‘He who controls his hand…….his foot… his speech…him they call a Buddhist monk’
A significant section of Buddhist monks today, dominate the political platform: Divided right at the centre into two camps; they are occupying the front row, pushing the lay politicians to the back-rows. There are three categories of them, one operates through media fora, others at political meetings and still others down on the streets; all engaged in an unprecedented degradation of the Sasana.
“He who controls his hand, controls his foot, controls his speech and is well controlled in all respects…is composed, solitary and content—him they call… a Buddhist monk” – Bikkhu Vagga [verse 362]-Dhammapada
Duruthu Poya is a day of great significance to Sri Lankan Buddhists, for it is on such a day that the Buddha first visited this nation and blessed it with his profound Dhamma. Two thousand five-hundred and fifty-nine years after this sacred event, what we witness today in this thrice-blessed land is religious hatred and violent demonstrations by sections of monks in yellow robes.
During the Buddha’s time there was a Buddhist monk who was very clever at throwing stones. One day he saw two birds flying at some distance and threw a pebble at them which hit one of them. The bird dropped dead. Other monks took the young monk to the Buddha, who reprimanded him and said, “My son, why have you killed this bird? Especially being a member of my Order, who should be practising loving-kindness to all beings and who should be endeavouring enthusiastically for emancipation from samsara? A monk must have control over his hands, his feet and his tongue.”
The Lord then recited the above stanza which later became the 362nd verse in the Dhammapada.
The entire Buddhist world, no doubt, watched with repugnance and displeasure some ugly scenes, when groups of hundreds, led by ‘Buddhist monks’ attempted to overpower the police and dislodge iron barriers in a bid to force themselves into a high security area. A few months ago in the south, an invading, violent mob led by a few Buddhist monks caused physical damage to two places of prayer.
My intention here is not to discuss the issues involved or to make conclusions on the freedom of religious practice, but place on record my aversion to the use of the term ‘Buddhist monks’ in reporting the highly unruly and riotous behaviour of such groups (for the mere fact that they wore yellow robes) both in the electronic and print media. Video clips telecast and posted to worldwide websites with bare-chested monks in violent mood and some with only robes hanging waist downwards will receive international exposure, discrediting our image as a nation that respects cultural values.
The Lord Buddha precisely and unambiguously describes who a Buddhist monk is. I quote a few examples out of many illustrations and draw directly from the scripts as we laymen are not supposed to comment or give our own views or interpretations on the behaviour of Buddhist monks.
Mahagosinga Sutta relates a story of a high-powered meeting where five Arhants and Venerable Ananda Thera met in the famous Gosinga Sal forest for a dhamma facts discussion. The six illustrious disciples of the Buddha enquired from each other as to what type of Buddhist monk adds more beauty and decor to the delightful Gosinga Sal forest on a gorgeous night like the one they were into. Each of them expressed his opinion. Among the views were: One who strives for tranquillity of mind; one who practises austerity and is endowed with energetic effort, with morality; one who has complete mastery over his mind, being able to enter upon any sustained jhana or phala at will; one who restrains the body; one who restrains speech; one who’s mind…
Under Vinaya rule no. 7 (Sekhiya) in the Parimandala Vagga, there are 10 sub-clauses as follows:
“A Buddhist monk shall wear the under-robe all round. A Buddhist monk shall wear the upper-robe even all round. A Buddhist monk shall walk well covered in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall sit well covered in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall walk well restrained in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall sit well restrained in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall walk with lowered eyes in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall sit with lowered eyes in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall not walk with robes hitched up in inhabited areas. A Buddhist monk shall not sit with robes hitched up in inhabited areas.”
On the Buddha being told of these different opinions, he said all these answers were right and proper. The Buddha himself said the monk who establishes mindfulness in meditation with the firm resolve to persist in it till he is free of defilements is a bhikkhu who can add more beauty and decor to grace the Gosinga Sal forest.
The Dhammapada Verse 363–
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered the stanza with reference to Bhikkhu Kokalika who had abused the two Chief Disciples: For this evil deed Kokalika was swallowed up by the earth and had to suffer in hell. When the matter was conveyed to the Buddha he proclaimed – “The Buddhist monk who controls his mouth (speech) who speaks wisely with his mind calm and composed, his conduct must be good; he who explains the meaning and the text of the Dhamma — sweet are the words of that monk’.
‘May the bikkhus shed enmity and hatred; even as the Jasmine creeper sheds its faded flowers’ (Adapted from verse no 377-Bikkhu vagga –Dhammapada)
While authorities remain unmoved for fear of reprisal, I think the involvement of the Supreme Sangha Council of Three Mahanayakes is a ‘sine qua non’ in thwarting unruly behaviour and ‘street dramas’ in distributing leaflets by insignificant sections of the Sangha, for candidates of their choice.
May all those who participated in the violent demonstrations through ignorance be enlightened to the realities of the dhamma, be happy, healthy and live long!