"Aiyo, Dahaman – Nightclubs Beware! 

October 14, 2016, 9:32 pm

When I met Vaartaratne he was really puzzled. I asked him what the problem was,

"It’s just one word that no one is ready to talk about." "What’s this word of puzzling silence?" "I just want to know the meaning of ‘Daham’. The silence all around is so shocking. I don’t understand it.’

"Well, I can put you at ease – Daham usually means merit, coming from ‘Dahama’ It can also mean doctrine or law. I think the problem may be that most people don’t like to discuss doctrine or law these days, due to the political ramifications. We are in the midst of a debate on a new constitution. Daham or Dharma mostly refers to Buddhist doctrine – the real teachings of the Buddha."

"I had a vague idea about that. What I am puzzled is why Daham, or shall I say Dahama or Buddhist doctrine or teaching could be associated with any nightclub, even one that is known as Click or Clique," said Vaartaratne.

"You must remember that "Dahama" has a very special place in our country. It is not too far from what we used to know as ‘Dharmishta’ – remember the Dharmishta Samajaya.’ That was green alone, now it’s blue and green, more colourful dahama." "That is my problem, how can Dahama or Dharmishta, as you say it, be associated with any nightclub?"

"Don’t forget we are in the extraordinary ‘Madu Valigey’ era of our history and culture."

"You are making it more puzzling. Come on – What’s the connection between Dahama and the ‘Madu Valigey’. Surely, Buddhist teaching does not talk about any use of the ‘Madu Valigey’."

"That may be. But there could be a Dahaman, so full of Buddhist teaching, who wants to put an end to nightclubs, with all drink and smoke – the biggest targets of today’s Dharma Samaja politics and governance, and also all the other fun, frolic and sexy stuff that takes place where clicks gather for nightly entertainment. It is a very "dehemi’ purpose."

"That sounds interesting. How do you think this unknown Dahaman guy would have got an interest in playing such active role in the spread of the Dharma?"

"Well, it could be from paternal inheritance. It could be the spirit bestowed by a father known for Metta or Loving Kindness? Why not extend that loving kindness to those at a night club, by helping them escape the temptations of smoke, alcohol and sex? After all, that is part of how today’s idea of ‘Madu Valigey’ justice had its beginning; about throwing bras at a singer, not at a nightclub but an open-air concert. Who knows, there could be other family connections, too."

"You are making this sound all so simple. What about that whole team or click of very special security guards? What have they got to do with the spread of the Dharma?"

"Remember that the Dahama or Dharma, of Buddhist origin, has a very special place in our society. It is enshrined in our constitution…and everyone wants it retained without any change."

"So what about that?’ "It is very simple, one who is a Dahaman, even by name and name alone, needs the best protection by the State. That is what you journalists report as VVIP Security. It is for the assured protection of the Dahama. What more can you ask?"

"But what about the Click or nightclub security guards who have been injured in this Dharma or Dahama confrontation, treated in hospital? Can the spread of Dahama also include bloodshed?"

"Well, why not? Of course, bloodshed is not found in Buddhist teaching or real Dahama or Dharma. But what we see and hear today is very different to the original teaching. We are in the state of Constitutional Dharma. Those nightclub security guards are known as bouncers. They must be ready for the fight - even with the strikers or bouncers of the Dharma."

"Are you trying to tell me that this new Dahama trend has nothing to do with power; that it has no connection with the power of good governance?"

"I will never say that governance, whether good or bad, has no link to power. Power is the stuff of governance, as we can see so well today. It was so in the not too distant past, and will possibly be in the future, too."

"You mean what we see here is a blend of Power and Dahama or Dharma – the perfect Dahaman"

"I think you’ve got it right."

"In that case, with the "aiyo" addition to the Oxford Dictionary, I think we can conclude with an "Aiyo, Dahaman – Nightclubs Beware!"