{"id":108850,"date":"2020-11-20T16:04:45","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T23:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=108850"},"modified":"2020-11-20T16:04:45","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T23:04:45","slug":"unity-is-paramount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/11\/20\/unity-is-paramount\/","title":{"rendered":"UNITY IS PARAMOUNT!"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY Dr Sripali Vaiamon<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

As a Democrat from Sri lanka who was not so strongly involved even during \u00a0school days, wish to suggest, \u00a0in AMERICA as well as CANADA what we predominantly willing \u00a0to maintain is \u00a0UNITY,among all the neighbours,.I was a broadcaster and after my retirement I migrated to CANADA .As I know PM TRUDEAU\u2019S dada,Pierre Trudeau proposed at the House,in October 1971, MULTICULTURALISM, almost with the same target.It is equally necessary for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMERICA is a vast country crazed with this color bar,despite\nall of us are human beings.Civilized human beings,so that great personality like\nLINCOLN paved the way for them to come over here.Let us live graciously.If\nnecessary we may add \u2013ish, like BLACKISH, Brownish or whitish,(as there is no human\ncolour as WHITE)You are the ideal LEADER \u2013 Joe Biden \u2013 and with your SECOND IN\nCOMMAND \u2013Kamala Harris will lead the country courteously! Our Prime\nMinister,Trudeau is very cordial with the new American President.That made me\nto touch this little comment with sincerely.Particularly ,Trans mountain\npipeline came to my mind.This gives him little bit of headache,along with two\nother subjects at the moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well,I was dealing with the Edicts of the Ancient philanthropist Indian king Asoka and prior to getting link up with that, I had to go back to one of the earliest matters.In earliest periods in Lanka, we have very little collection of reliable information on historical matters. History is concerned if we cannot write very accurate accounts better not to touch on false presumpsions.Now our Deepavansa is much better.Those who knew something very accurately have been inserted in the Deepavansa.Mahavansa is \u00a0concerned major parts are that of a YARN created presumeably by a monk.The area that was taken for the Indian lion to interfeared was genuine as Sihore was the forestry region infested with Indian lion in that bygone era.It is the area of present Indian Prime Minister MODI ruled for three consecutive terms..Locality is known as GUJARATH where ships came on trade and went up to Jawa via Sri Lanka. Thereby area was somewhat familier to Lanka.That\u2019s why I thought lion-Suppadevi and Sinhabahu-Sinhaseevali combinations could be gigantic pictures displayed by Rev.MAHANAMA of DEEGASNDA SENADYPATHI PIRIVENA. ANURADAPURA. If my presumption is false please excuse me as I had no other believable clue.When major clue becomes doubtful you cannot expect to have any other dependable background. Merely because one major creation becomes false,rest also invariably become inaccurate.Because it was only a YARN.i. e.the production of two\u00a0 human figures, SINHABAHU AND SINHASEEVALI. by an animal and human spearm. \u00a0Production of a human child by a human and an animal sperm is according to science is false.It won\u2019t take place,as such entire episode is beyond accuracy. Still it would have been better if that bit of false creation was not there.Otherwise the combination could be approved without any doubt!Now take for an example, It is a history book,but if historical matters are doubtful,you cannot treat even a singal event as authentic,ACCEPTABLE \u00a0HISTORY. In ancient time \u00a0\u2013history-was \u00a0not so abundance as today! Whole story of the caravan may have been a creation by Rev.Mahanama.Perhaps it may be otherwise.Let\u2019s go into one or two points. A jungle creature or a lion of the forest jumped into a caravan of several carts,trudged from a long way.From Western India to Gujarath, and when a lion pounced upon them,all of them got frightened and ran amok,but this brave girl, Suppadevi, who was living in a palace did not get afraid,stayed all alone without any fear.Because she knew what was propersised by the soothsayer.It happened at the palace according to the yarn. (Perhaps you could believe it to a greater extent.)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Lion was wagging its tail and approached her.She stroked its head and face like a very tamed animal.And then got on to its back and went into the jungle. Lived in a DEN where there were no windows or holes for ventilations.Lived so many years.There was no provision for passing excreta, urine and washing! Stinky!Not one or two days,months and years and boy become big enough to carry mother and sister on his shoulders.Granite door was able to open by the lion only. -just think about this bit of the story! Or think about Vijaya,their son \u00a0and his supporters who were plundering the village.Time to time several days.People time to time complained to the king!,Ultimately king had to get hold all of them and gave a punishment by shaving one side of their heads and ousted from the country. With 700 altogether.They were the people who were landed near Puttalam.When they landed and they were feeling thirsty.Their were no water in the ship to drink.Went one by one in search of water.Someone caught them.hid in a pond. Where you find water?as they did not return,Vijaya came in search of them.He saw the footprints in the pond. Under the water!Vijaya saw a