Monks protest against a Catholic statue
A group of monks are protesting against an attempt by the Catholic community to place a statue by the side of the road at the Katukurunda junction in Kalutara.
The Sihala Ravaya said it will not allow the statue to be placed in the area and is currently protesting against it with the support of a large mob.
However the Catholic community in the area insist they have every right to place the Christian statue on the side of the road.
Tear-gas was fired by the police in an attempt to bring the tense situation under control.
Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana claimed the issue that arose in Kalutara was later settled. (Colombo Gazette)
Report by Indika Sri Aravinda
How The Buddha Coexisted With War
By Darshanie Ratnawalli -September 21, 2014
Darshanie Ratnawalli
Buddhist war studies, those that investigate the compatibility of Buddhismand war, have an awful potential for sanctimony. With the best intentions in the world, I don’t see how they can avoid it. I used to think that “How can Buddhists go to war” was on par with “How can Buddhists commit adultery?” But then I saw the fatal flaw in the analogy. Buddhism condemns adultery unconditionally, considering its proliferation among the laity as a symptom of decay in the religion. The Maha Kanha Jataka[i] (No 469-Full text) describes a time when the religion established by the Buddha Kassapa had fallen into decay. One symptom of the rot is men who “go after others’ wives, of teacher, or of friend, Sister of father, uncle’s wife.” In contrast, the Buddhist conception of Utopia (Cakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta, p395-405, The Long Discourses of the Buddha[ii] – full text) imagines the King still with the full complement of the Army and blessed with heroic sons who are conquerors of the hostile army. The King“dwells having conquered this sea-girt land without stick or sword, by the law”. The method of “conquering by law” is to go to that particular region with the fourfold Army and take up residence there with the fourfold Army. Then those who oppose the King in that region come and say: “Come, Your Majesty, welcome! We are yours, Your Majesty. Rule us, Your Majesty.” And the King says: “Do not take life. Do not take what is not given. Do not commit sexual misconduct. Do not tell lies. Do not drink strong drink. Be moderate in eating.” And all the people of the world become his subjects. Under these circumstances it’s not surprising that certain passages in Daniel Webster Kent’s PhD thesis[iii] -(full text) should have set off all my sanctimony sensors. Read More
