The disgraceful conduct of some men in yellow robes

by S. Wijayanayake

(October 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) As a Buddhist who did not prostitute the teachings of Lord Buddha to go places, I was greatly pained having learnt through the media of the despicable conduct of some men in yellow robes by not rising when the Chief Justice and other learned judges of the apex court entered court.

It is a hallowed tradition that is followed all over the world as a symbol of respect for the rule of law. This act clearly reflected the scant respect that some men in saffron robes have for the laws of the land.

It was more shocking to learn of Ven. Medhananda Thera of Benz fame rushing to defend this sordid act by saying that monks did not rise even before kings. Such statements only show his arrogance and hollow ego meant for the gullible who follow such types; in simple language for the gallery. He even had the audacity to publicly proclaim that the views expressed by the Most Venerable Maha Nayaka of Asgiriya may have been his personal views.

Perhaps he is incapable of assessing the quantum of damage, that act inflicted on the country, its head of state, the Mahanayakes of the four sects and also the pious monks who are very few in this day and age. Yes, many are the men in saffron robes who use this symbol for personal advancement.

The Supreme Court episode sends a wrong message to the civilised world, as a challenge to the highest judiciary, and can be construed as an act not within democracy where all religious leaders are equal. It is only in a theocracy that members of one group have a special privilege.

Ven. Medhananda Thera, the politician whose interest is in worldly life, is either ignorant or had made a deliberate attempt to diddle the public, many of whom are unaware in depth as to what Lord Buddha had to tell layman before they don robes.

To start with Lord Buddha never asked the laity to respect the saffron robe but advised men before donning the robe not to don the robes if they cannot live up to the expectations of one in saffron robes. This is clearly stated in the Dhammapada

Lord Buddha, advised monks never to transgress the laws that existed during that period or commit any act that would offend the king. It goes without saying that Buddha in his wisdom so advised, because if they earned the wrath of the king, the punishments that they would receive were extremely severe and harsh. The punishments during those times were amputation of nose, ears, or limbs, cutting of the tongue, extracting eyes, removing nails, skinning alive, pouring hot oil on the body, decapitation, getting dogs to bite etc.

The kings of yore resorted to such practices to ensure that men who accepted the teachings of the Buddha and who of their own volition donned the robes with one clear vision, namely to propagate the dhamma and work towards enlightenment did not stray away from the selected path. Such harsh treatment was given to deflate false pride, arrogance and ego.

It must also be said in the halcyon days the king or head of state was able to reach learned, pious monks who lived within the dhamma for advice. Such conditions exist in a very restricted way nowadays creating an enormous embarrassment to monks living within the dhamma.

In these circumstances Ven. Medhananda Thera’s attempt to legitimise a despicable and disdainful act should be treated by the Buddhists with the contempt it deserves and not be carried away by his false story that monks did not rise before kings. He should consider himself lucky that there are no kings today since they would not have been able to try the antics they are trying today. - Sri Lanka Guardian