Buddhism With Monsters
- On The Island Of Sri Lanka, Buddhism Is Not The Bloodless Intellectual Exercise That It Appears In Britain
By Madeleine Wightman
A couple of months ago I arrived in Sri Lanka and visited a Buddhist temple for the first time. I had discarded my fascination with Eastern philosophies and religions when I became a Christian in my early 20s. Yet over the years I continued to encounter friends and relatives who practised Buddhism. It seemed mysterious and dangerous for a Christian to take an interest in Buddhist belief systems. However I absorbed enough to understand that for most Western adherents, Buddhism is a hip philosophy rather than a religion.
It is easy to see how a belief system which has no absolute moral arbiter to defer to and no threat of everlasting torment could be seen as a pleasant alternative. Following trips to Asian countries, Western converts seeking peace often found it (and themselves) through Buddhism. It seem that it could provide guidelines whilst avoiding tough moral demands and threats of eternal punishment. On the downside, it failed to deliver anything like the astounding promise of eternity in heaven for Christians.
Fast forward a decade to this year. As I walked around Gangaramaya, the largest temple in Colombo, I noticed to my astonishment a number of large, illustrated plaques warning of hellfire and damnation. At first I thought it was my imagination, yet as I continued to read it was unmistakable: “Those who rate sensual pleasures as the highest bliss will find them a path to hell”.
I wondered briefly whether “hell” simply meant enslavement to addictions leading to sorrow in this current life; losing your job, money, house and friends. Yet the next plaque was just as clear “A sinner who coveted the wife of another is still suffering in hell for that crime” and “Once an aesthetic scolded the Sangha with harsh words. He suffered in hell and was reborn there as an evil spirit”.
Horrific descriptions, like something from Dante’s hell. Yet it got worse — pictures of people in gorgeous clothes, drinking and carousing, juxtaposed by images of the same characters writhing naked in flames, tormented by devils with pitchforks and snakes with multiple heads. The tolerant hippy “Buddhism’s a philosophy man” began to sound hollow.
I arranged an appointment with the temple to satisfy my curiosity and grilled the English speaker who had been assigned the inquisitive foreigner. He explained that in Buddhism there is no creator but that the following five precepts are the tenets which lead to a good life; no killing, stealing, coveting, bearing false witness or ingesting intoxicating substances.
I asked how, since there is no creator, we can know what is “good” in absolute terms. He explained that this is determined by society in order that it can function smoothly and that people can lead prosperous and happy lives. The hellfire references were not in fact, literal warnings about eternal consequences of sin. Rather they symbolise the mental anguish in this life that can result from unwise choices and actions.
This did nothing to convince me; I came to the conclusion that the fear of hellfire may well have been borrowed from Christian neighbours as a means of effective social control. That would be consistent with the fact that a specific brand of Sinhalese, nationalistic Buddhism has been endorsed by the government. It is a political ideology which combines a focus upon Sinhalese culture and ethnicity with an emphasis upon Theravada Buddhism. It originated in part as a reaction to the colonisation of Sri Lanka by the British and became increasingly assertive in the years following the independence of the country. A far cry from the brand of Buddhism espoused by many Western converts.
My host presented me with a comprehensive book outlining rites and rituals for Sri Lankan Buddhists. This was written by a monk with a PhD in Theravada Buddhist practise and contains very specific instructions. The book clearly urges Buddhist adherents to worship the Buddha, to remember to make food offerings at the temple and chant in order to keep evil spirits at bay. On closer inspection, I realised that there is a concept of a real hell yet it is temporary hence the reference to rebirth as an evil spirit there. Once the evil spirit has suffered sufficiently, it can get out, making hell a temporary condition, closer to the idea of purgatory. What is certain though is that mainstream (Theravada) Buddhism is clearly a religion and not simply a philosophy as commonly assumed in Western countries. It is unlikely that Western converts will pass up their gentle philosophical version of Buddhism for the more frightening Theravada variety any time soon.
