Religious intolerance in the island of the Dhamma

(August 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The renewed attacks on Christians and their churches are the most recent matter of concern in the area of violations of human rights. In the north and the east, the killing of Christian priests, attacks on churches and Hindu temples were made out to be part of the war against terrorism but we are at a loss to know what cause anti Christian violence in the Sinhalese areas. We put it down to sheer intolerance and arrogance. Sri Lanka is a theocratic state as provided in its constitution. It also claims to be democratic and pluralist. The only criterion to its being able to claim to be democratic is the holding of periodic elections. Recently it was claimed that because a farcical kind of elections were recently held in the east of Sri Lanka, democracy had been restored to the east. By that token, even Zimbabwe is a democratic state because Mugabe was elected President at the recent presidential election of sorts.

If the military is responsible for the acts in the Tamil areas it is some Buddhist priests who provide leadership to attacks on churches and Christians in the south. We are referring to the attacks on churches, the pastors and the congregation in Middeniya and the Calvary church in Colombo. These acts of some men of the Buddhist clergy bring dishonour to the great faith and to those genuine right thinking, rational minded and well meaning Sinhala Buddhists.

Gautama, the greatest philosopher ever, succinctly encapsulated the concept of tolerance and equality 2500 years ago in the following words:

“Human types do not differ greatly as other species do. The differences between humans are only differences of convention” (Majjhima Nikāya)

The declaration of the United Nations states: “Tolerance is the responsibility that upholds human rights, pluralism (including cultural pluralism), democracy and the rule of law. It involves the rejection of dogmatism and absolutism and affirms the standards set out in international human rights instruments”.

Supercilious condescension is not tolerance. It means that human beings diverse in various ways are free and should be free to adhere to their convictions and beliefs.

The majority of the Sinhalese Christians, although brought up as Christians have always believed that Sri Lanka is the traditional home of not only the Sinhala language but also the home of the authentic Theravada or Hinayana Buddhism. This makes the Sinhalese nation being considered an ethno religious group being identified by their religion and language.

The Dhammadipa tradition coming down from the Mahavamsa has not considered the Tamil people as being part of the Island of the Dhamma, this idea being more pronounced with the beginning of the twentieth century. In that sense Buddhism in Sri Lanka is unique accounting for the zero number of Tamil Buddhists unless you are one contending for a high office in the country, like say the prime ministerial position, and publicly exhibit the fact that you are a devout Buddhist. Buddhism, however, was embraced by the Tamils in the north many centuries ago as evidenced in the ancient Tamil epic, Manimekalai.

The four noble truths say that one can be freed from suffering by being transported, not by a luxury Mercedes Benz, but by the eightfold path to Nibbana (Nirvana). With a highly politicised and arrogant section of the Buddhist clergy wielding enormous power both within the Sri Lankan parliament and without, and being part of the state apparatus it is doubtful as to whether this trend of intolerance unleashed with impunity will abate in the future.

At a time when thousands of westerners are embracing the Buddhist way of life at their own free will, and with those from other non Asian cultures ordained making better Bhikkus, the recalcitrant and politically powerful sections of the Buddhist clergy in Sri Lanka are showing the rest of the world why they should not be Buddhists.
. - Sri Lanka Guardian