Connectivity

One country, one peace:

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Stephen Long

Stephen Long, (Bodicari Dharmapala) has been a practicing Buddhist for 25 years.

He is a mediator, an ordained Buddhist minister, and a student of Ven. Walpola Piyananda, at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles.

He was formerly a high-ranking marketing executive in the Hawaiian tourism industry and owned his own consulting business in Thailand. He has also been an independent professional management consultant for several years.

Currently living in New York he is the Associate Producer of "One World Concert" a world music event for world peace to be held at Madison Square Garden on 9/11/2008.

He is a published author, a screenwriter and an ardent seeker of Truth.

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by Aditha Dissanayake

When his eyes fall on mine - intense, searching, confident - I stare back - daring, challenging, skeptical. Black, gazing into grey. The minutes tick by until a warm sparkle comes into his eyes. The differences between us, (age, height, skin-colour, nationality, political and religious beliefs) vanish. He smiles. I break into laughter.

Bodicari Dharmapala Stephen Long spreads his palms skywards and says one word: "Connectivity". He is happy to be in this "wonderful, wonderful country" where everyone looks you in the eye, where everyone connects with everyone else, and above all, where everyone cares, really cares as opposed to the life he knows back home in New York, where no one looks you in the eye, where no one cares, where the concept "Me and Mine" rules supreme.

Stephen wishes he could introduce the "charming and wonderful custom" he got to know on his way from the air port to Colombo, to his fellow citizens in the US, which he claims is the capital of "Me and Mine" and which ought to emulate this unknown yet wonderful island.

Yet, his family had advised him to change his mind when he told them of his travel plans. They had showered him with words of caution: "Oh! Be careful. Its dangerous over there" - words he did not heed because he says, "I follow my heart".

He confesses, however, that he was momentarily scared out of his wits when a mob of young people jumped in front of his car, on the Colombo Katunayake road, waving their arms and shouting at the top of their voices "Stop!Stop!", . "I thought we were being accosted by an angry terrorist mob.

But instead it turned out to be a group of happy, smiling young people who only wanted to give me an ice cream cone. I was amazed - and it still warms my heart whenever I think of it. "

Stephen believes the custom of "Dansala" should be introduced in the US to encourage selfish and spoiled youngsters to learn that there is true joy and happiness in giving which, surpasses the momentary pleasure of receiving.

He observes this same generosity in many institutes of the public sector; especially in health, education and housing. "Here in Sri Lanka, I am told that even if you are a tourist, the Government hospitals will care for you if you can't afford treatment".

This is not so in the US, where among the citizens themselves it is estimated that 45% live without health insurance of any kind, and where children sometimes die in the emergency room having been denied medical services. The richest country in the world seems to have so little compassion.

"If your health care story is communicated throughout the world, people will take note of Sri Lanka". Says Stephen. "If you publicize the nature and functionality of the Sri Lankan health system, which is completely unknown to the rest of the world, I'm sure other countries will come here to study it, and eventually emulate your model". He also finds it unique that free education is provided by the government for students from kindergarten to University and even to PhD levels, regardless of race or religion.

"There is hope here". Says Stephen. "Sri Lanka is a small country, and yet there is room here for everyone." He believes the ethnic conflict could be solved if the extremists could eliminate the concept of "Me and Mine" from their minds. He attributes this self-centered attitude to greed. "The cause of all suffering is greed. This is not the time to be greedy. People have to be giving".

Formerly a high-ranking marketing executive in the Hawaiian tourism industry, Stephen is confident that Sri Lanka is as safe for tourists as any other country in the world. After all this is post 9/11 - and nowhere is safe anymore. "When I go back to America,I will encourage all my friends who are looking for a wonderful place to go for a vacation, to come here". Any special reason? "Yes. Aloha".

Why Aloha? "Aloha ,which is what made Hawaii famous, means 'feeling from the heart, and Sri Lankans have just as much Aloha as the people of Hawaii".

Connectivity. Aloha. And above all hope. Stephen has one last wish: "Let every person in Sri Lanka keep his or her individual beliefs - about their Creator, about their karma, about the way they choose to lead their lives; but let every person here have one collective belief, too - belief in 'one country, one peace'."

Here is wishing his wish comes true.

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