The Sinhalese...

8/4/2019 The Sinhalese...

1/4

The Sinhalese...

Left their unity and security at ANURADHAPURA.

They have not been safe or secure in any of the subsequent capitals. This

chronic insecurity has something to do with their narrow version of domesticated

Buddhism and a Sangha that enjoys entrenched privilege upon a notion of an

exclusive Sinhala Buddhist identity. The original sense of brotherhood upon

which the Indian invaders and natives finally settled, sealing their compact withthe Ruvanweliseya and Gamani Kingship was whittled down in stages into a


2/4

sharp hierarchy where the Sangha and king and nobles occupied the apex of our

societal pyramid.

This hierarchy was threatened with the influx of western powers from the 16th

century. But the efforts of Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe and Ven Welivita Saranankara

ensured that it would survive. This feudal inequality within our society has nowreceived a fresh lease of life after the victory in the Eelam War.

COLOMBO

Is not the capital of the Sinhalese. A Muslim chief controlled this port city in the

14th century and no king of this country ever captured Colombo. Today it is the

capital of a hybrid and privileged community that has evolved through the new

sources of local and international power commerce and finance and affiliated

services, the British political, administrative ad legal order, western culture andlifestyles and the English language.

The predominantly rural Sinhalese have struggled to come to terms with these

new sources of power. Their native ideology pulls them back into parochial

identities among which caste and religion are the strongest. On the other hand

the realities of life in the 21st century keep them bound to a relentless rat race

in politics, in the professions and vocations and even family life.

This is the contradictory, competitive and self destructive pattern the Sinhalese

have fallen into.

KOTTE

Is the new capital. But this is simply an extension of Colombo. It offers space,

and perhaps a little more by way of nature and greenery but not CONTENTMENT.

WE REMAINA COMMUNITY split in two alienated from ourselves, dissatisfied and frustrated,

moving between cycles of passivity and aggression, but still searching for PEACE,

REST and LEISURE.

REAL LEISURE where we can bring out that ancient mirror in which we can see

ourselves clearly once more.....

What characterised the grand 1000 plus year epoch of the ANURADHAPURA

KINGDOM was a


3/4

STABILITY

Derived from a balance of material and spiritual forces. Whatever the material

accomplishments, they were perfected, balanced and moderated by theINTEGRATION of Buddhist humanism.

Buddhism was not dominated by any single version or orthodoxy and the

emergence of Abhayagiriya and Jethavanaramaya acted as checks on the power

of Mahaviharaya. Their frictions, debates and interactions kept the critical

tradition of Buddhism alive. Buddhism was both balanced and enriched with

insights that came through Mahayana and Vajrayana.

Buddhism at Anuradhapura was a way of life not a special way. As we drifted to

the South West Buddhism got separated from ordinary life and became a special

way; a special way to be sought through a privileged and elite noble order of

priests who would become proficient in Buddhist scholarship, preaching what the

Buddha said and organizing grand rituals and expensive merit making

ceremonies.

The INDIANS

Never forgot Buddha, not because they preserved his image in stone but

because they continued to produce munis gurus and acharyas essentially

sramanas (irrespective of their official creed) who would, like Buddha renounce

the world, seek the truth by themselves and teach the common people in their

own language. We had forgotten the sramana so much that when

Anagarika Dharmapala

Appeared we ignored him in favour of an anglicized elite freedom movement,

fully modernized in their English suits.

However the INTEGRATION of the material and spiritual into our lives issomething that can be done at the individual and family levels. It does not

require a new capital. Much less does it require elaborate collective pujas which

only affirm a narrow identity and reinforce our insecurity. This personal

transformation can take place irrespective of the name and ancestry of our

leaders and whether or not they wear moustaches and national dresses. It is

about self reliance.

INTEGRATION is the challenge.


4/4

The Sinhalese...

Documents

Transcript of The Sinhalese...