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Let all beings be happy
View(s):All living beings, including humans, belong to the animal kingdom. Since even science holds this view, we need not elaborate further. Kindness to animals means that we show kindness to all animals just like we treat humans. All those who are kind to animals must have the same kind of attitude to nature and our surroundings. Man and animal cannot survive if the nature and our surroundings are not protected. Emphasising great mercy to all living beings, Lord Buddha has detailed his instructions with regard to the protection of nature and surroundings. His instructions cover even plucking a leaf or breaking a branch from a tree.
| The annual Navam Perahera of Colombo’s Gangaramaya Temple will start at 7 pm on February 21 and 22.Temple authorities say devotees will be able to see and venerate the eight-ton white jade Buddha statue, the three gem studded statues of Lord Buddha, and the elegantly carved murals at the temple during the perahera days. |
The foreigners who invaded our country killed the elephants and cattle that we treated with respect all along. They not only took the ivory but also the bones and skeletons to their countries. Their children and grand children now come here to preach to us about being kind to animals. All Sri Lankans must remember this. Germans today do not like to associate with the crimes of Hitler, the dictator. Some visitors to our country have not shown any kindness to animals, let alone human beings. Yet they come and preach to us about human rights and kindness to animals.
Some eminent men bent on preaching about kindness to animals partake of the flesh of the horses that they use for their amusement. At many meat shops abroad horse meat is sold. It is the case even with kangaroos. We better not talk of the cow that gives us milk, butter and cheese. There was a time when foreigners came here as our enemies. Now they are coming as our friends. Nobody talks about what some of them pass on to us by way of physical and mental illnesses. There are hardly any rules or regulations to monitor this situation. The tourist industry can harm our youth. Bhutan is a good example to all those who are in the tourism field. With the aim of protecting our country, we should have proper rules and safeguards to monitor the tourist industry.
Many of those who talk about the country, religion and the culture are blind to the reality. They want to burn the ivory that we respect and adore. We have no brains as to what should be done to something that is not to our liking.
What we hear from the media about the Kaluthara Bodhi these days is distressing. I feel this is also a sinister plan by the so-called human rights and animal rights activists. When the Dalada Maligawa was bombed, it cost more than 30 million rupees to carry out repairs. The Kaluthara Bodhi donated ten million rupees for this. As far as I remember the the Kaluthara Bodhi Trust Fund is one of the leading donors of public funds for the promotion of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It did this service silently all along with no objections. Since this was publicised, this religious place has been desecrated, public veneration at this place reduced and funding too has dwindled. What are the influences that brought this situation? We have to look into this.
Some of those who call for the removal of elephants from Peraheras may have sinister intentions on the Kaluthara Bodhi Trust. During the time of Sir Cyril de Soysa who started the Kaluthara Bodhi, the Public Trustee’s Department was notified. This was the time that Felix R Dias Bandaranaike was the minister. When foreigners manned the Public Trustee’s Department during the colonial period, temples were brought under its purview to dilute the influence of the temple and Buddhism. Besides, they took education to their hands to change the mindset of people. Does the Public Trustee’s office keep as close supervision on the finances of other religious institutions when compared with its concern on Buddhist institutions?
Isn’t it possible for the religious leaders and the Buddhist clergy to address issues with those who are responsible? We have a Code of Conduct for the discipline of the Buddhist clergy. Let us at least now refer to this. “Those who are in sorrow be comforted – those in fear be fearless – those who are uneasy be comforted’. Let us preach/listen to the Gatha, ‘Dukkappaththa cha Niddukkha’.
No one is allowed to make use of the Navam Perahera for their benefit. Elephants taking part in the Perahera are chained and taken in the Perahera as per the regulations of the country for the protection of the people. In some peraheras, it is the wildlife officials who remove these chains. This is most unbecoming. Those who are mentally sick must resign from public office or be removed. We cannot forget that we had Bhikkus like Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Thera. We cannot erase that history. We must condemn the weak leadership. It is time that all those genuine and balanced people who practise the eightfold path, with a view to maintaining national unity, come forward for the good of all. We who have undergone terrorism and lived in fear should stand on our own feet without being subjugated to foreign powers. Let us strive to create a culture and a future as dreamt by great Buddhist priests like Ven. Wariyapola Sumangala Thera.
The Navam Perahera will take to the streets of Colombo on February 21 and 22. Let us come together to help people of all religions watch this free Perahera in comfort and with devotion. It will be a very meritorious act on the part of those who spend money for advertising and publicity work to direct part of the funds to help make people comfortable at this event.
Let the New Year that has dawned bring happiness and joy!
All contributions should be addressed to:
Sri Jinarathana Bhikku Training College,
Gangaramaya,
61, Sri Jinarathana Road,
Colombo 02.