|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Conversion forum : Why not a JHU - Christian Dialogue?
It has been reported in the press that the JHU is contemplating to initiate a dialogue with the LTTE. One of the main reasons for the formation of the JHU was the protection of the country from the terrorist LTTE. If the JHU could show such magnanimity as to initiate a dialogue with 'arch enemies', WHY NOT A JHU - CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE? A dialogue between persons in the same 'wave-length' and 'track' directing people in the correct path of living. Adherents of the four leading religions of the world have been living in harmony in this beloved country for centuries. There are many inter-marriages and children of mixed nationality now. There are also many families that visit both the Temple and the Church. We have to nevertheless accept the fact that there are misconceptions, misunderstandings, distrust and even resentment in the minds of a few due to the inability to comprehend each other. This is due to divergent 'mind-sets'. Religions We have often heard the saying 'Frog in a well', to refer to individuals whose experiences are limited and therefore the 'mind-set' very narrow in outlook.
Those in the Christian and Buddhist wells are those who have been born, bred and still living their lives within their own religious community and environment. They may have temporary 'official' contact with others. They have no knowledge about the 'temperature' in the other wells - as in the case of the Kinniya 'hot wells'. They do not know the modes of worship, living styles, customs, aspirations, hurts, longings etc. of those belonging to other religions. Unfortunately those at the helm - those who matter, the ones who take the decisive decisions that effect the whole community and even the whole country are those from a single well. As such they are totally ignorant and therefore deaf, dumb and blind to the other's point of view, aspirations, wants etc. Decisive Occasionally we have exceptions. The late Rev. Fr. Marcelline Jayakody personally knew the 'temperatures' of both Christian and Buddhist 'wells'. What a pity he is not among us today at this decisive moment. From birth I was in 'the Urban-city well' and as a Christian in 'the Christian well'. My employment necessitated me to enter 'the village well' and also 'the Buddhist well'. I was the only Christian in many and in one particular school the first Christian to set foot on. It then dawned on me that there existed another very beautiful world beyond the 'Christian world' which I was totally ignorant about. A beautiful world of simple people with simple aspirations and simple ways of life and with very large hearts. In turn my new found Buddhist friends who had never associated a Christian before, were surprised to discover that people with living styles, aspirations etc. similar to their own, lived beyond the 'Buddhist world'. It is a case of misconception due to lack of inter relationships. The Westernised living styles and westernised modes of worship of the Christians including the clergy has also contributed to the misunderstandings. Many rural folk have never associated Christians. They have only seen them on TV in Churches in the best of clothes and modes of worship that are unlike their own. Similarly Christians living in majority Christian communities have not associated closely with Buddhists. There is therefore many misconceptions between the adherents of the two religions. Community We have to understand as to how and why the JHU came into existence. The Tamils and the Muslims have their own political parties to advocate the needs of their community. As a matter of fact both the CWC and the SLMC have been in every Government getting the best out of every situation. On the other hand the UNP, the SLFP and other multi-ethnic parties have failed to advocate the 'concerns' of the Sinhalese because of the very fact that they are multi-ethnic. The need 'to safeguard the country from division and the LTTE' arose. Formation There were also some 'needs' of the Buddhists that needed urgent attention. The late Ven. Soma Thera who was advocating these two main issues suddenly passed away and the emotion generated resulted in the formation of the JHU. We have to 'get into their shoes' and understand them. Regarding the unfortunate incidents in Parliament involving the JHU monks - had not the Government members hijacked the two monks or had the two monks stood firm by the views of the party under any circumstances, all the incidents that followed would not have come to pass. All the Bishops of the country have paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayake Theras. This is a magnanimous gesture. The JHU had as one of its very first political actions offered one of its National List slots to Mr. Anandasangari the TULF leader. That together with their latest willingness to speak to the LTTE speaks very highly of the magnanimity of the JHU. It speaks volumes for their sincerity of purpose. They are poles apart from the other self-centered, insincere, uneducated, indisciplined hypocrite 'politikkas'. A large number of non-Buddhists supported the JHU at the last General Election. Why cannot magnanimous minds with similar goals travelling on parallel lanes get on to the same track, help solve each others problems and work for the betterment of the people. Had the Buddha and Jesus Christ been contemporaries, would they not have joined forces to fight the forces of evil even if they were of different communities and advocating different philosophies.The clergy of the main line Christian Churches have been constantly warning their faithful to be vigilant about the unethical 'advances' of the fundamentalists. The Buddhist and Christian clergy are therefore on common ground. Religious leaders should refrain from resorting to provocative utterances, statements or actions because in case resentment is aroused beyond a limit it will be the simple poor who will be at the receiving end and not those in their secure abodes. On behalf of all the citizens I appeal - Please 'initiate a JHU - Christian dialogue'. Withhold proposed legislation for a few months, withdraw objections, hold discussions and formulate legislation to satisfy the needs and aspirations of all and which does not infringe the basic human rights of any. Let us together solve each others problems. Let us all live in harmony respecting and upholding each others views. Please prevent a catastrophe in our beautiful country. M. V. Noel de Silva, Moratuwa. ############ Legislation not the answer Can legislation stop unethical religious conversions, and will this succeed? My little experience is, poverty, unemployment and helplessness. These are a few of my experiences. In 1947 an ex-Buddhist priest taught us in our prestigious college. He had become a priest to study as he was poor, but could not do so. He got a scholarship from a non-Buddhist organisation, gave up robes, studied in a non-Buddhist school, graduated, later became a Buddhist. He was finally a lecturer at the Peradeniya University. In a village close to Ambalangoda, an organisation helps poor, unemployed villagers who follow their classes. My helper, a young boy found employment in an estate off Yakkalamulla. While working, he joined an organisation, now attends classes on Sundays where they receive advise and help, to overcome their economic problems. These are all due to poverty, unemployment and helplessness. In 1950s the Sarvodaya volunteers helped poor villagers at Kanatoluwa. But nobody was converted. A Buddhist organisation formed at the Colombo General Hospital started helping poor helpless patients. Thus conversions were avoided. Meanwhile, a Buddhist priest refused to attend to the last rites of a son of a poor carpenter as he had not given alms to the temple at Galduwa colony off Ambalangoda in 1970. In 2004 a Buddhist priest demanded a lorry load of sand and rubble when a retired teacher used the Devale to recite 'Seth Kavi' to expel the evil spirits caused to his child. This is the attitude of some of our priests. I have not heard of instances where Buddhist priests or any other Buddhist organisation visit houses of poor, unemployed people to help them or advise them but demanding financial assistance from devotees. Some of our rich affluent, philanthropists spend money to put up the biggest statue, an additional one to the temple, or a gold plated railing with much pomp and pageantry without helping a poor family and most priests in cities live in super luxury abodes, thanks to those philanthropists, whereas temples and priests in villages are neglected. My little experience tells me that Buddhists without blaming others must organise themselves and try to help the needy to overcome their difficulties so that they will not get attracted to an other organisation. M. N. De Zoysa, Mount Lavinia. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Every individual is 'a frog in one or a few wells'. 'A frog in the Sri
Lankan well' is a person who has never left the shores of this country and
therefore has no personal or first-hand experiences of other countries and
its people. Similarly there are many wells - 'The Urban-city well', 'The
Village well', 'The Buddhist well', 'The Christian well' etc.
