You have raised a hornets nest of issues that are very necessary and pertinent in the context today.

One guy hd opined that to remain a Buddhist should one observe Pansil .

If one swots a mosquito, harbour carnal thoughts on women, lie for gains [advertise products etc.], take intoxicating drinks,drugs or pills, fiddle expenses, take bribes, should they go into the non Buddhist register,that some section of buddhist faith wanted to want to bring about.

I replied that I personally did not think so.

IN Buddhism one does not need to commit a crime to suffer for it [Chethanahan Bhikkawe Kamman Wadami]. Murderers who plot at a distance are adding up their Karmic forces. Because one can’t lie to oneself. I heard that even Siddhartha’s mother Mahamaya observed Atasilin at thetime of Siddhartha’s birth that is before Buddha’s teachings were available.

Pansil is shared across many religions across India at the time of Buddha. One learned monk explained to me that everyone who believed the three precepts Anithya, Dukka Anathma are Buddhists.

IN my private surveys, I found almost 99 % believe in these three i.e

– Anithya, – death is certain, even life of Earth and Sun etc. are finite, scientific thinking Darwin, Human Gnome etc. has made many stories of a all powerful GOd made world an irrelevancy

– accept Dukka that is one has not chosen one’s decaying body and place, environment in life and hence always yearn for things one does not come to possess after much hard work and thus may yearn and suffer, and

– accept that there is no hell or heaven awaiting us after death.

In the medieval world people believed they can expiate sins by making large gifts to the Temple or Church. That is the secret of the power of religions. That is why Cardinal Wolsey amassed riches to build Hampton Court or you see so many massive stupas in Sri Lanka. That practice is not that prevalent today. Most people believe the effort, the introspective analysis required to achieve Nirvana should be carried out within the time span one has as a human being.

In actual Buddhist teachings Anthma concept is explained as ‘Nacha so Nacha anyo’ Rebirth is not you – but only the product of your yearnings, murderous thoughts, carnal cravings or greed or even yearnings to build a better world, universal heath care etc. Good and bad yearnings extend sansara.

So possibly there are far more Buddhists in the sensate, numerate, literate world [but not in the animal world]. Remember certain human beings say in the armed forces maybe living in conditions nearer animal world constantly harbouring thoughts of ‘kill’ or be killed may be for understandable self protection reasons and for higher ideals of humanity but that is a form of hell.

dear Malinda
are you the same person who wrote long ago – last night I took a walk with Rabindranath …. I like that person much better

dont strengthen and develop your hatred – you need to read some Buddhism yourself – concept and reality by Nanananda and Violence and Disruption in society by Elizabeth Harris –

these works show the fatal flaw in using concepts of any kind in dealing with reality – not only do you depart from an empirical perspective but you will also get swallowed by the very concept you create – so be careful

the curse – as you call it – is YOU and certainly myself – it must be confronted within – the time that you spend in this country – why not learn some buddhism?

with metta

So why is Malinda, a self-styled political analyst, taking up the case against the Buddhist establishment in this country at this moment. After all, it’s not as if it seriously deviated from the right path all of a sudden.

Now, it’s easy to spot the political motivations behind this. The Maha Sangha, who have up to now generally given their blessing to the powers that be, have taken a different stand vis-a-vis the Fonseka arrest, and left ruling-party backers like Malinda with no choice but to attack it any which way they can.

Probably emboldened by the result of his long-drawn debate with Dayan Jayatilleke over devolution, he has ventured to take on the one institution no major political movement in this country has dared to. He definitely has overreached himself, as the Buddhist community at large is not about to rally behind him against the prelates.

What he seems to have forgotten is that devolution and religion are two different matters. People are emotionally so attached to religion that they are prepared to not only accept it as it is, but also defend it when it looks threatened. Especially after the state media have been whipping up nationalist sentiment over the past few years, the masses are in no mood to let a Harvard-educated guy call the bluff of what in their eyes is part of the very essence of being Sri lankan.

The so called SECULAR MODEL. Therefore, I also support the statement of GIVING FOREMOST PLACE TO BUDDHISM be removed from the constitution. This event gives ample example as to WHY it is NOT practiced. And WHY IT DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS JUST JARGON TO MIS-LEAD THE BUDDHIST SINHALA PUBLIC. Which on the other side GIVES SINHALA-BUDDHIST AN UNDUE, UNWARRANTED BAD NAME and BAD PUBLICITY WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING BAD AND WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

IT IS THE BUDDHIST AND SINHALA-BUDDHIST WHO HAS TO INVEST AND KEEP BUDDHISM IN VIEW. NOT THE STATE NOT ANYBODY ELSE.

The government MUST do it’s job irrespective of what world view is in question to ensure the rights of THE INDIVIDUAL are protected.

Because as a state you can ONLY guarantee the rights of individuals.

At the same time the Sangha has a right to gather in peace and discuss anything they like….It could be the weather, politics, state affairs THAT IS THEIR DEMOCRATIC right.

If someone on the other hand say that people has NO RIGHT TO GATHER AND PROTEST to Government then this is NOT DEMOCRACY IN PRACTICE.

On the other hand the ELDERS OF THE 4 THERAVADA SECTS should have equally criticised Fonseka for creating problems for the state based on his personal feelings and inadequacies (Look at his letter of resignation).

PLEASE NOTE THAT BUDDHA OUR GURU AND GURU OF THE DOCTRINE NEVER APPOINTED ANY LEADER AFTER HIS DEMISE. AND WHAT A WELL THOUGHT OUT MOVE THIS WAS FROM THE FULLY AWAKENED ONE– SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA BUDDHA.

THe MAHANAYAKES ARE ONLY ELDERS OF THE 4 SECTS.

The Buddhist Education system needs to be re-vitalised and there needs to be more interaction between the members of the order of Sangha and the lay followers. Then ONLY the true Dhamma can prosper.

Every world view has moved from the place of origin to other areas. Look at Christianity, Islam and Hinduism for that matter…..Hinduism is less because it is a cultural movement as well that is why it is more less concentrated in India.

I support this 100%
“As a Buddhist and therefore a member of the Sasana, I humbly call upon the Most Venerable Mahanayaka Theros to consider a Dharma Sangayana. ”

By the way I believe Mahinda Rajapakse should be the President but this action taken by him can not be supported. As it is anti-democratic.

Buddhism is not extinct by any means in this country – we received it directly from the Buddha himself who visited us on no less than 3 ocassions. Long before Arahant Mahinda.

this was the foundation for individual Buddhist practice in the country – and this practice continues … just take some time off and visit a meditation centre – and see for yourself what true practice is. there are no sthupa’s, no statues and no priests in these places – simply individual effort – very simple and very direct and honest. In fact even some monks who are interested in meditation now come to these places –

it is v imp not to speak till you have all the facts marshalled.

with metta

My apologies. I did not mean that the Maha Sanga is corrupt. I meant that some elements in the System are corrupt. Sorry my mistake.My apologies.