What Buddhists are doing to Buddhism

Oh la la! Menika was surprised to read the item on page 1 of the daily she reads which stated the secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena - Galagoda Aththa Gnanasara - had been taken to remand prison. She could not help but say: 'Good! Good! Long overdue!' Such her disdain!

The 'Buddhism' of the BBS

She was surprised to find a long Wikipedia article and other references to the BBS on Internet. It says that the name of the Bhikkhu organisation translates itself to 'Buddhist power force.' That in Menika's opinion is the first negative - Buddhism advocates no power nor force.

Rather does it encourage the four great virtues of loving kindness, sympathy, joy in another's well-being and equanimity. Buddhism down the ages from BC 600 to AD 21st century never advocated conflict, conversion, coercion, conquest.

The BBS, a breakaway group from the Jatika Hela Urumaya probably due to the JHU moving away from militancy and cooperating with other political parties, was not in keeping with the ideas of the two monks Kirama Wimalajothi and Galagoda Aththa Gnanasara.

The organisation is said to have as its ideology Sinhala nationalism. They are headquartered in the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthy Mandira and have held very many demonstrations, barged into hotels and shops and of course made a spectacle of themselves in protests on the streets with robes flying and faces contorted with anger and violence.

The two main 'monks' and others of their following are in robes. When they get entangled with the police or with Muslim nationals or whoever, they present a most disparaging sight. We in Sri Lanka are now getting used to such sights.

But consider their negativity on news in foreign countries. Don't you agree that those foreigners will couple such acts of rowdism and militancy with Buddhism; knowing no better. Menika need not mention that the world is a village now.

Anything negative that happens even in this dot of an island is relayed worldwide. Hence the shame of having spectacle of yellow robed men fighting on the streets, climbing barricades, facing police personnel with aggression and of course indulging in ethnic supremacy.

These 'monks' dishonor Buddhism and what the Buddha taught. This while garbed in robes He prescribed. They not only dishonour the religion of metta and karuna, kindness and tolerance, but they present to the country and the world intolerance, militancy, power and might - so very opposite to what Buddhism advocates.

Certain preachings

There are many other monks, not militant, not out on the streets, yet harming Buddhism with what they say and do. Menika the watchful cat heard of a distortion of history that utterly dismayed her. A certain monk preached that the Buddha was born and lived in this island of ours - Lanka or Dharmadvipa - born here, mind you.

Menika was further surprised when she found a friend of hers - educated and intelligent - believing this monk's belief, heretical to me. How on earth did she and many others believe him when historical facts, even stone edicts, prove the Buddha's birth in Nepal and his Enlightenment and life of preaching and death in India?

There are other monks who still insist on the benefits of giving - dané, particularly to the Sangha, far outweighing any other forms of Buddhist practice. There is the distinction between aamisa pooja and prathipathi pooja. Giving is fine since it cuts down greed but meditation and the following of the principles set down by the Buddha for living good lives is more important.

Adulterating the religion

This is so commonly accepted and practiced. People flock to Kataragama and pray devoutly at the Hindu kovil. Do they pray at the historic Kirivehara with equal fervour? Almost every temple has shrines to the Hindu pantheon of gods.

This is catering to people's desire for bargaining with the gods and as a result getting more people to the temple and consequent money donations. The Vipassana Bhavana Centre down Wijerama Road is an example to be followed by other places of religious worship. It places emphasis on meditation; it does not stress on rites and rituals.

Of course there are the daily poojas at morning mealtime, noon meal and evening gilampasa. These are necessary and cannot be classed as mere rites and rituals. A temple in the vicinity seems to be hell bent on surpassing even itself on extravagant buildings and decoration. Everything is spectacle and extravagance there, bordering on the vulgar.

Chanting at the Sacred Bo Tree

Consider the chanting of blessings on people who come to venerate the Bo Tree in Anuradhapura. It is sacrilegious and totally contrary to what should pertain in this most sacred of places. Men stand on the uda maluwa chanting blessings and accepting money, of course.

Why do we go there? Why should people go there? To see the slight tree that is all that is left of a probably massive tree now more than 2,500 years in age. We go there and should go there to venerate this sacred tree and remember with joy that the Buddha sat under its parent tree and attained enlightenment.

And what does one need for this? Piety within oneself; quiet outside and a pervasive ambience of tranquility. We go with piety; the ambience is certainly present and peace and quiet are possible,

but shattered due to the chanting of these men who now even tie jatawas on their heads. They are a permanent fixture in the area just below the sacred tree.

Since they chant audibly, other groups too spread themselves and chant aloud. Menika contains her annoyance with great difficulty. Here she has arrived for quiet veneration in a serene silent atmosphere spending much in both time and rupees.

And what does she get, whether it is early morning, early afternoon or even after 8.00 pm: the incessant drone of chanting of blessings which foster and encourage ego and dependence on external spirits for one's well-being. How dare any idiot think the Sacred Tree is there to bless them!

This cat plucked up courage and went to one of the chanting men the last time she was at Anuradhapura and asked him to whom he was appealing for help on behalf of the people who pay him. If looks could kill...!

She expiated her annoyance and yes, disappointment by facing this man who would be angered by her interfering questions. She realises full well it is the monk in charge who allows this, probably encourages it, to get monetary benefit.

It is all so wrong. Here is a matter to be looked into by the Buddha Sasana Ministry. We were sceptical about it and what it could do within the last government and its then Minister - the PM no less.

With Karu Jayasuriya as Minister we have hope he will remedy some of these stark malpractices. To Menika this chanting is a malpractice and damages Buddhism very much.

Another condemnable practice is shouting out names and amounts given as donations in famed temples such as Mihintale and Dambulla and even at the Mahaseya - Ruwanweliseya. What is the charitable act of a devotee reduced to? From a giving and possible collection of joy there is an emotional shift to pride and worldliness.

Menika has grumbled but has no hope the anti-religious activities she has pointed out will be wiped out. Hence her resolution should be to try to be a better Buddhist, following the Buddha's teaching and let the world pass by.

Menika