Courtesy The Guardian UK
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Slow Start To Northern Economy
By Amantha Perera
Administration is slowly kicking in, Blasted water tower — now a tourist attraction and A Tiger vehicle — not going anywhere now
Well before the northern Sri Lankan region of the Jaffna Peninsula was devastated by over two and a half decades of a bloody sectarian war, fisheries and agriculture had been the mainstays of its economy.
More than 25 years since the war broke out – and a year after it ended – these same commodities are offering a glimmer of hope towards the region’s economic recovery, thanks in part to hundreds of thousands of tourists, mostly locals from the south, who make it a point to stop by the Jaffna market and buy from at least one of thousands of roadside sellers before heading back home.
At least a quarter of a million visitors come to Sri Lanka’s northern region on weekends, so say the rough statistics maintained by government authorities.
Dried fish, fruits and vegetables are among the tourists’ favourite buys in the region, popularly known as the Wanni.
These sell at prices lower than those in other parts of Sri Lanka. “Agriculture and fisheries accounted for more than 50 percent of the Wanni economy in the pre-war times (early-1980s),” Muthukrishna Sarvananthan, a Sri Lankan economist, told IPS.
The revival of agriculture and fishing will not only benefit the former war zone but the rest of the country as well, said Sarvananthan, who heads the independent, non-governmental Point Pedro Research Institute, which focuses on the Northeastern Provinces of Sri Lanka.
“The revival of the Wanni economy would boost national agricultural production (including fisheries), especially paddy, fish, onion, chili and other subsidiary food crops. Additional contribution to (national) agricultural production could reduce imports of agricultural produce, including fish,” he said.
Rasiah Janakumaran, head of the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce, shares Sarvananthan’s assessment. “It is a step-by-step process, but once production increases and, more importantly, the northern produce can reach the southern market, prices will fall; most agricultural and fish (products) produced here are cheaper,” he said.
Both economists see the revival of the northern economy’s fortunes as a cyclic trend. “Economic revival in the Wanni will increase the demand for consumer goods, including consumer durables, thereby boosting business island-wide. Vehicle and machinery markets will also get a shot in the arm. All these will expand the services sector in the national economy,” Sarvananthan said.
The northern population is predominantly Tamil, who make up 12 percent of the South Asian country’s population of 22 million. The region became the battleground of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as it fought for a separate state for the Tamil ethnic minority.
The war cost over 70,000 lives, displaced at least 280,000 individuals in its final phase, and devastated the region’s economy.
There is hardly any building that has not been hit. Trains stopped running a long-time back and the iron tracks were removed to build bunkers. Public administration is slowly picking up, but no private enterprise survived in the areas dominated by the Tigers unless it towed their line.
All that is gone with the end of the Tigers. In Jaffna the situation is slightly different. It has been under government control since 1995. Farming, fishing, agriculture and other income sources survived, albeit barely. Since the LTTE’s defeat by government troops in May 2009, tens of thousands who fled the fighting have been returning to their former villages with infrastructure development and private enterprise in the pipeline.
They want quick assistance in the form of tools and machinery like boats and tractors, as well as facilities like reconstructed schools, hospitals, markets and transport to revive their region economically. “The war is over, people are coming back; now life has to return to normal. For that we need help. A quarter-century war did not leave much to be salvaged,” Joseph Devasagayam, a new returnee in the Omanthai area in the Mullaitivu District of the Wanni, told IPS.
Some of the returnees have begun farming on a small scale. Senna Pakiavathy’s husband in Puliyankulam in Jaffna used part of the 25,000 Sri Lankan rupees (approximately 220 U.S. dollars) he received as government and United Nations assistance to start a vegetable garden. “We wanted to make sure that we could make some income, so we started the vegetable plot. It is small, but we make some money by selling it and we can use it ourselves,” Pakiavathy said. Until the war started, vast stretches of the Wanni were used to grow paddy and vegetables. But some areas – including agricultural lands – have yet to be cleared of mines and unexploded devices – remnants of the decades-long war with the Tamil.
