Dutch Buddhist urges Perahera Boycott

“Societies may have various conventions for deciding who will rule over them. Dynastic succession is one such convention; this only gives a legal right to rule. But the seal of legitimacy has to be earned through righteous rule. Sri Lanka is a democratic republic but the J.R. Jayewardene’s constitution enabled Presidents to act like despotic kings.”
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By Nalin Swaris

(August 05, Amsterdam, Sri Lanka Guardian) The news of the cruel and inhumane treatment of two baby elephants and their mothers have reached the Netherlands as well. A notable number of Dutch men and women have embraced Theravada Buddhists. There are two vihares here which are severed by Dutch monks who received their training and ordination in Sri Lanka. The first and best known Dutch monks is the Rev. Olanda Ananda who serves in Sri Lanka and teaches Dharma in fluent Sinhalese.

Householders who embraced Buddhism have become vegetarians. Many Dutch tourists plan their visit for August to coincide with the spectacular Kandy Perahera. The converts to Buddhism look forward to going on pilgrimage to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, considered the holiest Buddhist shrine in the world They feel outraged by the conduct of the custodian of the Temple of the Tooth and have been scandalised by the way the chief monks of Kandy have condoned the activities of the Chief Custodian and the Minister of Sport and Recreation. The other day there was a letter from a Dutch Buddhist to a local daily urging visitors to boycott the Kandy Perahera. The campaign is gaining attention.

Minister Lokuge was previously Minister of Tourism. He is now Minister of Sport and Recreation. He obviously is getting his lines crossed and must be thinking the Perahera is a spectator sport and is good for tourism. In fact his conduct is having the opposite effect. From now on the manner in which elephants are acquired for temple ceremonies and how they are looked after will be receive close scrutiny by animal lovers. I have been asked by Dutch friends how this - hartverscheurend - heart rending treatment of baby elephants and their mothers can happen in a Theravada Buddhist and how Buddhist political and religious leaders sanction such cruelty.

President Mahinda Rajapakse pledged in his inaugural speech that he will follow the advice given to King Devampiyatissa Mahinda Thera to consider himself as the steward, not proprietor of country. Mahinda Thera was the son of Emperor Asoka who became a devout disciples of the Buddha. It is salutary for the President, his cabinet and the Mahanyekes to call to mind the precepts and example of the Buddha and Emperor Asoka. This especially because the President projects himself as a devout Buddhist - at least as far as the externals of religion are concerned. The Buddha’s teaching on dynasty building is also most relevant. His teaching on righteous rule has been handed down in the Cakkavatti Sihanada Sutta.

It is handed down in the form of parable so that even ordinary men and women could judge for themselves who a truly righteous ruler is. The advice makes no reference to ritual religiosity.

An incumbent righteous ruler is well advanced in age and he is told that the Wheel of Righteousness has become unsteady in its place above the Palace of Justice. He decides not cling on to power and retires to the wilderness, devote himself to meditation and prepare for his death. He hands over the insignia of royal authority – the Seven Gems - to his son and heir to the throne. The first of these Gems is the Wheel of Righteousness. The young prince could be handed over only over six of the Gems because the Wheel disappeared from its place. Distraught, the young king seeks out his father in the forest asks him to explain the reason for this strange portent. The Buddha through the mouth of the royal sage explains:
“The Heavenly Wheel Treasure, my son, is not a paternal inheritance.”
Societies may have various conventions for deciding who will rule over them. Dynastic succession is one such convention; this only gives a legal right to rule. But the seal of legitimacy has to be earned through righteous rule. Sri Lanka is a democratic republic but the J.R. Jayewardene’s constitution enabled Presidents to act like despotic kings. In a country where the constitution gives the principal place to Buddhism every newly elected president should heed the Buddha’s advice in order to rule legitimately in the eyes of the people. This legitimacy is not a birth right. It has to be earned. The new king asks his father how he can regain the Wheel Treasure in order to rule legitimately. He is told: ”You must, my son, turn yourself into an Ariyan Wheel-Turner.”
The young king asks: “In what way, Sir, must an Ariyan Wheel-Turner turn the Wheel?”. The king replies:
It is this, my son:
…
Acknowledging the Dharma as your Master,
You should establish guard and protection, according to Dharma,
For your householders, your nobles and vassals,
For Brahmins and householders, town and country folk,
Samanas and Brahmins, for beasts and birds throughout your kingdom
Let no unrighteousness prevail in your kingdom and to those who are in need give wealth (emphasis added).

After his conversion Emperor Asoka adopted ahimsa - non violence - as state policy
Asoka’s state policies were engraved on rock pillars throughout this empire so that his subjects could be educated on their rights.

These edicts were historically The First Bill of Human and Animal Rights. This is what one of these edicts decree,

1. Formerly, in the kitchen of Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, hundreds of thousands of animals were killed every day to make curry. But now with the writing of this Dhamma edict only three creatures, two peacocks and a deer are killed, and the deer not always. And in time, not even these three creatures will be killed. 2. Everywhere within Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi's domain, and among the people beyond the borders, everywhere has King Piyadasi, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals. Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals.

Lankan Buddhists routinely express the compassionate wish: Sakala sathvayan nidukh weva
“May all beings be without sorrow”. All beings - not just humans. A righteous ruler provides watch and ward to humans birds and beasts. The Buddha’s words are now chanted as a gatha: “devo kalena vasetthva,” before the National anthem is sung at all ceremonies presided over by President Rajapakse. It ends with the invocation: ” "Raja Bhavathu Dammiko, "May rulers be righteous.”

-Sri Lanka Guardian