Cat’s eye

The Eight Precepts, five of which are broken by most

In this weekend of Vesak in which this feline cast aside her cattiness and pettiness and devoted one day and night to the observance of the eight precepts, spent time pondering on the vows she had taken to avoid eight situations.

While doing this, she could not but help sneering and even snarling in a discreet manner at the way the vows are broken by so many and with so much carefree abandon and don’t-care-two-hoots sort of way.

The politicians are adept at classifying our island home as the repository of the genuine teachings of the Buddha and thus the foremost Buddhist country in the entire world. We boast of a cultural heritage of over 2,500 years. Yet for all, though there is strife and crime all over the globe, this cat for one thinks that we compare unfavourably with a country such as Myanmar where in a temple, whether the Shwedagon Pagoda or a smaller village temple, piety is most evident with silence and slow moving around.

Last meal

This in sharp contrast to our behaviour in holy places, even the holiest of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy and the Sacred Bo Tree maluwa in Anuradhapura. Loud chanting is a must for our pilgrims. Do they think they gain greater merit by loud muttering of stanzas or as they invariably concentrate more on worship of gods of the Hindu Pantheon, do they consider the gods deaf

The first precept of the eight vowed to be adhered to on a Poya day by observers of atasil is: ‘I shall refrain from taking life’. The beef butchers may be of the Islam religion and most meat eaters Christian but there are countless Buddhists who cannot eat a meal without meat.

The Buddha gave human beings free will. Bhikkhus if offered fish or even meat can eat it if they so wish to. The story goes that the Buddha was offered pork at a dané, and that was his last meal - he fell ill with a stomach ailment. Notwithstanding this he walked to Kusinara since he knew his death was nigh and he wanted to enter parinibbana in the sal grove in this place. People, however, prefer to believe the dish he was offered and partook of was mushroom, a special variety dug up by pigs. Free will is permitted, even encouraged in Buddhism. He said about His Dhamma that a person was to accept it only if that person studied it, analysed it and found that it met his approval. So who is this cat to criticise people for consuming meat

Cruel

What she objects to is voracious metaphorical eating - eating of one’s words which worthless and damaging are, however, uttered and broadcast; eating other people’s characters by slanderous lies; eating people’s hearts by deception; devouring the money of the country for selfish stashing away; and being so cruel to humans and animals, the elephant particularly.

The second is: ‘I shall refrain from taking what is not given me’ meaning not steal. Omigosh! The stealing that goes on across the board – big shots take big money; the clerk and police constable smaller amounts.

This cat need not dwell on this evil sin as that is the topic of the day – our wealth stashed away by a few thunderous rogues. Rogues they are even though claiming walauwe descent and given to dansalas and offering jasmine trays. A pox on them and a jail sentence decreed is what this cat demands, going totally against the Buddhist principles of ahimsa and karuna.

The third precept is unexplainable to children and has an extended meaning. ‘I shall not indulge in sexual and sensual activity’. This means that this vow within the eight forbids sensual pleasures of the five senses and most definitely coming together with wife or partner for sex. This third precept in the five to be observed daily decrees no to adultery, a lesser demand easily kept. This is broken by most! The Buddha in his great wisdom, when propounding the five precepts for all to observe, knew that when marriage vows are taken fidelity is a requisite. Mercifully, thankfully, we have the highest in the land and second who no one can point fingers at on this score. But others Goodness the stories we have heard!

Willing playmates

Bigwigs with those from the silver screen, small screen, a singer or off the modelling ramp! It looks as if there are no randier men than Sri Lankans! The higher ups have willing playmates due to the lucre they wave around, or the smell of power that emanates from them; or the wherewithal with which to buy that pill that stiffens! The poorer with lust in their blood go on rape rampages. Babies have not been spared; grandfathers go berserk and women thirsting for gold in the Middle East, which hardly materialises, sacrifice daughters to this vice fast spreading in this predominantly Buddhist land. ‘I shall refrain from telling that which is untrue’ is the fourth.

My goodness the lies that spill from politicians’ and others’ mouths; the evil gossip and untruths; the exaggeration of the media; the present proclamations of the likes of Dinesh G, W. Weera, Gammanpila and the filth uttered by such as old Vasu. It’s not only the telling of lies that abounds, its living lies.

The fifth is the one that aggravates a human who turns inhuman to break all the other vows and be completely anti-social and home breaker and family destroyer. ‘I shall refrain from taking intoxicants and mind altering drugs’. This cat thought a draught of beer or wine glass of fermented grape juice is ok. No, said the bhikkhus consulted, alcohol is prohibited.

The sixth, seventh and eighth are easy to observe. No indulgence in physical comfort of cushioned chairs and soft beds; no listening to music, watching teledramas or using perfume and enhancers of appearance that give false values and induce vanity; and no taking solid food which means even fruit juice or soup after noon while in sil. All so cleansing bodily and spiritually. So while boasting that we are a predominant Theravada Buddhist country which retains and nurtures the original teachings of the Buddha, we happily break the five precepts, following the example of some at the head of the political arena which is the most significant arena in this politics-mad country.

Nitty gritties like no solid food after 12.00 noon for bhikkhus can be circumvented since the Buddha, while laying down these precepts, was totally understanding of changing circumstances and human frailty.

But not He nor ordinary us can condone or look aside when crimes so large breaking the first five precepts riddle this country overflowing with jasmine trays and Buddha statues at every corner, and the ubiquitous pristine white kapati suit covering the multitudinous sins of some who profess to be adherents of Buddhism. ‘Shame’ is the indictment this cat spits out as she settles herself on her cushion in an attempt to be conscious of her breath and attain even an iota of Samadhi.

Theruwan Saranai she wishes all who think like her!