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Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 8:00 pm
by Radix
Eko Care wrote: Thu May 18, 2023 2:43 amYes, they are supported by Western organizations.
While it's easy to blame the West for all kinds of things, we must not overlook the role the natives played in the ills that befell them.
Were it not for the natives' eagerness for material ease, they would have not agreed to business deals with foreigners that lead to the foreigners' obtaining significant control over the natives.

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 8:32 pm
by Radix
retrofuturist wrote: Thu May 18, 2023 2:27 am
Radix wrote: Wed May 17, 2023 8:26 pm The politicians are only guilty for not having acted sooner.
This kind of antiBuddhist Christian preaching has been going on for a long time in several traditionally Buddhist countries.
/.../
Three small things should never be neglected: a small prince, a small snake, a small fire.
This was a small fire that was left neglected.
Interesting... Are you able to explain what principles, philosophies, theories or Dhamma this perspective is based on? It seems very tribal, and arguably a tribal mindset is what has brought Sri Lanka to its current state - in terms of both its Buddhism and its politics.
That's facile.

Sure, the way the situation is now is quite messy. The Buddhists should have seen this coming, though, and stopped it before it spiralled out of control. They should have anticipated what consequences their business deals with non-Buddhist foreigners are likely to have; they should have anticipated what consequences their friendliness with or at least tolerance of foreigners (who clearly did not mean well in regard to Buddhism) will likely have. They should have anticipated what consequences their consumption of meat and alcohol is likely going to have; ie. since the Buddhists generally don't want to kill the animals or brew the alcohol themselves, they allow foreigners, people of other religions to reside among them and do the dirty work for them. Of course such a situation is untenable in the long run!


As for sutta references, just the first few that come to mind:
"Whenever you want to do a bodily action, you should reflect on it: 'This bodily action I want to do — would it lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both? Would it be an unskillful bodily action, with painful consequences, painful results?' If, on reflection, you know that it would lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others, or to both; it would be an unskillful bodily action with painful consequences, painful results, then any bodily action of that sort is absolutely unfit for you to do. But if on reflection you know that it would not cause affliction... it would be a skillful bodily action with pleasant consequences, pleasant results, then any bodily action of that sort is fit for you to do.
/.../
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
12. "These are the six dangers inherent in bad companionship: any rogue, drunkard, addict, cheat, swindler, or thug becomes a friend and colleague.
/.../
15. "Young man, be aware of these four enemies disguised as friends: the taker, the talker, the flatterer, and the reckless companion.

16. "The taker can be identified by four things: by only taking, asking for a lot while giving little, performing duty out of fear, and offering service in order to gain something.

17. "The talker can be identified by four things: by reminding of past generosity, promising future generosity, mouthing empty words of kindness, and protesting personal misfortune when called on to help.

18. "The flatterer can be identified by four things: by supporting both bad and good behavior indiscriminately, praising you to your face, and putting you down behind your back.

19. "The reckless companion can be identified by four things: by accompanying you in drinking, roaming around at night, partying, and gambling."

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .ksw0.html
"Just as if a maluva creeper pod were to burst open in the last month of the hot season, and a maluva creeper seed were to fall at the foot of a sala tree. The deva living in the tree would become frightened, apprehensive, & anxious. Her friends & companions, relatives & kin — garden devas, forest devas, tree devas, devas living in herbs, grass, & forest monarchs — would gather together to console her: 'Have no fear, have no fear. In all likelihood a peacock is sure to swallow this maluva creeper seed, or a deer will eat it, or a brush fire will burn it up, or woodsmen will pick it up, or termites will carry it off, and anyway it probably isn't really a seed.'

"And then no peacock swallowed it, no deer ate it, no brush fire burned it up, no woodsmen picked it up, no termites carried it off, and it really was a seed. Watered by a rain-laden cloud, it sprouted in due course and curled its soft, tender, downy tendril around the sala tree.

"The thought occurred to the deva living in the sala tree: 'Now what future danger did my friends & companions, relatives & kin — garden devas, forest devas, tree devas, devas living in herbs, grass, & forest monarchs — foresee in that maluva creeper seed that they gathered together to console me: "Have no fear, have no fear. In all likelihood a peacock is sure to swallow this maluva creeper seed, or a deer will eat it, or a brush fire will burn it up, or woodsmen will pick it up, or termites will carry it off, and anyway it probably isn't really a seed." It's pleasant, the touch of this maluva creeper's soft, tender, downy tendril.'

"Then the creeper, having enwrapped the sala tree, having made a canopy over it, & cascading down around it, caused the massive limbs of the sala tree to come crashing down. The thought occurred to the deva living in the tree: 'This was the future danger my friends... foresaw in that maluva creeper seed, that they gathered together to console me... It's because of that maluva creeper seed that I'm now experiencing sharp, burning pains.'

