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| This of course is quite contrary to what the Buddha preached: Do not believe in what others say, even the Buddha. See for yourself what brings in contentment, clarity and peace. That is the path for you to follow. |
by Gamini Weerakoon
(May 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Beautiful ‘attapatam’ lanterns were swaying over streets, in homes and on trees all over. Scents of jasmine, frangipani and lotuses pervaded the thick monsoon air. Devotees in white crowded into temples.
Sri Lanka’s Dhamma warriors (Dhamma Vijaya) led by JHU’s Champika Ranawaka had taken the vows of dasa sil days before and their photographs were splashed in newspapers and appeared on TV at prime time capturing their devotion. President Mahinda Rajapaksa clad in pure white sil robes was seen on TV at Temple Trees amidst the faithful. Buddhist fervour gripped the nation for the celebration of the 2600th anniversary of the attainment of enlightenment of the Buddha.
There was only one discordant note heard that day. University students were causing a rumpus over the government diktat for a programme of compulsory military training on entering universities.
A Spartan training - mens sana in corpore sano
Why don’t our leaders who are pious Buddhists, extolling the greatness of Buddhism at every given opportunity decide on a programme of religious instruction for university students, instead of military training? was the thought that came to us on that day. Couldn’t Hindus, Christians and Muslim students also be provided with similar religious programmes?
Surely, was there a need for military training for our youth? The ‘war’ on terrorism was over, at least so it was declared two years ago. But after repeated incantations of Karuna (kindness), Muditha (compassion) and Upeka (contentment) on Wesak day, on radio, TV and newspapers by one and all, about a week later, we are to celebrate Victory Day on Galle Face Green with a massive demonstration of military power.
Of what use is military power if as proclaimed, the enemy is vanquished and righteous principles of dharmishta governance prevail throughout the length and breadth of the country?
Besides there were tens of thousands of war heroes still in uniform costing the exchequer millions of rupees while the government was pleading lack of sufficient funds to grant university dons the pay hike they are asking for.
On the other hand is the war on terrorism over? The Rajapaksa administration sent one of its opening batsman to face hostile attacks. Wimal Weerawansa went to New York to combat Ban Ki-moon whom the Rajapaksas appear to consider Sri Lanka’s arch foe. The UN itself was celebrating Wesak—thanks to Lakshman Kadirgamar’s efforts – and the Secretary General sent out his Wesak message wishing joy and happiness to all, which implied good wishes to all those in Sri Lanka as well.
The other opening batsman of the Rajapaksa administration, Mervyn Silva was contributing his mite to Buddhism by going beyond the Gazette notification banning liquor sales on the two days of Wesak and unilaterally extending the ban on sale of liquor for the entire week in his ‘electorate,’ Kelaniya. Whether unilateral declarations of the imposition of the fifth vow in the panchaseela is in accordance with the Mahinda Chintanaya, we are not aware of, but more important will be whether such unilateral declarations are in accordance with the law of the land.
In this era of the Mahinda Chintanaya, youth aspiring to be the top dogs in the public service may be confused about their path to progress. In the bad old days boys took to cricket, athletics or blood sports like boxing and rugger and enrolled in their college cadet platoons if they were to get into the police or armed services. The ‘crammers’ or nerds (as they are now called) stuck to books and debating cum literary societies to get into the civil, diplomatic or other administrative services. Now with a compulsory military service thrown in for university degrees what would it mean? A Spartan training—mens sana in corpore sano (healthy in body and mind); this is the model the Greek philosopher Plato admired.
We are neither competent to make pronouncements on Plato’s Utopia nor the Mahinda Chintanaya and will leave it to latter day pundits on the daily talk shows.
However our pragmatic advice to aspiring youth would be: Join the armed services irrespective of your specialisation.
If you want to be a diplomat don’t waste your time spending long hours studying international law, international relations, history of nations, ancient civilisations, world history, economics and trade etc. Consider to which the top jobs such as ambassadorial posts are now going. The boys in the armed services have got the plums in world capitals. Those who did swot at books are still swotting in that creaky old foreign office at Janadhipathi Mandiraya Mawatha. This is the age of non specialisation—the less you know the better or conversely: the more you know the deeper you are in the mire. If you know or pretend to know better than your big boss, then brother you are OUT. The basic principle of survival is listen and obey. As the saying goes in the spirit of the Charge of the Light Brigade: Theirs not to make a reply; Theirs not to reason why; Theirs but to do and die.
