The Oyster minus its Pearl
 

Mosques are full with a sea of white caps replacing the once popular fez. Church crowds spill over even to the gate and beyond. Kovil poojas never to be missed and from every temple, cassetted pirith is relayed.

Yet, we Sri Lankans continue to be one of the most vindictive of peoples. Egoistic tendencies soar sky high. We don't stand to be corrected and find correction a blow to our inflated ego with just one or two of the gentlemen class expressing thankfulness on such occasions.

Tale carrying, setting one against the other, joyful in another's troubles, lacking in magnanimity have robbed this multi-racial populace of its finest possessions - the nobility of humaneness. Yet, the fine act of worship continues relentless, unabated.

Significantly, only a national disaster binds the human family the tsunami debacle - an excellent example. Many instinctively reacted in displaying magnanimity - the finest of which commensurated to emerge out of this catastrophe. Man was at another's behest, risking even his own life - the godliness within each of us nevertheless not be relived until another of nature's comedowns.

Simultaneous to nature's wrath receding is man's movement, out of 'godliness' into 'dogliness' and getting back to all of system bound socially-constructed divisive tendencies.

Rituals' strict adherence alone - insufficient for spiritual change remains powerless as well in bringing out man's glorious second.

Yet surely, rituals are looked upon by some as instrumental for that 'most finely' attainment-arguable indeed. The diversity in rituals fosters what is already divided. A cloak, robe, cap and Pottu unfailingly departmentalizes the human fraternity - which attributes the sublime state knows not also which state is privilege to only a chosen few - those that untiringly aspire that direction.

Mother Theresa, was but a rare jewel who though uniformed in dress remained 'out of it'. "Are you here to convert our people?" asked one rag.

"Why not?" replied the Mother and continued;

"I want to convert a Muslim into a better Muslim."

A sharp tongue coming off an equally if not sharpened mind - a sift of spirituality itself. The dumbstruck recipient edged out bellyful of course.

What did the blessed Mother mean in making a better Muslim of a Muslim is invariably a good Christian, Hindu, Buddhist in the making as well culminating in a good human - a universalist state going beyond the restricted sensual enclave and applicable to other religionists as well.

Importantly, rituals and externalities should not hurdle the best that unreservedly come off humans only in times unique. Sticking to the very letter that rituals offer often digresses man's realization of his best and fullest. Ceremonial religion almost always strengthens the we/they dichotomy and weakens the positive internalities - with the exception of just a few.

Rituals as a way out to higher spiritual unfolding is a akin to achieving character through literacy - particularly Sri Lankans that boast of high literacy can reflect on its own performance.

Popular belief has it that literacy and character go hand in hand which high achievement is questionable considering the kind of societal degeneration widespread over here.

There's more to it than mere ceremonial religion and high literacy levels which more importantly and most often pander only to the outer shell. "Of what use is the oyster minus its pearl?" one may ask.