‘Ice’ and ‘Taliban Monks’ ruining younger generation

 Ugly  scenarios, of ‘Buddhist monks’ attempting to overpower the police in a bid to take the law into their hands and joining invading violent mobs have become the order of the day

• All these years the authorities remained unmoved and now the Mihintale Chief has spoken out
• The Sangha will not accept within its ranks a person who is corrupt, of bad character and distrustful in conduct

Referring to bikkhu students at Pali and Buddhist University, who engaged in terrorizing freshers over arrack, and inhuman ragging, compelled the outspoken, Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale RajamahaVihara Ven. Walawahengunawewe, DhammarathanaThera, to name them ‘Taliban Monks’. Our intention here is not to discuss the issues involved that led to protests, but place on record the aversion to the use of  term ‘Buddhist monks’ to describe them.

The highly unruly and riotous behaviour of the groups wearing yellow robes are being videod and posted to web sites.  The well exposed bear bodies of the monks in violent moods and some with only robes hanging waist downwards will receive international exposure; discrediting the majority of our most reverent Sangha and our image as a nation that respected high cultural values. A monk student leader was seen threatening to physically assault a senior Police Officer.

I quote a few examples out of many illustrations drawn directly from the scripts where Gautama Buddha precisely and unambiguously describes who a Buddhist monk is. “He who controls his hand, controls his foot controls his speech and is well controlled in all respects…is composed, solitary and content—him they call… a buddhist monk” ---BikkhuVagga

“Paharada, how many wonderful and amazing qualities do the Asuras observe in the great ocean so that they take delight in it?” 

 “There are, Lord, eight amusing and remarkable qualities which the asuras perceive in it”. Explaining the third quality, “The great ocean does not tolerate a dead body, a corpse; the great ocean will swiftly carry it to the shore and cast it on to the land”.

The entire Buddhist world, no doubt, watched with repugnance and displeasure a couple of weeks ago when a city based bikkhu, a 
self-appointed Arhant,  cheating the lay in connivance with two women fraudsters, when he was handcuffed and taken to custody by Law enforcement authorities

“Paharada, Just as the great ocean will not tolerate a dead body, a corpse, but quickly carries it to the shore and casts it on to the shore; even so the Sangha will not accept within its ranks a person who is corrupt, of bad character, of impure and distrustful conduct, secretive in his actions, not a true abstainer but rather a sham-ascetic, not virtuous but pretending to be pure, rotten to the core, dishonest and of despicable conduct, the Sangha speedily assembles and dismisses such a person.”

All these years the authorities remained unmoved, [for fear of reprisal?] and now that Mihintale Chief has spoken; the Supreme Sangha council of Three  Mahanayaketheras,  is a ‘sine qua non,’ in frustrating monks who are engaged in businesses like, vehicle leasing, pyramids, money laundering investments,  before they venture into ‘ICE’and ‘Kudu,’ or narcotics trade, a lucrative money spinner. The entire Buddhist world, no doubt, watched with repugnance and displeasure a couple of weeks ago when a city based bikkhu, a self-appointed Arhant,  cheating the lay in connivance with two women fraudsters, when he was handcuffed and taken to custody by Law enforcement authorities. Ugly  scenarios, of ‘Buddhist monks’ attempting to overpower the police and dislodge iron barriers in a bid to take law in to their hands, joining invading violent mobs have become order of the day. If the Mahanayake theros continue to ignore the deterioration of the sasana, soon they will lead the ICE distribution as well.

Philippino President, Rodrigo Duterte, gave a free hand to Police to kill anyone they believe is connected to the drugs trade when he assumed office in June 2016. A little over 7,000 importers, dealers, distributors, traffickers were eliminated in a vicious ‘war on drugs’ in a short space of  six months, between July 2016 and January 2017, Police killing with impunity.  According to police counts in the Philippines, they were killed by the police or unknown armed attackers in the ‘war on drugs’ thanks to his hard-line policy.  A president authorizing murder, proud about killing, said that he’ll continue the onslaught for as long as he’s president. Duterte encouraged citizens to kill alleged drugs dealers or users as a ‘duty’, and offered massive rewards to people who turn in drug dealers – ‘dead or alive’. The police ran a so-called ‘knock and plead’ operation based on hunting down those supposedly involved in the drugs trade, finding people on unsubstantiated lists and raiding their homes.

We as democratic nation, where human rights and rule of the law are respected, do not approve such cruel inhuman methods. In Philippines, there are reports that many cases of incorrect identification leading to people with no links to the trade also being murdered. However, they eradicated the menace, now Philippines are free of Narcotics.

Ukraine/US vs Russia Threatens Economy

Painting a gloomy picture over the world economy, there are signs of  Russian-Ukraine war escalating and lasting long, with Biden’s pledge that the US would support Ukraine for “as long as it takes.” It was accompanied by a proclamation that the Biden administration will be sending a Patriot missile system to Ukraine.Zelensky told US senators and members of Congress,that his soldiers needed more weapons, including planes, and that the spending was not “charity” but an investment in universal security and democracy.The Ukrainian President was given a rousing reception as he boasted that Ukraine is “alive and kicking” and would not surrender under any circumstances.

Journalists made comparisons between his speech [written for him by a speechwriter in Washington, though], and that of Churchill to Congress after Pearl Harbor bombing by Japanese. Churchill’s meeting with Roosevelt, eight decades ago, cemented their alliance and led to victory in the World War II. Zelensky stated that the Russian people were “poisoned by the Kremlin” and declared Russia a “terrorist state.”

  
Biden is now dropping the entire population of Europe, US and the entire globe into an “unending war,” with possible disastrous consequences for Third World. Inflation is mortgage costs are rising, stock prices are volatile, and the U.S. economy’s growth had slowed significantly. Policymakers, economists, and financial analysts are watching incoming data closely. US consumer prices accelerated as fuel prices hit a record high a couple of months ago and the cost of food soared, being largest annual increase in nearly 40 years. High inflation, is a global phenomenon, poses political risks for rulers. A survey had shown consumer sentiment plunged to a record low.

Dr. Harsha Vs 
Dr. Nalinda

Medical doctor Nalinda Jayatissa of JJB has very prudently challenged SJB’s econ doctor’s PhD, based on a silly comment made by latter comparing Sajith’s driving skills with state craft. Referring to how precise and accurate he was while negotiating the school gate, and comparing the task to handling the country’s economy with the same precision, reminds one, of the senior Premadasa’s comment years ago, that even a taxi driver can prepare a nation’s Budget. However, we are somewhat puzzled why such wise men in the JJB cannot comprehend the wisdom of promoting the lady with considerable skill, proficiency and intelligence, Dr. Harini over Anura Kumara for leading the alliance. A system change is inevitable.

(The writer can be contacted at - [email protected])