The government says that over 1,000 square km of land, including public roads, have been cleared while a little over 600 sq km remain untouched. The U.N. says it plans to provide tool kits worth 680,000 U.S. dollars for the next farming season. For now, most of the returnees survive by doing odd jobs – but soon these, too, will run out. “With some help, we can start paddy harvesting,” said Pakiavathy. She and other returnees feel that agriculture and fishing can be easily boosted in the Wanni with a guaranteed income to those engaged in them – and perhaps a little more help from the government.
Courtesy www.perambara.org
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Sunrise Over Siripada
By Dinidu de Alwis
The temple at the summit Back to back human traffic all the way
Legend has it that Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka on three occasions — Mahiyanganaya, Dheegavapiya and Kelaniya. Legend also has it that during the last visit, that he placed the imprint of his foot at the top of Adam’s Peak, or Samanala Kanda at the request of King Saman.
People later held King Saman as a deity and started worshiping him as Lord Saman. According to legend, the mountain is of religious importance to people of many faiths. For Christians, it is said that the footprint is of Adam when he descended from the Garden of Eden. Hindus believe that the footprint is of God Shiva, and some Muslims hold into account that the footprint is of Adam.
For many Sri Lankans though, the mountain is of cultural and historical importance. Climbing to the peak to watch the sun rise is seen as a “must-do” if one is Sri Lankan, and many do.
They make the tiresome climb for hours to get to the crest. Whilst the top it self is of magnificence and splendour, the foothills and the people surrounding the climb are fascinating, enchanting, and sometimes intriguing.
Three main access roads lead to the top, and out of the three the Hatton route via Del House, or Nallathanniya remains the most popular. Thousands flock together at the small plateau to prepare themselves to embark upon the climb. Stories speak of people finishing their last will and testament before leaving their homes to climb Adam’s Peak – stories also tell of the difficulty with which people hundreds of years ago climbed the mountain. Stories also say of people whose lives were transformed by seeing the sun rise and by rubbing their heads on the stone, under which the footprint is said to lay.
The experience is a different one now. Enterprise has taken over everything from the hotels and shops at the bottom of the mountain, reaching all the way to the peak.
Young boys sell “Kodu Packets” — essentials for the first time climber, or the Kodu Kaarayaa, in a convenient packet. The first timers are supposed to use the contents of the package during their climb, at the places which are of cultural and legendary importance. Tie the thread at Indikatupaana, tug the symbolic walking stick at Heramitapaana, put the herbs into the Dolos Mahe Pahana.
Adam’s Peak climb was a pilgrimage of faith. Combined with the fear factor that the gods invoked, meant that the travellers would muster up all the courage within reach, add a dab of protection chants and then embark on the trek. That was decades ago.
There are many temples along the way, just before the famous Seetha Gangula. We poked our head into two. The first one, has two small platforms built where two monks constantly chant pirith and bless the pilgrims. If you make a donation, then you get the blessed thread tied around your writs. Faith and protection come at a price.
The second one, a few hundred meters from the first, has a single monk and an old man as a supporter. The long, open building has an altar with a Buddhist statue on it, and the monk invites people to get a blessing.
A group who was passing by ignored the request. The monk was not happy, and he let it be known to the group in some choicy and loud words. He told us that he needed help to pay the bills.
Money plays a large role in the climb. An interesting thing to observe is how the price is relative to the altitude the shop is at. A small bottle of water which is Rs. 35 at a normal shop, goes upto Rs. 40 at Nallathanniya, and then the price proceeds to climb as you get to the top, finally settling in at Rs. 100 at the last shop near the peak.
The price inflation is with due reason. Climbs are expensive. A porter charges Rs. 1500 to bring a sack of rice to the top, and many make several climbs a day. Some are in their 70s, some are young as 14. The frail ones take smaller loads, and with that the price that they are paid goes down. A young porter’s feet shake at the weight of cases of drinks that he carries to a halfway point.
Adam’s Peak has a post office which is given out on contract. The postman makes the climb a few times a week. The climb he says, takes five hours for him. Again, enterprise changes life. In addition to taking up the post, he carries newspapers to the police post, and cigarettes and small packages to whoever needs them. He comes down in two hours. Those who come down in less than two hours are the dogs.
Stray dogs who are completely used to human contact, adopt you.
