Sobitha Thero; A Selfless Warrior Of Our Times
By Mass L. Usuf –November 8, 2015
Mass L. Usuf
Anicca vata sankhara – All conditioned things are impermanent
Uppada vaya dhammino – Their nature is to arise and pass away
Uppajjitva nirujjhanti – To live in harmony with this truth
Tesang vupasamo sukho – Brings the highest happiness.
(Maha Pari Nibbana-sutta, Digha-nikaya)
(Maha Pari Nibbana-sutta, Digha-nikaya)
“Sri Lanka is a small island in which live the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays and Burghers. We all must think how to live together and not how to live divided. Each time we were divided, the result was defeat. In the 30 year war, no one was victorious. We were all losers”. These words of the Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero reverberate in the ears of many and shall continue to do so for a very long time. The intonation characteristic of a matured, experienced and insightful personality; the composure and the aura of confidence all pointed to the sincerity of the words he spoke at that time. There was not an iota of doubt in his statement.
This great son, The Most Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, The Chief Incumbent of the Naaga Viharaya in Kotte, departed from this mundane life leaving mother Lanka weeping, weeping and weeping. His demise is a loss to humanity, a loss to democracy, a loss to civil society and a loss to all Sri Lankans. Venerable Sir, you have made all of us ‘orphans’ in the sphere of clean politics and good governance.
Vacuum
Staunch in justice, fearless in opposition and lion-hearted in approach he has been a beacon of guidance, a tower of assurance and an expanse of sensibility. During the past period of terror not by terrorists but, by the then establishment and its agencies many looked up to Sobitha thero for support, comfort and to show the way forward. There are today several in the Sangha who are in the helm of affairs but, unfortunately, not many to fill in the vacuum created by this noble personality. Is not this a tragedy upon tragedy?
