of heritage.

The fact that this issue of child abuse was addressed here in Australia, is healthy for Australia. The place gets purified by the Truth that is shared. Unlike in the above case, the Australian courts ‘dismissed’ many of my claims of racial discrimination. But I continued to share my belief and this purifies all the institutions that I shared my Truth with. I now realize that  I was strongly empowered to work the system of Equal Opportunity, more effectively than those who opposed me and those who dismissed me. The opportunities happen at the higher common level – as in ‘Knock and It Shall Open’.

In a recent interview with IBC Tamil TV – the current governor of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, stated that once we embrace democracy we needed to keep up the pathway of dialogue  even when we do not see any outcomes. Freedom fighters often would tend to produce the outcomes as per their emotions. This prevents the escalation of our contributions to the higher common level. Programs often represent such escalation and help us mind-merge. As per my discovery, the citizen who is mind-connected to a law-abiding politician through common belief would comfortably contribute to such reliable structures.

The Church in Australia – has been found to be lacking in such institutional strength due to suppression of freedom of expression to which the judiciary also contributed by ‘telling’ the victim instead of listening to the Truth. Some fail to ‘report’ because they took pleasures at their level of freedom. One who conquers her/his desires becomes independent and is naturally promoted to the higher level.  Our Truth travels with us – as Energy – be it positive or negative. It is part of the causal reasons of manifestation of an outcome at a particular place at a particular time.

The media is an active promoter of ‘freedom’ of the individual. But independence benefits all concerned and confirms that we identify with our inner divinity to govern ourselves as individuals and/or as a group. Ultimately all systems need to confirm the system of Truth to qualify as reliable paths to happiness and independence.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

11 March 2019

Gargi Awards 2019 – in NSW, Australia

Separation of Powers – Queendom and Kingdom

The Hindu Community of Australia celebrated International Women’s Day by including through Gargi awards. I participated in the celebrations because I felt that natural forces influenced the custodians of power to include me in the 2 finalists  for Journalism category. Ms Harita Mehta of SBS Radio won the award. I was happy to be second especially because Journalism is a natural category that I like to be included in. My credits were presented as follows:

[Upholds diversity and equal opportunity through the publishing channel (Naan Australian; Jaffna is my Heritage, not my dowry)

Continues to fight odds against racial discrimination, rising above the complacency attitude and caste barriers to epitomize and uphold values that Gajalakshmi holds dear. She goes by the belief ‘we have done our best ad sacrificed as much as we can for the common good to be where we are’]

I believe that it was the common courage as a minority that influenced the valuable outcome above that I shared almost immediately with the war-victims in Northern Sri Lanka who believe in my leadership. They are currently the minorities in Sri Lanka as well as in the Global Tamil Community.

This morning, my attention was drawn to Colombo Telegraph article ‘International Women’s Day: A Plea For Helping Tamil Women In Sri Lanka In Their Search For Justice’ by Ms Usha S Sri-Skanda- Rajah.

I smiled as I read the following comment to Usha:

[Dear Aunty

Did you wonder why the majority of suicide bombers were women> Did the LTTE think women’s lives are more disposable than men’s? Also why were those women not from the upper castes?

While you and your kind were living in Canada and UK, the majority of the women who fought for YOUR liberation, were from poor, lower caste families, were’t they?

I hope you do fight for the rights of those women, who did not have a voice when forced to take the cyanide pill or to explode themselves, so that the men would survive to create more mayhem and lead to the last major blood bath.

Can you stop? Do you want to destroy several more generations of Tamils living in the island?]

Gender based discrimination was an issue that I took up with LTTE leaders at a conference in Vattakachchi, in Northern Sri Lanka,  in which I participated as a UNDP volunteer. My question was based on my personal experience – where I was ignored by the young guy distributing the agenda, while serving the two men on either side of me. Thamilini – the women leader said she would address the issue. But can a woman who apparently accepts the leadership of a man above her address this issue? Both Thamilini & Usha accept Velupillai Prabhakaran’s leadership. To the extent such is for the purposes of a job the regulations of the institutional structures become the measure. The Tamil Community of Northern Sri Lanka, governed by Thesawalamai law had no excuses to claim that their women suffered from gender based discrimination. Thesawalamai law clearly provides for separation of powers on the basis of gender based diversity.

Those of us women, who claim separate space for our Tamil nationalism need to have first established our own queendom in that area of Northern Province of Sri Lanka, where gender based diversity was celebrated through Theswalamai Customary Law.  In other words, Thamilini ought to have established her own queendom within LTTE and shared the leadership status with Velupillai Parabhakaran.

Separation of Powers in Theswalamai Customary Law confirms that our  Tamil men and women elders were independent of each other including  within the family.  Those of us who claim Tamil Nationalism need to recognize this gender based diversity that culminated as customary law. One who neglects such ancestors confirms lack of belief  in the independent kingdom of Jaffna.

