|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 21 August 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
It is regrettable that age old links that existed between the village and the temple has diminished over the years, resulting in people being veered away from human and moral values. In an age gone by, people developed a link with the village temple from their birth to death, said Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Security, Law and Order and Deputy Minister of Defence, Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. It is essential that this link be restored on a priority basis and the temple be made the center of all village activity once again, he said addressing devotees after unveiling the pinnacle of the newly constructed Chetiya at the Buddha Jayanthi Viharaya at Anuradhapura recently. The Minister commended the development of the Jayanthi Viharaya which was earlier housed in a cadjan hut. He said a question arises whether constructing new buildings and structures only would help preserve and foster Buddhism. "Even though we have these resources, if we do not have the required numbers of members of the Maha Sangha to guide the people, not only Buddhism but also our culture and traditions will suffer. It is regrettable to note that the country had still not been able to get adequate numbers to enter the priesthood to serve the spiritual needs of the people. There are also many temples without Viharadhipathis," Wickramanayake said. The Minister said the main contributory factor that has led to this situation is the family planning programs introduced over the years as a part of a development strategy which had resulted in Buddhist families having on an average only two children. "So how can parents give one child to the Buddha Sasana. This is the reality they are faced with today. While families of other religions grew, Buddhist families have only a few children. It is therefore evident in the guise of development our families have systematically had fallen prey to this strategy," the Minister said. "Some religions branded family planning as against religion. We are not speaking against any religion and would not deny their just rights. What I am mentioning is the reality we are faced with today." The Minister said on the other hand, there are certain foreign voluntary organisations operating in Sri Lanka which had acted against national culture and traditions. He said he would not say that all voluntary organisations were bad. There are many rendering genuine service. But certain organisations have acted in a manner to drive a wedge between the temple and the village. Some organisations are responsible for the present problems the Buddhist face, Wickramanayake said. "Some induce people to convert to their religion. There are many organisations that register themselves as companies and have obtained temporary visas and indulge in activities which harm our rich cultural heritage and civilisation." The Buddhist Commission which inquired into these matters exhaustively have recommended a series of proposals to remedy this situation. "It is my duty as the Minister of Buddhist Affairs to take steps to implement these recommendations and the Maha Sangha and the people too should back these moves," he said. The Minister said that it is now up to the Maha Sangha and the people to come forward and develop the age old links that existed between temple and the village by developing facilities at temples and to further education and training programs for people in various vocations and also development of the village. The government on its part will provide all assistance. However the success of this program depends on the commitment and dedication of the Maha Sangha and dayaka sabhas to devise programs and activities which would attract people to the temples. This would help counter campaigns launched by certain religions to convert Buddhist through offer of inducements, he said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
