Abduction of two elephant calves

By A Human Being

(August 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Mahanayakas, Diyawadana Nilame and the minister are trying to cover up their nakedness with transparent clothes on the baby elephant abduction issue. These people cannot fool the intelligent public any more.

This much acclaimed Buddhist country, preaching bana from every street corner all the time, now has a new monarchial type leader and cabinet that has committed this sin and in the process broken two precepts;

— Adinna Dhana (Abduction and robbery from mother)

— Musawaada (Justifying the wrongdoing in public)

Unlike in other teachings, once committed there is no revocation of karma whether good or bad.

It is only Samitha Thero of the National Bhikku Front that came forward to speak out boldly and oppose this crime. Not a single saffron robed monk spoke a word about it, probably thinking of their benefits from politicians, because they have much to lose if they speak of justice.

The JHU, a part of the government that is supposedly so concerned about Buddhist rights and culture, is keeping mum. The very vocal Environment Minister Champika Ranawaka seems to have gone deaf and dumb on this matter.

Buddha’s Dhamma is not the property of Sri Lanka or the Mahanayakas, nor are the Mahanayakas the custodians of Buddhism although they like to boast that they are. Buddha’s Dhamma is for the entire mankind.

Buddha never ordered rituals. His Dhamma is the supreme and universal compassion to every living being including nature and the environment. It seems some people accuse NGOs of violations against Buddhism purely to cover up their sins. But in fact they themselves are the very destroyers of Buddhism.

"Wetath niyarath goyam kaanam kaata kiyamda me awanaduwa" is a well known axiom.

Abduction of suckling elephant babies, depriving them of their mothers’ warmth, and torturing them is a karma that will have to be paid over samsara by those responsible for this act. There is no escape.

We are sad that the President who preaches so much about humanity, equality, and justice has not ordered the immediate return of the two calves to their mothers at their ‘home’ in Pinnawela. What is his executive power for?

We cannot justify all the wrong doing that is going on, on the fact that the war against terrorism was won. This situation is definitely impermanent. The decline has already started. When there is too much power centered in one place, it has always been the case that decline sets in automatically.

It must be remembered that those who sleep with dogs, will wake up with lice and ticks.

Citizens wake up and be aware that we are heading towards a hegemonic dictatorship. Yesterday it was journalists, today it is baby elephants and tomorrow it could be you.

And this is truly a Buddhist country we are told, morning, noon and night!

-Sri Lanka Guardian