I was recognized for the above nomination by the Hindu community – largely of Indian origin and by white Australian lady judges and NOT by the male dominated Jaffna Tamil community leaders. This I believe confirms the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora’s acceptance of gender based discrimination in public life. We then do not have the moral authority to find fault with others for racial discrimination. We are then limited to use of evidence based assessments.

It is reported that one of the grounds on which Cardinal Pell’s legal team is appealing is:

["On the whole evidence, including unchallenged exculpatory evidence from more than 20 crown witnesses, it was not open to the jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt on the word of the complainant alone.”]

The Vatican, by failing to renew  Mr Pell’s leadership position confirmed that it did not believe in Mr Pell. That is the natural verdict. Belief does not need proof.  One has to believe in Commonness to be entitled to Common Discretionary power. I wrote to Archbishop Pell during my pain which I believed was caused due to racism. Archbishop Pell did write an acknowledgement but failed to share his status with me or more importantly share any belief that I was right – including in relation to Caritas doctors who threatened me with enforced medication. Eventually – all unaddressed unjust discriminations become ‘common’ with time. That which is truly common – cannot be cured by particular power.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

06 March 2019

Minority Power

Sri Lankan Prime Minister feeling 'at home' in Jaffna - the home of  Lankan Tamils

North Gate by Jetwing

In the system of Democracy, foremost Minority group  is  elevated to Equal status so that the Government would be made up of dual minds. As per my study, the mind at primary level, needs to ‘see’ to relate. In autocracy, there is only one mind and one outcome is produced by / through the leader. Janus is the ancient Roman god depicting this duality in Democracy:

[In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. ] Wikipedia

If Majority power is past – Minority power is future. As per the laws of nature, every manifestation has an equal and opposite. In autocracy, the two are separated by time but they the other side does happen. Hence the saying ‘time will tell’. In democracy, the other side is known simultaneously and hence the elevation of status for juniors so they would become equal and opposite. Where citizens are not as conscious of the common law, as they are of cultural laws, the majority rule applies on cultural basis. Thus the second largest cultural group is elevated to Equal status as majority to ‘show’ immediately the other side of a policy. It is the duty of a democratic opposition to manifest this independently and without interfering with the manifestations of the majority who in democracy have the first right to manifest an outcome as one group.

Without the participation of Minority, Majority would tend to live off the past (on time basis) and therefore deplete the structures of Traditions represented by our heritages. That is like living off our savings. The victims who usually are minorities, represent the weakened future. Hence in order to preserve our heritage, we need to be active in the present. Where the level of common faith is low, it is important to recognize diversity, in order to prevent such erosion to derive credit for unity.  

Separation of Powers is essential to prevent suppression of minorities where common faith in the whole is low. This week marks the first Anniversary of one of the manifestations that confirmed lack of Democratic power. The manifestation happened in Kandy, Sri Lanka, about a year ago. Wikipedia reports as follows:

[The Sri Lankan anti-Muslim riots were the series of religious riots targeting Muslims beginning in the Sri Lankan town of Ampara on 26 February 2018, and had started in Kandy District by 2 March until its end on 10 March 2018. Muslim citizens, mosques and other properties were attacked by mobs of Sinhalese Buddhists, and mobs of Muslims attacked Buddhists Temples and Sinhalese citizens. The Government of Sri Lanka undertook a forceful crackdown on the rioting by imposing a state of emergency and deploying the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to assist the Police in the affected areas. The situation was brought under control by 9 March. Two fatalities and ten injuries were reported among Sinhalese, Muslims and Police. According to the police, forty five incidents of damage to houses and businesses have been reported, while four places of worship have been attacked. The police arrested 81 persons in connection with rioting]

Those who retaliated, be they Muslims or Sinhalese, confirmed lack of faith in the government and hence took the law into their own hands. The lower the investment in common government, the stronger  the urge to retaliate – taking an eye for an eye. The gun in the hands of a trained officer becomes a protective weapon whereas the same gun in the hands of an emotionally driven person desiring quick benefits – becomes destructive weapon. In its report headed ‘Kandy: The damage and the distrust’ Groundviews reported as follows, in this regard:

[In Akurana, bunting with the words ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ hangs inside a quiet home.

In Digana, newly built shops hurry to restock for weeks of festive shopping.

In Pallekele, kanji is being cooked over a wood fire, inside the room of a burned mosque.

Preparations for Eid are underway in these small towns, no more than 12 kilometres away from the busy city of Kandy. The district itself is home to a population of 1,369,899 people, of which 72.92% are Buddhist and 10.46% are Muslim. This year, the celebrations are muted in the wake of a series of violent attacks that took place in March.]

