What have we achieved during the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Year commemorating the 2600th year of the Enlightenment of the Buddha? In a hard hitting editorial in ‘The Buddhist’ – the Colombo YMBA journal, well-known Buddhist commentator Rajah Kuruppu sums it up : “A deterioration of moral values, escalation of corruption, breakdown of law and order, and a rapid rise of murder, rape and robberies.” An impressive record indeed!
Lamenting that pre-planning for the event was half-hearted and did not have the same commitment as in the case of the Buddha Jayanthi Year (1956) when preparations were made several years ahead, Mr. Kuruppu discusses the outcome. “Crime far from declining (as it happened during the Buddha Jayanthi) has accelerated. Murder, rape and theft have substantially risen. Corruption has become the order of the day.
“The pernicious, detestable and inhuman practice of ragging of freshers in Universities has continued over a long period of time. A Government that has successfully overcome and defeated a terrorist organisation, considered to be the most brutal in the world, is unable to end this totally unacceptable practice although efforts are being made recently in this direction.
“A most unfortunate development in this connection was the reported violent ragging at a university of Buddhist monks in Anuradhapura where one victim had to be hospitalised. This was in the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Year!
“In Sri Lanka, as in many other countries in the world, corruption has been on the increase in the last few decades. In the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Year far from a decrease an increase is unfortunately observable. It has developed into such high proportions that the need for corrective action is urgent and imperative. In the past we have experienced further escalation of corruption with every change of Government.
“An area of serious concern is the breakdown of law and order where certain people are very much above the law. The close link between the politicians and the underworld engaged in the trafficking of drugs and other unethical practices harmful to the nation is a dangerous development of recent times.. In view of political influence the law enforcing authorities are helpless against illegal and harmful actions of the underworld. With strong governmental connections they appear to brazenly violate the laws of the land.
“The political strength of the Government with a two thirds majority in Parliament enables it to bring significant changes to the Constitution. This together with the sweeping success of the Government coalition at the Presidential elections three years ago followed by the even greater electoral success at Parliamentary and local government elections has led to an element of conceit and arrogance on the part of the governing forces. They do not extend adequate consideration for the views of others, both within and without the Government.
“It is in the nature of man when in authority to lose his sense of balance and think that he could get away with anything. Such an attitude would not be in the long term interest of those in authority as well as the nation. It is in such situations that one should reflect on the benefit of the noble quality advocated in Buddhism, namely, ‘Upekkha’, or balance of mind which would enable one to face both success and failure with the sense of detachment and not be carried away by them. One could also reflect that even near absolute political authority that may exercise at a given time is subject to impermanence and change.” The Editorial suggests that we should attempt to change the tide in favour of morality, less corruption, strengthening law and order, and reducing violence.
The bumper issue of ‘The Buddhist’ the Vesak Issue recently released, is neatly presented and shows an improvement in quality year after year. It records an impressive list of activities of the YMBA over the year and learned articles by renowned writers. Dr Ananda W.P. Guruge discusses what impressed him in the Teachings of the Buddha. Bhikkhu Bodhi sums up a message for a globalised world. Bhikkhu Pasanno (USA) gives a basic lesson on meditation. Olcott Gunasekera writes on the place of rituals in Buddhism. There are more.
Sir Baron Jayatilaka Memorial Oration by Dr Anula Wijesundera is reproduced. She highlights the consequences of alcohol consumption in Sri Lanka, reminding that at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital where she worked, alcoholism was the leading cause of deaths among males admitted to her unit annually for many years. She presented facts and figures over the past year and a half and concluded that Sri Lanka has sadly transformed from ‘The Granary of the East’ during the time of King Parakramabahu to ‘The Brewery of the World’ despite NATA and the ‘Mathata-thitha policy’ of the Government.
‘The Buddhist’ – published as a quarterly since 1888 – is distributed free among the YMBA members. Considered the oldest Buddhist publication, it should be made available to a much wider audience and built up to be the Voice of the Buddhists throughout the world. This can easily been done by uploading it to the YMBA website.
By D. C. Ranatunga
Source: Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)
