September brings us vital lessons in coexistence - EDITORIAL

One key aspect about the many events lined up for September is that there is room for plenty of thoughts on religion. September is a month full of religious activities. And Sri Lanka being a multi-religious country will benefit from the fact that the Government allows the practice of all religions; something which most Muslim or middle eastern countries forbid. 

In September alone Sri Lankans have marked in their calendars events such as the Celebration of the birth of Mother Mary (September 8), the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14), Ganesh Chaturthi (September 18), the Birthday of Prophet Mohammad (September 28) and Binara Poya (September 29), the latter being the day when Gautama Buddha established the Female Buddhist order and the Bikkuni Sasana. 

Now that is a big list and it just shows how liberal the rulers of this country must be. We can remember instances in the past when the Catholic Church of this country sent strong messages to the government by boycotting its events when annoyed for several reasons; before and after the Easter carnage. We have observed in the past when the rulers of this nation tried their best to divide this island by sowing the seeds of religious hatred. But months like September can spoil the underhand work of politicians aimed at disrupting the society and serve as the catalyst for the change people yearn for. 

We are living in times when the present generation representing the youth is more We can remember instances in the past when the Catholic Church of this country sent strong messages to the government by boycotting its events when annoyed for several reasonse to other cultures and religions and are accommodating in nature. Gone are the days when youth could be used to service political agendas by corrupting their minds using distorted opinions on religion. Today the youth will team up with members of other cultures and religions and engage in tasks that need the services of professionals. Right now the only concern is how far a colleague in a team is willing to commit himself in a professional working environment. Gone are the days when a company head employed an individual-most often as a passenger-just because this person practised the same faith as him or her.  

We can remember instances in the past when the Catholic Church of this country sent strong messages to the government by boycotting its events when annoyed for several reasons

This writer read an article where a Muslim from India was featured in a wire service story for the skill he possesses in turning out statues of Lord Ganesh. If my memory serves me right the occasion was the Ganesh Chaturthi in year 2020. We also do remember a staunch practitioner of the Islam faith Mohideen Baig being loved by Buddhists for his devotion to singing songs in praise of Buddha. We also know from our Christian friends in Negombo that they are committed to engaging in offering alms to Buddhist devotees during May when the island celebrates ‘Vesak’. Take a walk in central Maradana in search of Atapirikara (A combined offering of eight items to Buddhist monks) or just the saffron robe and one notices that most of these shops selling these items are owned by Muslim merchants. All this is possible because Maradana is multi-religious and multi-curtural and its people have learned to accept one another irrespective of religion, class and race. We know that there is a Muslim school in this area. And there had been the occasional tension flaring incidents this institute had with a Buddhist school just a stone’s throw away from the former. But then we know that this Sinhala Buddhist school also produced one of the best orators in Sinhala in parliament who is a Muslim! This is a great example of people from different faiths coexisting in any given environment. 

Many years ago there lived a pious individual named Saint Kabir. He was associated with both the Islam and Hinduism faiths. In the book ‘Yoga-The path to liberation’ and penned after taking into account lectures by the great Osho it is revealed that opinion was divided regarding how his final rites should be performed. When the shroud was removed from his remains there were only flowers and both Muslims and Hindus took away their shares and performed rites according to their wishes. That’s the type of society that Sri Lanka must aim to create in its quest for a system change.