woman seated in a distance.Went from behind.Kept the sword to the neck and asked about his men? She agreed to return them.Vijaya asked whether they are coming under a king.She answerd they have a king MAHAKALASENA and kingdom, \u00a0SIRASAWASTHU. It was grand! but appointing Vijaya as the first king in the country? A culprit? ROGUE! Who was under a punishment. Why no question about the position of their KING? Which was announced by Kuveni and revealed their names,Let us go to the end. Our Author monk has made this ROGUE, THE KING OF OUR COUNTRY. Unbelievable! Our Author monk failed to ask anything about their ruling king.Who has migrated with a punishment?Unpardonable? Author Monk,did a bit of good work in his composition but everything were spoiled with this unpleasant\u00a0 work. Anyway that is our History! HISTORY OF THE SINHALA NATION.We have a Lion flag.Very beautiful.We got a name SINGHA-la.Exsisting from that remote era?We have not make any reference to Mahabaratha version.It has started according to Dr.Monier Monier Williams who compiled the very first English Sanskrit Dictionary firmly reveled \u00a0where the origination \u00a0as 1200 BC.In the 2nd<\/sup> book of MAHABARATHA,the Saba Parva, the \u00a0term SINHALA is given clearly.Moreover it was totaly in memory.Writing materials were not available in that era.Even what Dr.Paranavithana mentioned in the footnote of his Sigiri Gee have not taken into consideration.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We as readers have no questions? We all believe What Rev.MAHANAMA\nhad written.He has made the Rogue,plunderer first king of the country!Our Projenitor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, all of us coming under these jungle people are now\ncoming under President Hon.Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Hon.Mahinda\nRajapaksa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s allow our Sinhala people to think about the past\nposition!Now let us talk little more about King Asoka\u2019s Edicts and further  on historical matters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because HISTORY prime important matter in a country! That\nmay be the reason it was taken out of the curriculum by those who provided\nExchange! According to DASATHA,a Sinhala tabloid in CANADA , This was during  Sirimao Bandaranayake\u2019s era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE BIRTH (The life of Buddha p34 Dr.Edward J.Thomas.)
VIEWS ON BUDDHISM pps 112,113<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maya makes no mention of her intention to go to Devadaha,\nbut merely wished to go and sport in the Lumbini grove.She expresses her wish\nto the king inverse,and speaks there of Sal-trees,but in the following prose\nshe seizes not a Sal branch ,but a plaksha at the moment of birth. Both\nLALITHAVISTARA and MAHAVASTHU say that the Bodhisaththa came from her right\nside,and particularly add that her right side was uninjured.(There is no birth\ncanal in the right side-This is the MAHAYANA version- a mystry!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASOKA AND VIBHAJJAVADINS \u2013 A short history of Buddhism p.36\nDr.Edward  Conze \u2013views on Buddhism bk.1\np.173.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 It appears that Asoka\nsided with VIBHAJ-JAVADINS and that in consequence the Saravastivadins went\nNorth and converted KASHMIR, which remainethe centre for more than a thousand\nyears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short History of Buddhism p.36 Dr.Edward Conze<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASOKA towards other religions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views on Buddhism.pps. 172.173<\/p>\n\n\n\n

       One of the most\nimpressive documents of the Buddhist tolerant attitude is undoubtedly Rock\nEdict no.12, of the Emperor Asoka (3rd<\/sup> cent BC) in his vast empire\nlived the followers of Brahaminism,Jainism,Aj ivikism,Zoroastrianism and of the\nGreek religion.The Emperor  himself was a\ndevout follower of Buddhism.But he respected \nall religions, protected the votaries of different religions, and even\nliberally patronized religious establishments of different religious\ngroups.Moreover ,he admonished subjects to live in peace and mutual harmony,to\nstudy different ideologies,and to  praise\nthe religion of other people. He commended the virtue of religious concord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Buddhist Studies p.129 Prof.L.M.Joshi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASOKA AND THE WAR-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asoka\u2019s conversion.For the first 12 years of his reign,Asoka\ngoverned  very much as his father and\ngrand father had done.Then he set out a campaign for the conquest  of KALINGA \nOR  ORISSA.In this cruel war ,\n150,000 persons carried  away\ncaptive,100,000 were slaves,and many times that number perished from starvation\nor disease.Just after this ,Asoka was converted to BUDDHISM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indian people,pp 36,37 H.G.Rowlinson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASOKA AFTER THE WAR,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warrior who had spread devastation and murder throughout\nIndia  began to engage in works of\npeace,in making roads,in digging of wells and planting trees, in establishing\ncharities and providing for their business like distribution. Many were the\ngreat monasteries and temples built by the converted Asoka. Throughout the vast\ndominion which his conquest had added to his original empire of Magadha, on\npillers and onrocks he engraved the articles of Buddhist belief. These\ndescriptions are describes as Edicts.They are the only known contemporary\ndocuments for the history of Asoka\u2019s reign and for the study of religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legend of Indian Buddhism.Introduction-Winifred Stephen by Eugene Burnouf