"In the same way, monks, there are some brahmans & contemplatives who hold to a doctrine, a view like this: 'There is no harm in sensual pleasures.' Thus they meet with their downfall through sensual pleasures.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
People who want to have a Buddhist country ... need to behave like Buddhists, and not value other things above the Dhamma.

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 8:47 pm
by Eko Care
Radix wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 8:00 pm
Eko Care wrote: Thu May 18, 2023 2:43 amYes, they are supported by Western organizations.
While it's easy to blame the West for all kinds of things, we must not overlook the role the natives played in the ills that befell them.
Were it not for the natives' eagerness for material ease, they would have not agreed to business deals with foreigners that lead to the foreigners' obtaining significant control over the natives.
It is true. What I said is the immediate cause and what you said is the root cause. It is like Padatthana and Hetuppaccaya. :smile:
since the Buddhists generally don't want to kill the animals or brew the alcohol themselves, they allow foreigners, people of other religions to reside among them and do the dirty work for them.
In Sri Lanka, fishermen and brewers are largely Christians, Butchers are largely Muslisms.

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 9:11 pm
by Radix
Eko Care wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 8:47 pmWhat I said is the immediate cause and what you said is the root cause.
And given this root cause, it's no surprise that the foreigners act toward the natives the way they do. How could they respect the religion of someone who doesn't respect it themselves?!

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Fri May 19, 2023 11:15 pm
by SarathW
Radix wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 8:00 pm
Eko Care wrote: Thu May 18, 2023 2:43 amYes, they are supported by Western organizations.
While it's easy to blame the West for all kinds of things, we must not overlook the role the natives played in the ills that befell them.
Were it not for the natives' eagerness for material ease, they would have not agreed to business deals with foreigners that lead to the foreigners' obtaining significant control over the natives.
I agree with your point.
But the powerful nations topple the governments they don't like and who do not follow their orders.
The main culprits are the USA, China, India, and the UK in the case of Sri Lanka.

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Sat May 20, 2023 2:22 am
by santa100
SarathW wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 11:15 pm But the powerful nations topple the governments they don't like and who do not follow their orders.
The main culprits are the USA, China, India, and the UK in the case of Sri Lanka.
What else do you expect, it's a dog eat dog world. But to be fair, although you'll get screwed by the bigger guys anyway, at least the US and other western imperialists will pay you some money to cover for the medical cost to treat your sore behind, but if it's India or China? Well, good luck with that!

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Sat May 20, 2023 4:30 pm
by TRobinson465
santa100 wrote: Sat May 20, 2023 2:22 am
SarathW wrote: Fri May 19, 2023 11:15 pm But the powerful nations topple the governments they don't like and who do not follow their orders.
The main culprits are the USA, China, India, and the UK in the case of Sri Lanka.
What else do you expect, it's a dog eat dog world. But to be fair, although you'll get screwed by the bigger guys anyway, at least the US and other western imperialists will pay you some money to cover for the medical cost to treat your sore behind, but if it's India or China? Well, good luck with that!
Agreed, we're definitely not innocent when it comes to regime change. But the Pax Brittannia and Pax Americana were still much better than the alternatives like a Pax Soviet or Pax Sino. At least with liberal democracies there is some limits and accountability with what they can do. Many people below 30 in China dont even know about the Tianamen Square massacre.

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Sun May 21, 2023 9:20 am
by SarathW
There are more links to the OP story.
It appears the Pastoral Jeromey has a connection to the infamous Uebert Angel.
There are connections between the former Sri Lankan president's infamous Rajapaksa family. (who were accused of money laundering and sending Sri Lanka into bankruptcy.
Uebert Angel (born Uebert Mudzanire;[4] 6 September 1978) is a controversial British-Zimbabwean Businessman who has been implicated in fraud, money laundering and racketeering after undercover journalists filmed him arranging to smuggle gold and cash using his diplomatic passport.[5] His name appears on a US Department of Justice list along with 9,612 other people who paid for fake degrees.[6][7] He is an evangelical preacher and the founder of Spirit Embassy, a Pentecostal ministry in the United Kingdom.
Preacher Jerome Fernando that claims to be a prophet who Uebert appointed to head the Glorius Church in Sri Lanka denied allegations and threatened legal action against accusers.[75] Uebert and Jerome also had met with members of the Rajapaksa family during preaching sessions with Jerome and were given military protection under the Rajapaksa administration

Re: Sri Lankan Prime Minister ordered criminal investigation for insulting Buddha!!

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 2:19 am
by SarathW