The adoption process takes place when you look at a dog and smile, maybe offer them a tidbit to eat. Pat their heads a little. This generally happens at the bottom, but can take place at any point during the ascent. From the moment of first contact, the dog adopts you.
It will follow you throughout the climb, would patiently sit outside if you stop at a tea shop for a rest. When you reach the top and sit down for a rest, it would sit by you and growl at any other dog, or adopted traveler comes within its “range”. Their muscular bodies which have been toned with numerous climbs, follow you around at the top when you walk around completing rituals and seeing the sights.
Finally when you start the descent, they run past you and leave you behind. Adam’s Peak offers things of faith for the faithful. It offers history, myth and legend for the inquisitive. A challenge for the climber. Economic opportunities for the enterprising.
Plenty more for scammers and con artists. But what many miss out on when they go on the climb, is the people in the shadows, the silent serenity that it used to be, and the dogs. The dogs who adopt you.
Courtesy www.perambara.org
Buddhism with Monsters.
This is typical of the British Guardian newspaper, using a Born-again Christian to review Buddhism. Last month they used a British Tamil Forum LTTE supporter to review peace in Sri Lanka. Can anyone expect a balanced report?
It is also typical of the Leader to print this misinformed article. Is it any wonder that Buddhists feel they are under threat?
Dharmapala : I agree . It is an extremely provocative “heading’. But why do you feel threatened – My Friend ?
WHEN JOHN KOTTALAWELA THEATNED MONKS TO PAINT THEIR HEAD S WITH BITUMEN..HE WAS THROWN OUT OF POLITICS..SO SO STEPHEN…DUDLEY..SOLAMAN..DIAS…JULIAS..RICHARD..PERCY ALL CONVERTED THEMSELVES INTO BUDDHISM BUT WITHOUT SHAME CARRIED THEIR CHRISTIAN NAMES….TO BECOME LEADERS….CAN A SINHALA CHRISTIAN BECOME A PRESIDENT OR PRIME MINISTER IN SRI LANKA..EVEN PUBLIC VOTE THEM….MONKS WONT ALLOW….BUDDHISM IS COMMERCIALISED IN SRI LANKA…
Why bother Dharmapala, even KooKluxKlan members have a self righteous view of themselves.. True Buddhists are not shaken by mundane concerns such as like and dislike, gain and loss, praise and blame or fame and disgrace..
Except in Saudi Arabia or Indonesia perhaps….
Or except a Muslim President in France..
Over to Leela to reply critics of Bhuddhism.
Alias Paul Smith.
Gabriella: Leela is a part of my real name and I do not use an alias.
Thats not what you said when you inadvertently disclosed you were a man . The alias used; evades me at the moment.
I am sure people who follow these ‘threads’ will be able to enlighten us.
Leela should clarify many things in this article. Confusions and conflicts. It is very difficult to understand the rationality behind these practices. These problems are common to anyone who would like to convert to Buddhism in the middle. A born and bred Sinhala Buddhist will not find any issues because these practices and theories are already part and parcel of their life. If western converts wants to live as Buddhist then they should not visit Sri Lanka.
well any one really expect The Sunday Leader to publish good about buddism. lol.
the biggest buddism bashers are using so many ways disgrace buddism.
well good thing most of the buddhists are educated enough to understand that Buddhism in this country is in danger.
But well what can Fedrica janz and the goons can do about it. nothing. lol.
Paul Smith – further to our discussion from last week under the heading: “Lord Buddha – snorts cocaine”.
I do not have the expertise or wisdom to answer the poisonous fantasies of your septic brain. In the interest of ‘doing justice’ to the queries of those readers with genuine interest : I sought the wisdom and expertise of Pastor Chris Kolle, to give a basic explanation for the verses you have ‘singularly’ extracted from the Bible as personifying the inherent evil of God’s word/teachings.
Your main denunciation of Christianity or example of Christianity appears to be the Catholic Church. There are many practitioners of Christianity and many denominations of Christianity (the Catholic Church is only one such denomination).
I would be the first to agree with you that many so called practitioners of Christianity are an anachronism to the true faith.
