Engaged Buddhism for post war Sri Lanka

Ven Sumedha

As you all know India is the birth place of Buddhism. After the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, all his disciples assembled to compile the teachings of the Buddha. His teachings were compiled into Buddhist canon in Pali language, which are also known as Tripitakas. Arahant Mahinda in the year 236 B E (i.e., 250 BCE) arrived in Sri lanka. He said “We are the disciples of the Lord of the Dhamma. In compassion towards you, Mahaaraaja, We have come here from India.” That day onwards Sri Lankans are practising Buddhism.

True to the spirit of its founder, Buddhism has been renowned throughout its history for its tolerance of other beliefs and values. Buddhist leaders like Thich Nhah, Han, who is a Vietnamese Gen master and a nobel prize nominee, now lives in France. There he constructed a village to teach meditation. Its name is plum village. He is also a world Buddhist leader. Sulak Sivaraksa who is a Thailand citizen worked against the western influence in his country. He received many world standard awards.

Tzu Chi Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental, humanitarian organization with four major missions: charity, medicine, education, and humanistic culture. The foundation also engages in international disaster relief, bone marrow donation, community voluntarism, and environmental protection. “Tzu Chi” means “compassion and relief.” Sarvodaya a Sri Lankan organization led by Dr A T Ariyaratne is working with the Government and with other NGOs. It has been engaged in numerous activities with other religious groups in the era of globalization. They are actively engaging groups in the era of globalization, which are engaged in forging new bonds of understanding and acceptance across different religious groups. In a global society, it is very important to have harmony and respect amongst the different religions. Better understanding of other religious traditions brings various social groups together. It is a means to secure greater social and religious acceptance.

Communication provides an opportunity for discussion of issues of mutual interest. All religions teach moral precepts for perfecting the functions of mind, body, and speech. All religions have similar ideals of compassion, kindness tolerance and social welfare. Buddhists have a very cordial and friendly relationship with most communities like Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, etc.

Theravada philosophy

Socially Engaged Buddhism is the application of Dharma/Buddhist teachings to the resolution of social problems has emerged in the context of glorious conversion on Human Rights, equal justice and social progress. As a style of ethical practice, it may be seen as new paradigm of Buddhism. To follow Hinayana or Theravada philosophy, the aspirant must have some qualification. That is courage, sound health and intelligence. However, Nagarjuna’s Sunyavada, which is moderate theory of the teachings of the Buddha made possible to all the human beings to practise Buddhism. The great compassion of the Nagarjuna made possible to common people to attain Nirvana. Panchasila of Buddhism is mandatory for each aspirant to follow.

Any body can follow the new movement of Buddhism is Socially Engaged Buddhism or Engaged Buddhism. It is a socio-political action infused with spiritual practice and thought. Even a physically challenged can also practice Buddhism by doing his duties towards society and for his own spiritual development. It is a unique opportunity to practise Panchasila.

Today Engaged Buddhism can do a lot for the social and welfare work in India as well as other countries of the world. When I was touring southern part of India many people from weaker section came to me and asked me to teach Buddhism. I asked them to practise Panchasila. I also advised them to make their surrounding fit to practise Buddha Dhamma.

The prospects for increasing contact and cooperation between Buddhists and members of other faiths are vast. Formal dialogue evolves gradually, in response to the needs and aspirations of the members of various religious groups. Buddhism is a ‘universal’ religion in the sense that it is concerned with the fundamental human condition, suffering. Since that beginning of the 21st century, there has been a blossoming of Engaged Buddhism activity.

It is heartening to know that the impetus for this movement has come from young Buddhists. The participation of young Buddhist nuns is also getting momentum in the recent years. Activities of Engaged Buddhism can lead our society towards social harmony, understanding and friendship.

Engaged Buddhism is a term originally coined by Vietnamese Zen master teacher Thich Nhah Hanh. During the Vietnam War, he and his samgha (spiritual community) made efforts to respond to the suffering they saw around them. They saw this work as part of their meditation and mindfulness practice, not apart from it. Since then, the term continues to apply to Buddhists who are seeking ways to apply the insights from meditation practice and dhamma teachings to situations of social, political, and economic suffering and injustice.

The same concept can be applied to the post war Sri Lanka. However the island is undergoing political, economical, social and religious change. At this stage those monks who are living in the society, who are not left to the forest for meditation can apply this Socially Engaged Buddhism to rehabilitate Internally Disturbed People and religious and moral upliftment for the overall development of the Nation.

I have been to Myanmar to practise meditation. I was there for more than 50 months. During my stay in Myanmar, I wrote articles for Myanmar journals and magazines. All my articles are translated into Burmese language simultaneously published. I wrote about application of Buddha dhamma (the righteousness) in day-to-day life.

