Poson thoughts

Today is a very special day for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. It was on a Poson Poya Day, more than 2,000 years ago, that Sri Lanka received Buddhism.

King Devanampiyatissa and his subjects embraced Buddhism, which led to a socio-cultural revolution in Sri Lanka.

In fact, our heritage rests firmly on the foundation of Buddhism which has been preserved and practised through the ages in spite of foreign invasions.

The contribution made by Buddhism to Sri Lanka’s cultural evolution is immeasurable.

The multitude of Cetiyas, Buddha statues and magnificent temples around the country speak volumes for our ancient rulers’ fervent devotion to Buddhism. The Buddhist way of life was also the bedrock of the country’s hydraulic civilisation.

This Buddhist way of life is now increasingly under strain in a commercialised world where the pursuit of wealth is the priority for most.

In this relentless quest for money, they lose sight of moral and religious values which have been handed down from generation to generation.

Even in rural villages, people have distanced themselves from the temple and other places of worship, leading to a society facing moral decay.

Earlier, the temple used to be the focal point in the village, with the Chief Incumbent being held in high esteem by the residents. He acted as mentor, healer and mediator.

The fact that the country is receding from the Buddha’s noble words is discernible from newspaper reports of horrendous crimes. The root cause of many of these is money itself. When one’s sole goal in life is accumulating more wealth, Buddhist tenets can appear to be a hindrance. This is a very common misconception.

The Buddha Dhamma has clearly defined, in Suttas such as the Singalovada, how lay persons can lead a contended life without deviating from noble Buddhist ideals. These words still hold true today as they did then.

The simple act of following the Five Precepts alone can turn one’s life for the better. These values and practices should be inculcated from childhood itself to mould good citizens.

That is the only way we can ensure a future generation which will respect religious values and human dignity.

Hong Kong, 10 years on

Hong Kong is often described as a place where ‘wonders never cease’. The 1,098 sq.km territory, now a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, has always been in the public eye.

Ten years after the British ceded control to the Chinese, Hong Kong has seen some change, but many things have stayed the same. Run in accordance with the ‘One Country Two Systems’ formula, the seven million population and an equal number of annual visitors will experience capitalism at least until 2047.

Border controls too will remain in place. Hong Kong’s vibrant media industry is also likely to maintain its reputation as an outlet for free expression.

While Hong Kong remains China’s fastest growing city, it faces stiff competition, somewhat ironically, from another Chinese city - Shanghai. Economists and investors are watching the battle with interest. They will also be following political developments in Hong Kong, which saw contested elections this year.

Donald Tsang, who was elected as the Chief Executive in that poll, faces several challenges. He is likely to face calls for an expansion of democratic platforms, which will have to be balanced with the mainland’s concerns and the parameters of the Basic Law, the mini Constitution adopted in 1990.

Maintaining Hong Kong’s winning streak as an economic powerhouse in the face of regional competition will also be not easy.

Hong Kong’s success will be important to Beijing in respect of Taiwan, which China and most other countries recognise as part of China. Hong Kong can serve as a model for an eventual unification process under a similar arrangement. Only time will tell whether such an approach would succeed.

But life will hardly change in this metropolis for residents and tourists. Hong Kong will continue to offer plenty of simple pleasures like the Star Ferry crossing between Kowloon and Central.

As some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world hover into view in Central, Hong Kong leaves a lasting impression in one’s mind as a magical place that time will never forget.