Your assertion that pedophilia by some clergy of the Catholic faith is testament to the fundamental failure; and reflection of the evil in the teachings of scripture. Any learned person (as you claim to be) would attribute these failings to the Carnal Nature of Man (and the sinful nature of man), rather than the systemic failure of Christian doctrine.
The basis of Christian faith is not the judgment or condemnation of a fellowman’s sin; but redemption of our own sins through the grace of God.
What follows is Pastor Chris’ explanation in simple terms to verses, as provided by you (spelling mistakes included) :-
Obviously the writer of these points knows neither English nor the Bible. The writer claims to have read the Bible 10 ten times – it amazes me that he could do so and possess such an uncanny gift of ignorance. Anyone who had truly read the bible would know how to reference it properly and at least give correct names of the books. No where does the bible conclude the earth is flat – in fact the great Copernicus was a Christian, and Isaiah 40:22 contains the “circle of the Earth” – the Hebrew word ‘chugh’ may be rendered sphere.
“Kill your child ,wife and every body else if they don’t beleive in our God (Deutoronomy 13th Chapter).
This Old Testament (pre-Christ) scripture (Deuteronomy 13:6-10) concerns handing over anyone for stoning, including family members, who entice people away from worshipping the one true God but instead turn them to worshipping idols.
Jesus says- bring all my enimies and kill them in front of me (New Testament – St Luke19th Chap).
In Luke 19 Jesus is using a parable to tell about what will happen at the final end of the ages to all those who have rejected Christ in this life.
Eat the flesh of Humans and of your children(Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 19th Chaps)
These passages are talking about the effects of a deadly siege by another nation that would oppress Israel, so abhorrent that they would have to eat was the “fruit of the womb” Even a child could understand that this is to show how shocking and terrible it would be, not to encourage the practice.
Implement genocide on Amalek, Kill all the children and women- (Samuel 15th)
Before the death of Christ on the cross and His resurrection, sin was to be dealt with by the destruction of all that was tainted by sin. The Amalelites were a brutal nomadic people who had warred against the Israel.
Have sex with your daughter (Corianthianthian 7th Chapter)
When the author says Corinthians (incorrectly spelt) I assume he means 1st Corinthians 7, as I don’t think he is aware that there is a second book of Corinthians in the bible. This passage is about avoiding any form of immorality, not promoting it. It is in context of Chapter 6 which talks about fleeing from sexual immortality. Chapter 7 speaks about the importance and sanctity of marriage. The bible specifically speaks against the wicked practice of incest (Leviticus 18:6). There is no reference anywhere in the bible that promotes such wickedness, and particularly not this passage (I Corinthians 7).
God will make these women naked and expose their private parts.(Isea 3rd Chapter.)
As there is no such book as Isea, I can only guess he means Isaiah or Hosea. The 3rd chapter of neither book contains any reference to what he alleges. There a couple of other general references to ‘exposing nakedness’, which is not literal, but refers to exposing shame, similar to what is happening to the supposedly learned author who has come up with such nonsense.
Those who wish to read this scripture in detail may do so at BibleGateway.com
Good explanation. This is the way of arguing or debating issues or clarify confusions. I appreciate your logical explanations but that does not mean my understanding to those verses are similar to yours.
Rambuttan: Wisdom and understanding comes from reading and learning from scholars (people far wiser than mere mortals such as me). I am too old ; ugly ; and lacking in wisdom to explain Bible scripture to anyone. I am also a bigger sinner than most, and not worthy to be entrusted with the task of explaining Gods’ word.
I am not commenting here to argue that Madeleine has no right to interpret Buddhism the way she thinks is right or write what she thinks of it.
I feel it is a pretence that she has come to Sri Lanka to explore ‘Buddhist belief system’. The picture of a hellfire must have been in the back of her mind all along. In my opinion, that is why she acts as if she had stumbled upon a fearful hell worst than the Christian hell. I think it is all an exaggeration or a lie. I say that because; when she was explained by the temple appointed man that the hellfire pictures are indeed to resemble mental anguish she said that she didn’t want to believe it.
