Crossing borders
by Punyakante Wijenaike
From the beginning of creation mankind has been in turmoil. Animals
living within jungles, fish swimming in waters and birds flying through
open skies and nesting on treetops have existed in better harmony than
mankind. True, killings happen when hunger for food arises but not
otherwise.
Does turmoil happen because mankind has been blessed or cursed with
thinking powers that other creatures do not possess? Feelings may be
ruled out because other creatures also possess feelings. But when
mankind entered the scene conflict increased in the universe. Barriers
of race, culture, colour, mode of dress, customs and language divided
humanity. Nature had no connection with these divisions.
But what appears to have become a truly major issue of today is
religion. It was created by man himself for help in his time of need.
But now has it has been turned into another issue for argument and
division possibly ending in war.
Childhood
I still recall the peace in our old home where I spent my childhood
where Buddhism and Christianity lived side by side on two different
balconies of the old house. On one balcony stood a shrine with the
statue of the Buddha with his eyes closed serenely.
But with the same serenity my grandfather, an ardent Christian, read
his Bible daily. Neither religion tried to influence the other.
But in the changing atmosphere of today, is this possible?
Today religions are divided into many denominations. Anglicans,
Catholics, Methodists and Protestants. Buddhists have the Theravada and
Mahayana way of following the doctrine of the Buddha. The Hindus have
many gods and goddesses in a temple and Muslims have their own
divisions.
Mankind has been fighting each other over land, kingdoms, property
and race, each trying to control the other. It is like Hitler crushing
the Jews and the Atom bomb being dropped on Japan.
But now religion, which had always been held in respect, could be and
is becoming the next target for the battlefield. This could be the worst
tragedy for mankind if one can judge by what is taking place in Egypt.
For have we not depended on faith to see us through life and entrance
into another world through eventual death? Where or whom could we turn
to in need of help through life's troubled journey?
Religion
In Europe and other foreign countries as well, there are problems
arising over religion.
It is the duty of mankind to honour and respect each other's faith.
It can be the binding factor towards peace in the world. Therefore, I
was very happy to read in a newspaper that in Grandpass recently
Bhikkhus agreed to chop off branches of a Bo-tree to make space for the
extension of a mosque. Maybe we can prove this as an example of
religious understanding and harmony to the rest of the world.
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