A question of conduct

Rebellious monks, lack of discipline... is the Sangha society facing a crisis?

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Bhikkhus have been accepted as social leaders in Sri Lanka for centuries, with the lay community valuing their advice and guidance. However, with the changing times, social perspectives of the modern day bhikkhus are also changing; with many of them growing rebellious and having no qualms about taking to the streets in vociferous protests, confronting aggression with aggression and not afraid to throw a few punches or receive them. Their bloodied and bruised faces may be a shock against accepted norms, but the neoteric changes in the bhikkhu demeanour is not exactly condoned. It is explained by their more politically active counterparts as acceptable action under certain circumstances.

"The aggressiveness bhikkhus show in protests is against the wayward bureaucracy. It is not against society," says Ven. Dambara Amila Thera of the Bhikkhu Front for Good Governance.

The Theras firmly believed that bhikkhus must get involved in activities against injustices in society including politics and says that being in representative democracy may not suit the bhikkhu but should be a part of participatory democracy.

"Contesting in elections is an issue I see as against the principles bhikkhus should follow. But definitely they should take up positions guiding the decision makers and law makers," he adds.

"It is almost similar to a pregnant woman being blessed by a bhikkhu which is acceptable in our culture, but he should not get involved in the delivery of the child," the Thera says.

Bhikkhus taking the leadership of society should be an integral part of social pressure groups that work against social injustice and government malpractices.

Corrupt practices

"The actions should be for the benefit of the masses rather than a privileged few and should follow the guidelines set by the Buddha," he stresses, pointing out that after all a bhikkhu should shoulder social responsibility.

Yet the possibility of bhikkhus getting involved in corrupt practices is a fact that cannot be overlooked he says, urging those who become parliamentarians should trade in their vehicle permits, discourage issuing licences to pubs and liquor shops and get involved in resolving the numerous malpractices with the power they are vested with as parliamentarians or local authority members.

He says the good and the bad practices of a bhikkhu are influenced by the environment he grew up in, and that temple, chief priest and dayakas all matter in the creation of a disciplined bhikkhu.

Almost all bhikkhus enter the Sasana as children at the age of 11 or 12. "At this age a child has no idea of discipline or anything related to it. But the environment in which he spends the rest of his formative years and where he grows up to be an adult greatly influences the person he is going to be in the future," he says. Despite all these facts, the Sangha society of today seems to ignore the disciplinary violations by bhikkhus and society does not witness any action taken against them by any of the Nikayas in Sri Lanka.

Conduct

"The problem is that the Sri Lanka Sangha society does not have a centralised administrative body to look into these matters. Each Nikaya follows their own rules, of course mostly on the principles laid by Buddha, but it is inefficient," he adds.On a more positive note, the Thera says due to continuous pressure from intellectuals, Buddhist social groups and academics from both the lay and the bhikkhu community, the government is taking steps to resolve the disciplinary issues regarding bhikkhus.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Chandraprema Gamage says the government is taking steps to implement an Act to register the different views on discipline and the various aspects concerning a bhikkhu's conduct in the three Nikayas.

"The government will act only as a facilitator. The decision-making bodies of the Nikayas should take the final decision, and the government under the provisions of the Act will register the suggestions and the action recommended. If any of the Nikayas stipulate disciplinary action against any bhikkhu and if the action is not followed, the Government can intervene according to the provisions provided within the Act," he explains. The draft of the Act was handed over to the Attorney General's Department a few weeks ago and it is now under evaluation.

According to Gamage, the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs should table the Bill in Parliament soon.In response to the question as to whether the Sangha society is facing a crisis, when people criticize bhikkhus as being less disciplined than laymen, Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thera said that the main cause is lack of a disciplined education for bhikkhus. "For an ordinary mother and a father, offering a child to the Buddha Sasana is the most meritorious act. If the Samaneras turn out be indisciplined bhikkhus, would it not break the hearts of those parents?" queried the Thera.

"Before the early 1970s, there was solid education at Pirivenas that moulded the character of bhikkhus. They were ordained, not just physically but also spiritually," Ven. Wimalajothi Thera says the education and training at Pirivenas for the duration of about 10 years made a big impact on the spiritual life of the bhikkhu, and a genuine bhikkhu who was true to Buddhism was produced. The Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas played a pivotal role in this connection. When the Pirivenas were converted to universities, young bhikkhus got entangled with the material world and the political controversies of the lay world," he said.

"Thus, all these corrupt factors filled their minds with hatred and anger, instead of instilling peace and loving kindness. Today, we see the ultimate result," he said.

"Bhikkhus should practise self-discipline before advising leaders and communities," the Thera emphasises.