As for h Madeleine’s professed religion, Christianity; the Universe is a simple creation by God in just six days. And, the end of the world is at hand. She could either end up in the eternal heaven that has everlasting pleasures or to hellfire that burns forever. She knew all that from what angel Gabriel whispered to prophets of her God. I have an odd feeling that she must have been constantly visualising a fearful verse that describe an ever burning hell in her psalms that she sings every Sunday at church since she was 20 years old.
If she frankly wanted to explore ‘Buddhist belief system’, she should have done some basic reading about Buddhism before she ventured in to it. Instead she seemed to have relied on heresy stories of her friends and relatives that practise Buddhism. I would have recommended her to read ‘The Buddha and His Teaching’ by Narada to start with. Then I would have asked her to contact a fellow Englishman, an Oxford scholar, contemporary of Stephen Hawking, Peter Betts turned Buddhist monk, Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera, the Abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery, in Serpentine, Western Australia if she wanted to get deep in to Buddhist philosophy.
For Christians like her of cause, the suffering is must. The true God came down to earth in a human form to thrive on suffering. God became a human for people to crucify and kill him for them rid their ‘eternal sin’. But, it is the same God that made the man an eternal sinner to start with. Next, the God made man a worst sinner by letting them kill him. Buddha had never uttered such illogical assertions.
If she wanted to understand different logic she should have read Samyutta Nikaya XXXV.82, Loka Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya, Uttiya Sutta; Anguttara Nikaya 77, Acintita Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya, Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta, When we review all those sutra together, a reader would understand that the Universe is unimaginably large. But, nothing is eternal; all would disintegrate at some time or another.
For some reason or the other, Madeleine must have been overly concerned about the hellfire that burns forever. I say to her; the pictures of hellfire are not borrowed from Christian neighbours. They are part and parcel of the Buddhist literature. If she wants to convince herself she should read Jataka stories. Whether they are for real or for mental anguish that of cause is debatable.
Westerners like her may infer Buddhism in Sri Lanka as a philosophy or hip philosophy or a religion as they like. That is their business. But I say; Madeleine is rather silly to think that the government interpret Buddhism to promote nationalism. Needless to mention that Buddhism we adhere is based on ‘Buddhist Thripitaka’. She should know; it had been the guiding factor for every sovereign in Sri Lanka for the last 2500 years. Though they went back on their agreement, even the British accepted to protect and foster it when the country was handed over to them.
Immediately after the demise of Buddha some monks wanted to change Vinaya or code of conduct for monks to make life easy. So what can one expect after 2550 years? Whatever it is; in Sri Lanka, Buddhism is our culture. It is a good thing at least she understood the term ‘Sinhala Buddhist’.
Finally, Madeleine must have spent her haughty days musing about the ever burning hellfire. Otherwise would she dare write; “It is unlikely that Western converts will pass up their gentle philosophical version of Buddhism for the more frightening Theravada variety any time soon.”
IMMEDIEATLY AFTER INDEPENDENCE IF BUDDHIST MONKS WERE KEPT IN TEMPLES THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE A PARADISE TODAY…EVERY POLITICIANS USED THIS RELIGION AND MONKS TO CATCH VOTERS……THIS IS THE CURSE OF SRI LANKA AND THIS IS WHY THIS COUNTRY IS DEAD….GO AND LOOK INSIDE A CHURCH…MOSQUE..HINDU TEMPLES…..ALL PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE..BUT IN SIDE BUDDHIST TEMPLES….PAINTINGS OF BURING ALIVE..CUTTING A HUMAN..ALL CRUEL IMAGES..SO NO DOUBT SINHALEASE PRACTICED WAHT THEY SAW IN THESE PAINTINGS FOR 60 YEARS…ON DEFENCELESS TAMILS….DURING 1958 RIOTS ..THE PRIEST OF PANADURA HINDU TEMPLE WAS BURNED ALIVE INSIDE TEMPLE..AND CROWD OF THIS MURDERERS DANCED…..
