In deeds we must trust

I made one of my now infrequent visits to Colombo last weekend. Living away from the 'gendagam polowa' ('silver' earth) as my friend, the dramatist and creative writer, late Upali Atthanayake once referred to the 'big' city, each of these visits now becomes an occasion for me. Upali was reminiscing of the cool, refreshing feel of the annual pilgrimage he made to his village during the Sinhala - Hindu New Year holidays. That was on a special Avurudhu programme he presented on television in the 1990's.

Exceptional men

What drew me to the 'gendagam polowa' this time was a very special occasion. It was the fifth death anniversary of my mentor and friend, late Sumantha Ramyajith Amarasinghe. Known to all his friends and colleagues as 'Summa', he was a most amiable and kind person, a strategist with a razor-sharp mind that paid attention to minute detail. Like Upali, Summa too had little regard to practising the last precept of 'Pan Sil'. Had they practised 'mathata thitha' like is officially called for today, they perhaps would have been with us, even now.

Apart from that singular weakness, both were exceptional human beings. They loved life, were innovative, kind-hearted, of unquestionable honesty and professional integrity and gave their all to whatever they did in service to humankind.

Summa was the visionary force behind the founding of the Coast Conservation programme in Sri Lanka in the late 1970's and the introduction of the concept of 'coastal zone management' to this country. He also worked tirelessly to establish a new cadre within the engineering profession for coastal engineers and set up what is today a leading hydrology research institute in the Asian region, the Lanka Hydraulics Institute (LHI).

Due recognition

I was so glad and happy that the LHI's 'new' management found it fit to honour Summa's contribution by unveiling a portrait of its founder and chairman for over a decade and half, at this, his fifth death anniversary. Being immediately after the Sambuddathva Jayanthi Vesak celebrations, a Dhamma sermon was also held to mark the occasion.

In this day and age when, what drives most 'do good' events and programmes are circulars issued by government ministries, it is desirable that we reach beyond that domain, to do good for it is the right thing to do. In this context, I wish the LHI would also recognise and honour the contributions made by Summa's closest colleagues and allies who worked tirelessly with him to make his vision, the Institute's founding, a reality. They were engineers H.V. Dayananda and H. J. M. Wickramaratne and I hope that this would be done while they are both with us, for such honour is deservedly better bestowed, than when one has departed.

Of Upali, I hear of no such attempt for he is long forgotten by many. One hardly sees or hears of any 'upahara' events for this man who in his time, made a significant contribution to the theatre, film, song and copywriting pursuits. With or without deserved honour, may both of them be in peace and bliss and be on their way towards attaining Nirvana.

Deeds done

My intent in writing this column this week was not only to honour these two late gentlemen but also to share with you at random, how we must trust and recognise deeds done selflessly without expectation of pecuniary returns on the 'investment' made.

On this visit I saw how the city and all along the main highways, declared special Vesak Kalapa or zones had been set up. Television and other media featured the creations of many 'professional' craftsmen and artists. Most built lanterns, pandals and other Vesak decorations for the big Rs. 100,000 - 200,000 prizes they were wooed with. Others I learnt did so at the insistence of national and regional politicians. Perhaps some would qualify them for 'favours' they would expect in return. I wondered how that would go towards sowing the values of karuna (compassion) and mettha (loving kindness) or inculcate the practice of the freedom of greedless 'dana'.

We live in a world where we either get sold or sell and some of the happenings at the Sambuddhathva Jayanthi celebrations were no different. Adorned with the theme 'We fall in-line with right practice' (Piliwethin Pelagasemu) some of the Dansal still offered luxuries of gee-rice, ice cream and even mixed-fried noodles, instead of kola-kenda, and other nutritious local fare. Most lanterns along the road had plastic covers to protect them from the rain and sun, disregarding the quality of aniththyatha or impermanence that it was to demonstrate to us as a lesson for life.

Simple ways

Yet, there were the many among our villagers, who were not taken by any of this. In their own simple way, at each of their homes and gardens they had perhaps a solitary attapattam koodu, star-shaped olu or nelum flower koodu or a string of colourful bucket-koodus that often burnt itself upon the reaching the bottom of the lit-candle. They indeed depicted the lessons the Dhamma offered, unlike many of the glittery presentations in the city, I saw. In the village of Kiula, Nipuni, a 14 year old built a dainty Vesak thorana with her own creative artistry, without expectation of any award or pecuniary benefit. There are many the likes of her on this land whose work will usually go unnoticed and not even be a lesson for those who plan such 'celebrations'.

Not that it matters to her or to the well-being of the Buddha Dhamma, even if it all goes unnoticed, but there is a huge lesson for those who lead us and for those of us who are led to 'learn'. I therefore chose to feature her work in the social media i.e. on my Facebook page.

No fanfare

My suggestion to those in positions of influence is to focus on the home units to seek the true spirit of Vesak, of Sheela of Samadhi, of Pragkna and of Dhana. There are many unassuming villagers all around Sri Lanka, who with the limited resources they have, practise and present 'Piliweth' contributing to make this land a true 'Dharmadveepaya'. There also those who would be taking on the eyewash, to please and to seek favours from those in power. At least during, the coming Poson festival season, our media and other powers be, will do well to focus on the former, but without fanfare or undue importance.

Appreciating the simple good deeds of the many million Sri Lankans among us, would be a rational and sound beginning towards our attempt to fall in line with right practice. Taking the focus away from those who do it for the awards or the bucks in it, if our TV stations and other media can tell stories of the simple folk from all over this beautiful land of ours, we could then venture to learn the profound Dhamma lessons we are taught, by them.

That, I suggest would auger well for our future as a nation and help us move forward on our development effort without the frills and the extravaganza of the show elements. The emphasis will be on right practice, while also saving much of the resources needed. We can indeed then strive to do more with less, in our effort in being the Wonder of Asia. [email protected]