Poson Reflections

The Buddha lived more than 2,500 years ago in India/Nepal but his philosophy has spread worldwide today. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries where Buddhism is followed in its purest form, having received Buddha’s Words of Wisdom on a Poson Poya like this.

The story of how Sri Lanka embraced Buddhism is a legend etched in our history. King Devanampiyatissa embraced the timeless vision of the Enlightened One in Mihintale, leading to a socio-cultural revolution in the island we call home.

Our heritage rests firmly on the strong foundation of Buddhism which has been preserved and practised through the ages in spite of countless 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’ and commoners’ fervent devotion to Buddhism. The temple is still the centre of the village and the Loku Hamuduruwo the source of inspiration and advice. He acts as mentor, healer and mediator.

The Buddhist way of life was also the bedrock of the country’s civilisation. As the saying goes, Wewai, Dagabai, Gamai, Pansalai - the tank, the dagoba, the village and the temple are inextricably linked together.

This Buddhist way of life is now increasingly under strain in a commercialised world where the pursuit of wealth is the priority. Even in villages, people have distanced themselves from the temple and other places of worship, leading to moral decay. An effort must be made to reinforce these links.

When one’s main 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 to mould good citizens. That is the only way we can ensure a future generation which will respect religious values and human dignity.

Sri Lanka should also project itself as a learning centre for Buddhism. With Buddhism gaining rapid popularity in the West, many Westerners are likely to come here to learn more about Buddhism in the land where it flourishes like nowhere else on Earth.

Another blow to LTTE

The LTTE received yet another major blow to its international financing network when Canada banned the World Tamil Movement, a well-known front organisation of the Tigers.

This marks a new trend in the global fight against terrorism - it is the first time that Canada used its tough anti-terrorism laws to ban a support organisation of a terror group, as opposed to ‘pure’ terror groups.

The end of the road for the WTM in Canada will definitely have a discernible impact on the Tigers’ operations in Canada, which has the largest Tamil population outside Sri Lanka and India. The Tigers are known to coerce most Tamil expatriates to ‘donate’ funds for their separatist cause, with the added clause that their relatives in Sri Lanka could be harmed.

Front organisations posing as social and cultural entities are established by terrorist organisations to circumvent fundraising restrictions in the host countries. These organisations enable them to raise funds quite openly even if the main organisation (such as the LTTE) itself is banned.

However, investigators in many countries have seen through this facade and are taking action against the front organisations.

The Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation, in many ways similar to the WTM, has been exposed in several countries and its assets frozen. The Canadian ban on the WTM came after years of intense investigations into its conduct and finances and only after they established a definite connection between the WTM and the LTTE.

One of the most effective ways of crippling terror organisations is curtailing their ability to raise funds which are used for weapons purchases, training of cadres and other logistics arrangements. The UN has passed several conventions regarding terrorist financing on which nations should act immediately.

The shutting down of identified terror fronts is a good start.

Terrorism is a worldwide phenomenon. No country can shut its eyes to terrorist acts in another country saying ‘it is none of our business’ as terrorist groups have spread their tentacles far and wide. It is therefore imperative that the international community makes an even more concerted effort to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.