When South Indian Kings invaded Sri Lanka, Singhalese people copied them. Later Portuguese influence changed the Sri Lankans behaviour. Before the Portuguese came, people respected each other; they refrain from killing, getting intoxicated. Majority of them didn’t even tell lies. They did not have sex outside marriage. Portuguese threw our infants to crocodiles when parent refused to become Catholics. That is why you find so many churches around Kelaniya. They had crocodile farms. Later crocs were released to Kelaniya River. Now Sri Lankans do verse things because of the western influence. It is getting verse, unless good Buddhist get together and do something about this.
I studied in a Christian School. We were taken to see the movie “Ten Commandments”. As a little boy, I thought Mosses was a great man. Later after I learnt Buddhism and see “Ten Commandments” again, I realised the cruel magic he used to get his people freedom. He used his magic and brought decease to kill all the children, including the son of Pharaohs. He forgot the very family who saved him and gave him powers to be with the royal family.
On the other hand Lord Buddha tamed the evil giant Alawaka, who wanted one baby per day to feed on, by using loving kindness and compassion. He also tamed Angulimala who was insane and killing people to collect fingers. Lord Buddha appeared when Angulimala was about to kill his mother.
Lord Budhdha tamed even the drunk elephant that was destroying the houses and killing people on its path by using his powers of loving kindness and compassion.
In the fist place he preached to his father(who was intelligent enough to understand what his son says instantly) and made him release hundreds of goats and cattle, he was about to sacrifice to the Brahmin gods(religion in India at the time). King Asok stopped the wars and killings after listening to a sermons of a samanera(a small Buddhist Monk,, novice).
Mr Leela have wasted valuable time to write an essay which is irrelevant to the topic or query. Just see below how Stephen has mentioned the cream of the issue. Writer’s main concern is why practices of Sri Lankan Buddhists are contradicting with original philosophy of Buddhism? Now you need to explain what is worship in Buddhism? Why food & flower offerings are happening? Why people are using demon images? From where these evil spirits emerged? Poojas to get whose blessings? Why we chant pirith? Write a reply which is logical and rational so others can understand including that lady.
Rambuttan: To start with I must say, I am a mare student of Buddhism. Hence my answers may well be limited and confined to basics.
Having said that let me try to answer you specific questions; For oner, we do not worship Buddha images expecting worldly or spiritual favors. We pay homage to what the image represents. we offer flowers, food, incense etc not to the image but to the Buddha. We do so as mark gratitude reflecting on the virtues of the Buddha. When we offer flowers, we ponder on the transiency of flowers. Taking part in such acts make us feel we are in the noble presence of Buddha.
For another, we do not worship the Boo-tree. we consider it a symbol of enlightenment worthy of reverence.
Though we pay such homage for our own good and gratitude, I do not believe that the Buddha expects such obeisance from us. What he expect is observance of his teachings. All Buddhist know of these things. Even if you ask a 13 year old Dhamma school child he would no doubt tell you exactly what I have explained above.
Hindus are polytheist. As such they believe in different Gods. For them Buddha is also another God like Katharagama. Since Hindus keep the image of Buddha next to Katharagama God Westerners get confused. When they see Buddhists visiting such Kovils they get utterly confused.
Westerners tend to confuse the Hindus praying and worshiping of Buddha as a God is the same thing as Buddhist worshiping of Buddha. They think it is the same. I say; it is a wrong understanding. Buddhists do not pray the Buddha. When one has preconceived ideas like that no matter however much we explain them, they would not accept them. They do not understand that Buddhists follow Hindus and make offering to same Gods at Devala expecting material benefits. Have you not seen Buddhists going to Kotchchikade church and kiss idols of virgin Mary and baby Christ and make vows expecting material benefits. Out of shear inquisitiveness I do visit Devala and churches sometimes; but never make any offerings.
Whether we like it or not, some of those practices has creped in to our temples. So much so some temples openly have Devala next to the Buddha shrine room which has become an accepted norm. Then again that is a very old practice. It has become a part of our culture. Though there are prominent monks preach against such practices it tend to continue unabated.
I have tried to touch some of those topics the other day. You will get it if you read it again. Anyway, in the end what matters is we are following the Mahavihara tradition. That is Sinhala Buddhism.