This of course is quite contrary to what the Buddha preached: Do not believe in what others say, even the Buddha. See for yourself what brings in contentment, clarity and peace. That is the path for you to follow.
Sri Lanka’s Dhamma warriors (Dhamma Vijaya) led by JHU’s Champika Ranawaka had taken the vows of dasa sil days before and their photographs were splashed in newspapers and appeared on TV at prime time capturing their devotion. President Mahinda Rajapaksa clad in pure white sil robes was seen on TV at Temple Trees amidst the faithful. Buddhist fervour gripped the nation for the celebration of the 2600th anniversary of the attainment of enlightenment of the Buddha.
There was only one discordant note heard that day. University students were causing a rumpus over the government diktat for a programme of compulsory military training on entering universities.
A Spartan training - mens sana in corpore sano
Why don’t our leaders who are pious Buddhists, extolling the greatness of Buddhism at every given opportunity decide on a programme of religious instruction for university students, instead of military training? was the thought that came to us on that day. Couldn’t Hindus, Christians and Muslim students also be provided with similar religious programmes?
Need for military training?
Surely, was there a need for military training for our youth? The ‘war’ on terrorism was over, at least so it was declared two years ago. But after repeated incantations of Karuna (kindness), Muditha (compassion) and Upeka (contentment) on Wesak day, on radio, TV and newspapers by one and all, about a week later, we are to celebrate Victory Day on Galle Face Green with a massive demonstration of military power.
Of what use is military power if as proclaimed, the enemy is vanquished and righteous principles of dharmishta governance prevail throughout the length and breadth of the country?
Besides there were tens of thousands of war heroes still in uniform costing the exchequer millions of rupees while the government was pleading lack of sufficient funds to grant university dons the pay hike they are asking for.
Ban Ki-moon celebrates Wesak
On the other hand is the war on terrorism over? The Rajapaksa administration sent one of its opening batsman to face hostile attacks. Wimal Weerawansa went to New York to combat Ban Ki-moon whom the Rajapaksas appear to consider Sri Lanka’s arch foe. The UN itself was celebrating Wesak—thanks to Lakshman Kadirgamar’s efforts – and the Secretary General sent out his Wesak message wishing joy and happiness to all, which implied good wishes to all those in Sri Lanka as well.
The other opening batsman of the Rajapaksa administration, Mervyn Silva was contributing his mite to Buddhism by going beyond the Gazette notification banning liquor sales on the two days of Wesak and unilaterally extending the ban on sale of liquor for the entire week in his ‘electorate,’ Kelaniya. Whether unilateral declarations of the imposition of the fifth vow in the panchaseela is in accordance with the Mahinda Chintanaya, we are not aware of, but more important will be whether such unilateral declarations are in accordance with the law of the land.
Spartan traditions
In this era of the Mahinda Chintanaya, youth aspiring to be the top dogs in the public service may be confused about their path to progress. In the bad old days boys took to cricket, athletics or blood sports like boxing and rugger and enrolled in their college cadet platoons if they were to get into the police or armed services. The ‘crammers’ or nerds (as they are now called) stuck to books and debating cum literary societies to get into the civil, diplomatic or other administrative services. Now with a compulsory military service thrown in for university degrees what would it mean? A Spartan training—mens sana in corpore sano (healthy in body and mind); this is the model the Greek philosopher Plato admired.
We are neither competent to make pronouncements on Plato’s Utopia nor the Mahinda Chintanaya and will leave it to latter day pundits on the daily talk shows.
Little knowledge is a blessing
However our pragmatic advice to aspiring youth would be: Join the armed services irrespective of your specialisation.
If you want to be a diplomat don’t waste your time spending long hours studying international law, international relations, history of nations, ancient civilisations, world history, economics and trade etc. Consider to which the top jobs such as ambassadorial posts are now going. The boys in the armed services have got the plums in world capitals. Those who did swot at books are still swotting in that creaky old foreign office at Janadhipathi Mandiraya Mawatha. This is the age of non specialisation—the less you know the better or conversely: the more you know the deeper you are in the mire. If you know or pretend to know better than your big boss, then brother you are OUT. The basic principle of survival is listen and obey. As the saying goes in the spirit of the Charge of the Light Brigade: Theirs not to make a reply; Theirs not to reason why; Theirs but to do and die.
This of course is quite contrary to what the Buddha preached: Do not believe in what others say, even the Buddha. See for yourself what brings in contentment, clarity and peace. That is the path for you to follow.
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