Now a days passion is dominated the lives of the people rather than morality. We have forgotten the benefits of moral practice in our traditional system. Daily routine has become moral-less and mechanical. Now a days using medicine (pills, tonic, syrup, ointments) have become a habit so we need to change our behaviour. For this, we should be like a DHAMMA SOLDIER, Who fights against with the Evil in and around. This is what I wrote in Myanmar on Dhamma Soldier.

Dhamma Soldier

In the present era, violence and sexual misconduct are increasing day by day in the world. The discussion like third world war is a very bad thought. Bribery, harassment, cheating, inequalities, insecurity uncleanliness, etc are common features of the day to day life. The other side of the coin is sexual misconduct. It is emerging as a lawful profession in many countries. So evilness should condemn.

Today, we are living in a mentally disturbed society. The tensions, irritations are useless thinking and making one as patient. Some times, it drags to suicidal. I want to stop this immediately.

Day to day life now a days is filled with many kinds of bad habits like gambling (lottery, snooker/billiards), smoking cigarettes, consuming alcoholic drinks, sexual misconduct, chewing Betel, cheating, unethical advertisements etc. It is destroying the life of the present day humanity. Therefore, I want it to change as early as possible. I decided to be a soldier against the evil in the future.

Noble work gives merit. Being it is a right action we can keep percepts well. One can get awards and rewards also. I think this is my rightful duty in following Dhamma.

You may think that work of soldier means fighting only. However, I am a dhamma soldier. A Sanskrit proverb says DHAMMO RAKHATI RAKSHITAHA. It means one who protects the Dhamma, in turn Dhamma will protect him. I will follow four noble truths and moral code to success against Evil.

Now I want to discuss how Engaged Buddhism can be applied in our India, especially the areas affected with injustice and suffering. If we need to deal social, political, economical, suffering and injustice, we have to work out to come out from such evil things keeping the meditation practice aside.

Here we should remember the words of Buddha. When one is suffering from mental or physical ailments one must give preference to come out from those ailments. Afterwards he can practise Vipassana meditation in a solitude place to attain Nirvana. However, merely engaging in helping others or taking help from others is not right to an aspirant of Theravada follower. Moreover, it is as an Art of living rather than religion. Therefore, they will take pause if any thing goes wrong. These (Engaged Buddhism) spontaneous often-charismatic Buddhist movements represent marked departure from traditional Buddhist of the past.

Panchasila

Thich Nhah Hanh has given the call of Engaged Buddhism, when his brethren and fellow Vietnamese were bombed and they became homeless. He is being a leader he responded to the situation as Dalai Lama felt responsibility of Tibetans and Tibet.

Retreat would be nice. It would be peaceful and non-distracting. However, is it practical for everyday people? Moreover, if we are in this world, with all its distractions, then we need to make it the best world we can. Can we find stillness within while gangs shoot up our neighbourhoods, the earth is raped and made into an uninhabitable desert, and the poor starve a few blocks from where the wealthy feast? That is the true challenge.

Turning our backs on the world is not the answer. Doing whatever we can do, no matter how little that might be, is one path to choose.

If we analyze the present political, economical, social conditions of Sri Lanka, its necessary the Engaged Buddhism to make the people to practise the Panchasila. In addition, it will teach how to come out from I-ness and Mine-ness. If the Sri Lankan people follow the Engaged Buddhism then it will be a social dock yard to them. Through it, we can communicate our sufferings to the world community. Therefore, there will be a chance to come out from the suffering by the cooperation of the world community. Using Science and technology facilities what ever available in the Island the volunteers of Engaged Buddhism can serve the society effectively.

I am very lucky that all my personal views about the society I found in Engaged Buddhism. I personally started a movement by name Dhamma Soldier in Burma and I worked in India and now in Sri Lanka by way of writing Articles to news papers and lecturing to improve the knowledge of the people. On the name of Dhamma Soldier, I wrote few articles, which are my opinion about society and how to deal injustice and suffering. These ideas I found in Engaged Buddhism movement.

We have challenges that are 1.Standards and discipline must be developed in the universities. 2. Social, political, economical development. 3. Rehabilation of IDPs. 4. Suppressing Violence and sexual misconduct etc, Now we have the question that what to do? Well (1) we have to organize Meditation camps. (2)We have to give greater importance to practise panchasila as it is a cardinal rule. (3) Organizing peace Marches (4) Welcoming all religious people to work together. (5) We will ask the people to join as volunteers. (6) When, we organize the camps we will help the newcomer and less learned to understand the profound teachings of Lord Buddha’s reference to Four Sublime Abodes that lead man to divine state in this life (a) Loving-kindness or Metta (b) Karuna or compassion (c) Mudhita or joy (d) upekka or equanimity.

Life is a hope. So if one make a fair trial to practise Engaged Buddhism it will start showing the power in it.

I am sure that every one in the island will join in the Engaged Buddhism to live happily and to make their nation developed, peaceful and harmonious.