I hope I have answered at least some of your questions sufficiently for the time being. I not touched the subject of hellfire again because I have written enough about it the other day. Please bare with me as I had a busy schedule today. I shall try to answer your other question may be tomorrow. Thank you.
The lady’s point is clear enough. Buddhists in the West never talk about demons or hell, so she is surprised to find they are part of the Lankan tradition. Her explanation is quite wrong, but it is only people looking for trouble that would claim the article is a criticism of Buddhism, or that the title is remotely unfavourable.
Authors conclusion:
“What is certain though is that mainstream (Theravada) Buddhism is clearly a religion and not simply a philosophy as commonly assumed in Western countries.”
How many examples, issues and facts she utilized, and how deep she examined the Theravada to draw this huge conclusion?
Does this different from attempting to brand Christianity as an evil thing by citing supporting slavery in the history, child abuses, polygamy etc?
This article does nothing except self-satisfying the author and other people who are in the same agenda.
BUDDHISM IS NOT A RELIGION….IT IS A PHYLOSOPY LATER DECORATED AS A RELIGION AND COMMERCIALISED IN SRI LANKA SINCE 1948….LOOK AROUND THEN THERE WAS BLOOD BATH IN VIETNAM..CAMBODIA .LAOS ALL BUDHIST COUNTRIES NOW…IN THAILAND BLOOD BATH ON STREETS..IN MYANMAR..DAILY KILLINGS..AND SRI LANKA DEAD BODIES ARE ROTTING IN NADI KADAL….ALL THESE TOO BUDDIST COUNTRIES….LOOK JAPAN WHERE MAHAYANA BUDDHISM MONKS CAN MARRY..CAN HAVE GIRL FRIENDS ACCUMULATE WEALTH ..SO SO NO PROBLEM THERE…FINALLY IS BUDDHISM REALLY EXIST IN SRI LANKA..???
WHERE ARE THE MAHANAYAKAS TODAY….HIDING IN FEAR?
You are confused and trying to confuse others. I have already written a comment on Madeleine Wightmans opinion.
Someone should remind Madeleine Wightman that the Christian concept of being cast into the fires of hell, were stolen by the Christian bible-makers from the Greek story of Apollo in the war against the giants.
You are right! There is a new sect of Christianity called Sherry Shrine in USA. Read what they believe. Jesus came to India and learnt Buddhism at Nalanda University. He was crucified for telling that he is the son of the God, just imagine what they would have done to him if he said there is no God who created the universe, earth or human being. My personal belief is a good man can become a god. They are modifying the bible often trying to keep up with the modern science.
http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=NMM01&articleID=NMM010003&articlePages=1
This young lady has a superficial knowledge about what she has written. That shows how narrow-minded she is.
Madeleine Wightman! Buddhism is not people like you to understand. Those paintings depicts the suffering. The hell can be on this earth itself. There are lots of Buddhists who don’t understand Buddhism. I don’t expect you to. It is for very intelligent people. Those pictures are for people who don’t understand the Philosophy. Real Buddhism starts with four noble truths and then eight noble paths. Lord Buddha himself asked questions to test the IQ value of the listener before teaching the Philosophy to others.
Any fool can become a superstar (on the internet – and judged by the number of hits) overnight just by something silly on race or religion spreading out misinformation and harbourning intolerence.. Ms Wightman I do not know your background -where and under whom you mastered Buddhism – but it seem to me that belong to the above category….
I agree with Steven Jones; Madeleine’s point is clear and simple. Buddhists in the west don’t ever talk about hell, demons or punishment. They certainly never talk about it or illustrate it as in such as literal way. To many it is simply a philosophy and a way of life and does not make any demands. I think it’s obvious too that MW does not really think for a minute that the notion was borrowed from Christian neighbours. My reading of it is that she wondered briefly and then quickly dismissed it. The thing about the nationalistic Buddhism and social control is not so far fetched is it? As Steve says only those who actively looking for trouble can claim that she is criticising Buddhism. I also wonder whether you are managing to pick up irony and rhetoric properly. Brits are notorious for it and it’s hard to pick up the dryness unless you have lived in the UK a long time. It is easy to misinterpret it as “haughtiness”.