How can 11% be Equal to 73%?  To be truly equal, 11% would need  to have invested in at least 50% of the true value of the whole  or worked 6 times as much as the majority community at that place/electorate. It is easier to connect through common faith than to work harder as individuals. Towards this the heritage value unique to that place would be helpful, as heritages confirm Energy level sharing by transcending time. Those who retaliate in Kandy for the Ampara attacks are disrespectful of the system of Democracy – according to which each electorate is a sovereign unit. The local experience needs to be raised to the higher level in order to make it suitable to the application of Common Measures – usually represented by a Government. Where the government is weak due to heightened awareness of its majority power – it would tend to separate itself from minorities by culture, by producing more of what it is able to produce, without being conscious of the other side. Thus the equilibrium of unity is upset when minorities who believe in the whole are suppressed and their independence blocked. Even one member of minority believing in the whole has the power to reverse this. Hence Tamils became Equal Opposition in National Parliament – first in 1977 and more recently in 2015.

Some Tamils including in Northern Sri Lanka, were highly critical of the current government. I said to them that they were ‘forgetting’ that militants fought for their own rule and hence to that extent – we did not have the real right to drive common policy nor expect to derive benefits from the common pool. To my mind, I was better able to practice global culture in Jaffna under the new regime than was possible previously.  This, I find is also the case with most members of the Diaspora sharing their status with locals who naturally accept them as ‘seniors’. The big banner by IBC Tamil (The International Broadcasting Corporation for Tamils), in Jaffna town says – Let’s build bridges with global Tamils. To me it was no coincidence that we stayed at North Gate by Jetwing – at the same time as the Prime Minister who demonstrated inclusiveness not only of us but more importantly the tuk-tuk drivers at the Railway station, who represent the local working-class. One showed me with pride the selfie-picture he took of himself with the Prime Minister, the Hon Ranil Wickremesighe. That confirmed that time had healed. Inside the hotel, Ms Nilanthi – the front office manager demonstrated outstanding service in many aspects. I believe that such confirmation of practice of global standards is possible in Jaffna not only due to global minded Tamils but also due to those of us who believe in true and natural commonness.

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

05 March 2019

Maha Shiva Raathri

Maha Shiva Raathri / Great Shiva Night was observed last night. As per my realisation, Lord Shiva is the Lord of the Mind. This special night falls on no moon night. This means that when the mind is without external knowledge, the mind identifies with the Great Wisdom of Truth within,  to empower us with our own intrinsic Absolute power. In his special Maha Shiva Raathri message, the president of Sri Lanka, highlights mental depression as a consequence of ‘fast-tracking social pleasures’. One who has no knowledge of pleasures, will have  no knowledge of depression pain. Maha Shiva Raathri power is invoked to cure the mind, excited by pleasure of unearned benefits, by eliminating all external knowledge, so the inner illumination is realised towards enjoying absolute Soul-power.

This connection was yet again reinforced in me during my interaction with the Governor of Northern Province – Dr Suren Raghavan who identified with my ability to meet the needs of Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability Rehabilitation. I believe I carry positive Energy in regards to Prosthetics & Orthotics due to my contribution through University of NSW – Sports Medicine which contribution was provided without benefits of money and status. This later helped me assist Professor Henry Sathananathan of Monash University who was assisting war victims in 2009, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. But as per my knowledge, Dr Suren Raghavan had no direct knowledge of my experience in this field. Yet- this was the area of need in which he sought my services.

To my mind, this was confirmation of that mind power that transcends not only the seen and the heard but also the known. Later I learnt from the staff of Jaffna Jaipur Centre for Disability Rehabilitation that Dr Raghavan had in fact visited their Centre.  To the extent Dr Raghavan had identified with the needs of the Centre, he would have subconsciously matched my ability to provide the services to meet those needs. I believe that that is how soul power works. Hence the depressed mind that is nurtured by one with deep understanding of the issue that caused the depression would naturally cure the depression when they are connected. To my mind, this is the deepest service I provide when I am in Sri Lanka.

I believe that each time we provide genuine service, and take less returns than others in that institution, we make contribution to ownership powers. Natural ownership comes with us and serves the needy to the extent we identify with their need as ours. Once this connection is made – the rest ‘happens’ naturally to expand our world to include all true contributors.

Oneness of mind is thus developed by eliminating all discriminative thinking including through allocation of rights and wrongs. This happens by losing body consciousness. Consciousness of the body is ‘lost’ when we forego physical pleasures including food and sleep. The higher mind works mentally and beyond. Lord Shiva is recognised by Hindus to be that Absolute power whose beginning (head) and end (feet) cannot be found. Hence "Adi, Mudi kaanaa Sivan" at Thiruvannamalai Rock temple in South India.

The value of our contributions could be measured vertically through one-mindedness of a common group or laterally through independent outcomes produced by Equal status / no status individuals bound by common purpose. The value of the whole is greater than the sum of the individuals due to this invisible Absolute/Soul  power which the Lankan president refers to as the source of exceptional human ability to naturally unite us as One group.  When we do what we can, to develop ourselves to identify with this power, the rest happens through the system of God/Truth/Love.