Views on Buddhism,Bk one.pps 170,171.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUDDHISM IS THE BEST. Views on Buddhism p.102<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhys Davids says:Buddhist or no Buddhist ,I have examind\nevery one of the great religious systems of the world,and in none of them have\nI found anything  to surpass,in beauty\nand comprehensiveness, the Nobal Eight Fold Path of the Buddha.I am content to\nshape my life according to that path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Quite similer to Rhys\nDavids our President Hon.Gotabaya Rajapaksa has a full understanding on\nBuddhism,as such he has full faith onSRI MAHA BODHI TREE under which Buddha had\nhis attaintment.As such he has full faith on Sri Maha Bodhi plant that was\nbraught by Queen Sangamitththa and planted at Bodhi Maluwa at Anuradhapura.               \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EIGHT PRINCESS TO PROTECT THE BODHI \u00a0
Views on Buddhism p.166<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Asoka sent,according\nto tradition, eight princes who were the brother of Asoka\u2019s queen.In other\nwords they were the sons of Deva Setti of Vedisa city in Avanthi.Both the\npujavaliya and Mahabodhi Vamsa,state that they belonged to the Ksatriya\nclass.But if we accept the fact that Asoka\u2019s queen belonged to the Vaisya\nclass,there is no doubt that her eight brothers headed by Sumittha also\nbelonged to the same class.In sending these eight princes with their families\nto protect the Bodhi tree,we may suggest the Asoka also sent ten other families\nof equal rank to assist them in their functions,these making the number of Deva\nfamilies 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOCIAL HISTORY OF EARLY CEYLON P.32, Dr.Hema Ellawala
FAMILIES CAME WITH THE BODHI TREE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Samanthapasadhika and its commentary, these\nfamilies were sent in order to perform certain specific duties towards the\nBodhi tree.For the protection of the Bodhi tree (MAHABODHIRAKKANATHTHAYA) 18\nDeva families were sent.Eight Families of Ministers were sent for the purpose\nof organising different rights connected with the Bodhi tree.Eight Brahmana\nfamilies were sent for the purpose of sprinkling water to Bodhi Tree.Eight\nfamilies of cowherds were sent in order to supply the necessary to wash the\nBodhi tree.Similarly other families also were entrusted with certain other\nduties towards the Bodhi Tree. A perusal of duties assigned to <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 to different families\nand their order of preference in the list clearly indicates that the DEVAKULANI\nare considered to be most important of all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOCIAL HISTORY OF EARLY CEYLON pp.31,32 Dr.Hema EllawalaAsoka\u2019s missionary efforts \u2013 p.168- VIEWS ON BUDDHISM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 THE  MAHAVANSA DESCRIBES WITH ECSTATIC RAPTURE THE\nENTRY OF MAHINDA TO ANURADHAPURA,AND THE CONSEQUENT CONVERSION OF THE KING ,THE\nMEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY,FAMILIES OF THE NOBILITY AND FINALLY,THE PEOPLE OF\nCEYLON. CONVERSION ACHIEVED ITS CLIMAX WHEN ASOKA DECIDED TO SEND HIS DAUGHTER\n\u2013SANGAMITTHA- ALSO TO CEYLON.THIS MISSION WAS MOST SUCCESSFUL,AND IT WAS THE\nMOST PRODUCTIVE OF THE MISSIONARY EFFORTS OF ASOKA.FOR SANGAMITTHA BROUGHT WITH\nHER BRANCH OF THE BODHI TREE AT BUDDHA GAYA WHERE THE BLESSED ONE ATTAINED\nWISDOM.HISTORIANS RECORD THE GREAT EVENT IN THESE TERMS;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is\ndoubtful if any other single incident in the long story of the SINHALESE RACE\nhas seized upon the imagination of the Sinhalese with such tenacity as this of\nthe planting of the BODHI TREE. Like its roots,which find sustenance on the\nface of the bare rock and cleave their way through the stoutest fabric,the\ninfluence it represents has penetrated into the innermost being of the people\ntill the tree itself has become almost human.The loving care of some pious\nobserver has left on record in sonorous Pali and with minute detail the\nincidents of the day when the soil of Ceylon first received it,and today the\ndescendants of the princely escort who accompanied it from India continue to be\nits guardians,The axe of ruthless invaders who for many centuries to come were\ndestined to spread the ruin throughout the country was reverently withheld from\nits base.And even now,on the stillest night,the heartshaped leaves on their\nslender stalks ceaselessly quiver and sigh,as they have quivered and sighed for\n25  centuries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUDDHISM IN CEYLON UNDER THE CHRISTAIN POWERS\u2014By.Tennakoon Vimalananda
Views on Buddhism-Part one.Pp.168,169.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sripaliv@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY Dr Sripali Vaiamon As a Democrat from Sri lanka who was not so strongly involved even during \u00a0school days, wish to suggest, \u00a0in AMERICA as well as CANADA what we predominantly willing \u00a0to maintain is \u00a0UNITY,among all the neighbours,.I was a broadcaster and after my retirement I migrated to CANADA .As I know PM […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forum"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108850\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}