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(June 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I read an article in the newspapers the other day regarding the most sacred Buddhist temple in India being managed by Hindu Priests and many concerns were expressed by the writer. I do not see why he has to be so worried as we Buddhists after all have made Hinduism also a part of our religion. When you visit a temple now you wonder if you are in a Hindu Kovil or at a Buddhist temple as such a lot of Hindu gods are being displayed and worshipped.
I have nothing against Hinduism but why have we Buddhists started giving more prominence to the worship of these gods and goddesses than following the teachings of Lord Buddha?
It is sad to see that in Sri Lanka Buddhism is being made a cheap religion. Lord Buddha’s statue is being made using various materials — even plastic — and sold with much disrespect. Some of the statues are disfigured and maimed. Shrines are coming up all over the island — at bus stands, taxis stands, market places, on way sides, at street corners and even in buses. It is a shame to see how disrespectfully these shrines are constructed and used. Never in the history of this island has Buddhism been made so low and cheap.
Some months ago there was a big hue and cry about a garment manufacturing company using a picture of Lord Buddha on the clothing manufactured by them. I am totally against it too. But a few days ago I saw hundreds of posters with a picture of Lord Buddha pasted on walls and lamp posts. Some of these had been torn off the walls and posts and were scattered all over the roads with people trampling them.
Vesak was celebrated a few days ago, but did we truly celebrate it? Are we celebrating another Halloween? See how the young people dress and behave on the roads, some wearing masks and dressed in weird clothing and multicoloured hairstyles dancing along the streets like in Western countries. Several dansalas along the road had pop music blaring on huge speakers.
Cheap and badly printed pictures of Lord Buddha on flags and the Buddhist Flag itself were hung up everywhere and then once Vesak was over the flags were pulled down and thrown on the road sides or were swept and put into garbage carts. What a sacrilege? Millions of rupees are wasted on various constructions and decorations. Why cannot all this money be used to help and feed the poor and the needy in this island that has so much poverty? Such acts will bring us more merit.
How many temples have been looted, robbed and vandalised? Recently a van that had met with an accident had several Buddha statues in it. Vandalism of temples is a common occurrence now. Every month or so we read and hear that a temple has been looted and the statues broken or destroyed or disfigured by treasure hunters looking for treasure?
Temples have also become so commercialised that all religious ceremonies have become a big money spinner; and everything depends upon how much money you can spend. The more money you spend, the better the ceremony and blessing.
This is supposed to be a Buddhist country. But look at how many murders are committed each day. There is much said in the press and TV news when a few cattle are saved from the slaughter house, but it is quite alright to slaughter human beings. Entire families have been murdered; the media says that eight to 10 people are murdered everyday.
A certain government minister is very concerned about the cats and dogs that are ill treated. I would like to ask whether this minister is not concerned about the human beings who are being ill treated and murdered.
We as Buddhists in this island would be a better people today if we follow our religion as Lord Buddha taught it rather than make a mockery of it. Going to the temple has become a ritual. We go there when we are faced with a problem. But sad to say, even then we would first go to the soothsayer or the Dewale before going to the temple.
We now have our learned priest who took up to politics saying they were going to make this a peace loving nation giving prominence to Buddhism. But what have they done to the Buddhists of this country? Absolutely nothing! They are fighting for luxuries, for land and vehicles making a mockery of religion by even fighting each other.
What is the Buddha Sasana doing? Here again the answer is — Absolutely nothing! Is not all of this making Buddhism a cheap religion? What a shame!
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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