A timely suggestion
It appears that the Coronavirus that dominated the headlines in the mass media during the past three months is gradually giving way to other topics and issues of public concern, now that the pandemic is showing increasing signs of tapering off in this country. Instead, subjects that were swept into the background have once again started appearing on the public radar courtesy of the media. One such issue is the controversy surrounding the conduct of certain members of the Sangha community.
In fact, this issue came to the fore at a discussion between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Buddhist Advisory Council which comprises the country’s leading Buddhist prelates earlier last week. The Members of the Maha Sangha in the Buddhist Advisory Council enlightened the President on the necessity of a religious discourse due to the misconduct of certain monks that could cause discredit to Buddhism and the Tripitaka. The President said steps could be taken to rectify the situation during his tenure of office if corrective measures are proposed.
This is indeed a worthy proposal that must be implemented without delay in order to protect the good name of the Maha Sangha who had protected the nation for more than 2,000 years. Such a discourse has been proposed several years earlier, but it could not be held due to various reasons. Now that the President has also endorsed such a course of action, no time should be lost.
Certain monks among the top hierarchy of the Maha Sangha have already voiced their concern in this regard even before this discussion at the Presidential Secretariat. They have even gone to extent of enjoining political party leaders not to nominate any member of the Sangha on their party lists to contest the upcoming General Election. Another prominent monk has asked the public not to entertain any Bhikku coming to their homes canvassing for votes and urged all religious leaders not to allow politicians to use their sanctums to promote their political lines. Several political parties have already said they will not accommodate priests from any religion in their political campaigns.
All this, no doubt, stems from the widely held consensus that politics is not in consonance with the discipline and conduct expected of a member of the Sangha whose persona should necessarily be in conformity with the serene bearing and compassionate outlook which is an essential ingredient of Buddhist teaching.
According to a media report the Lekakhadhari of the Ramanya Nikaya the Ven. Attangane Sasanarathana Thera, has called for the striking off the list of the Bhikku register those presenting themselves as members of the Sangha belonging to his sect who act and conduct themselves unbecoming of the Sangha that goes to undermine the reverence and respect hitherto shown by the public to the wearers of the saffron robe. The Ven Thera has said he had noted several such persons portraying themselves as Bhikkus from his Nikaya even taking to social media to spew out content that are at complete variance with the teachings of the Noble One. He has called for all such monks to be removed from the Bhikku community.
No doubt the Ven Thera’s views and sentiments in this regard would be endorsed by all true Buddhists who have been observing the passing scene. Bhikkus placing themselves in the forefront of violent student demonstrations is not the ideal picture that any true Buddhist would be proud to behold. These monks could not be unaware that, with the global reach of television and social media their conduct will be viewed by a world audience which regards Sri Lanka as the seat of pure Theravada Buddhism, not to mention the generally held view that Buddhism is associated with peace, tranquility and quiet contemplation.
There is no gainsaying that the Sangha community in this country, has been made to suffer as a whole due to the conduct of some members among them. It is therefore hoped that the lead given by the Ven Sasanarathana Thera would make the Sangha hierarchy as a whole sit back and take note. It goes without saying that a Bhikku should conduct himself in an exemplary manner.
This is in no way saying that members of the Sangha should be cut off from the political or social mainstream. Their counsel for the wellbeing and the protection of the country has always proved to be invaluable. More than our lay leaders it is the Maha Sangha, who, in many instances have been carrying the standard of the country. They have been in the forefront to protect the country from peril at all times.
As the Ven. Theras of the Buddhist Advisory Council noted, there is a huge responsibility with the Maha Sangha to rebuild the society in the present context. We hope that the suggested discourse will allow them to engage in this onerous task with even more vigour and determination.
It appears that the Coronavirus that dominated the headlines in the mass media during the past three months is gradually giving way to other topics and issues of public concern, now that the pandemic is showing increasing signs of tapering off in this country. Instead, subjects that were swept into the background have once again started appearing on the public radar courtesy of the media. One such issue is the controversy surrounding the conduct of certain members of the Sangha community.
In fact, this issue came to the fore at a discussion between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Buddhist Advisory Council which comprises the country’s leading Buddhist prelates earlier last week. The Members of the Maha Sangha in the Buddhist Advisory Council enlightened the President on the necessity of a religious discourse due to the misconduct of certain monks that could cause discredit to Buddhism and the Tripitaka. The President said steps could be taken to rectify the situation during his tenure of office if corrective measures are proposed.
This is indeed a worthy proposal that must be implemented without delay in order to protect the good name of the Maha Sangha who had protected the nation for more than 2,000 years. Such a discourse has been proposed several years earlier, but it could not be held due to various reasons. Now that the President has also endorsed such a course of action, no time should be lost.
Certain monks among the top hierarchy of the Maha Sangha have already voiced their concern in this regard even before this discussion at the Presidential Secretariat. They have even gone to extent of enjoining political party leaders not to nominate any member of the Sangha on their party lists to contest the upcoming General Election. Another prominent monk has asked the public not to entertain any Bhikku coming to their homes canvassing for votes and urged all religious leaders not to allow politicians to use their sanctums to promote their political lines. Several political parties have already said they will not accommodate priests from any religion in their political campaigns.
All this, no doubt, stems from the widely held consensus that politics is not in consonance with the discipline and conduct expected of a member of the Sangha whose persona should necessarily be in conformity with the serene bearing and compassionate outlook which is an essential ingredient of Buddhist teaching.
According to a media report the Lekakhadhari of the Ramanya Nikaya the Ven. Attangane Sasanarathana Thera, has called for the striking off the list of the Bhikku register those presenting themselves as members of the Sangha belonging to his sect who act and conduct themselves unbecoming of the Sangha that goes to undermine the reverence and respect hitherto shown by the public to the wearers of the saffron robe. The Ven Thera has said he had noted several such persons portraying themselves as Bhikkus from his Nikaya even taking to social media to spew out content that are at complete variance with the teachings of the Noble One. He has called for all such monks to be removed from the Bhikku community.
No doubt the Ven Thera’s views and sentiments in this regard would be endorsed by all true Buddhists who have been observing the passing scene. Bhikkus placing themselves in the forefront of violent student demonstrations is not the ideal picture that any true Buddhist would be proud to behold. These monks could not be unaware that, with the global reach of television and social media their conduct will be viewed by a world audience which regards Sri Lanka as the seat of pure Theravada Buddhism, not to mention the generally held view that Buddhism is associated with peace, tranquility and quiet contemplation.
There is no gainsaying that the Sangha community in this country, has been made to suffer as a whole due to the conduct of some members among them. It is therefore hoped that the lead given by the Ven Sasanarathana Thera would make the Sangha hierarchy as a whole sit back and take note. It goes without saying that a Bhikku should conduct himself in an exemplary manner.
This is in no way saying that members of the Sangha should be cut off from the political or social mainstream. Their counsel for the wellbeing and the protection of the country has always proved to be invaluable. More than our lay leaders it is the Maha Sangha, who, in many instances have been carrying the standard of the country. They have been in the forefront to protect the country from peril at all times.
As the Ven. Theras of the Buddhist Advisory Council noted, there is a huge responsibility with the Maha Sangha to rebuild the society in the present context. We hope that the suggested discourse will allow them to engage in this onerous task with even more vigour and determination.
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