{"id":97142,"date":"2020-01-01T00:20:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T06:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=97142"},"modified":"2019-12-31T17:19:22","modified_gmt":"2020-01-01T00:19:22","slug":"the-dew-is-on-the-lotus-rise-great-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/01\/01\/the-dew-is-on-the-lotus-rise-great-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dew Is on the Lotus! – Rise Great Sun!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Rohana R. Wasala<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

(The \ntitle is a line from the concluding passage of  Sir Edwin Arnold\u2019s \u2018Light of \nAsia\u2019. The Spanish title and name Don Quixote used below is pronounced dong \nkhee khothe\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANNO \nFELIX, HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO YOU!<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rejoice \nmy beloved Mother Lanka!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With \nus your dear children just debunking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \nentrenched myth created about us<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In \nthose oppressive colonial times<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \nshutting ourselves up in a time warp <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where \nwe are thought to be overtaken<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By \nan unhealthy love of the dead past <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That \nmakes us resist desirable change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meddling \naliens and their local lackeys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do \nstill accuse us of primitivism  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply \nbecause we show a deep concern<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When \nour rare archaeological sites<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are \nvandalized or claimed without a right;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When \nour ancient ruins are razed to the ground;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When \nour peaceful monks and lay activists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agitate \nagainst the desecration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \ndefacement of Buddha images,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nforced conversion by unethical means<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \npoverty stricken rural Buddhists,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nsubversion of middle class Buddhists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through \nsubtle methods of indoctrination<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such \nas personal improvement workshops<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or \nsuperstitious divine healing camps<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With \na sham Buddhistic tone  but a bias-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towards \na faith based deistic religion;  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When \nstate forest reserves are cleared<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In \nexcess of what\u2019s been lawfully marked,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For \nresettling allegedly displaced-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persons \nsolely of one religious creed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who \nhave been already resettled elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve \ntried to free ourselves from the vice grip<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \nthis undue bad name for racist pride, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fanaticism, \nand xenophobia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given \nto us contrary to evidence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While \nbeing beaten into a monstrous shape,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despised \nin the comity of nations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although \nthe deliberately suppressed-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truth \nis that we are the hapless victims <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \nthose very evils perpetrated<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By \nsome communalist politicians<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hellbent \non destroying our sovereign state<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who \npromote such passions just to survive,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Groping \nin their dark  personal ghettoes <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In \nthis cultured Age of Information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What \nis the truth obscured by the canard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That \nSinhalese Buddhist nationalists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are \nracist, exclusive, and extremist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nhence backward and resistant to change,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nthat the Sinhalese are as a race<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentally \nretarded and inferior?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \npioneer of true national thinking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was \nnone other than the historical <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hate-figure \nof anti-nationalists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great \nAnagarika Dharmapala<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who \nengineered social reform through it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To \nkindle hopes of freedom from foreign rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History \nwill recognize Dharmapala<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \nperhaps the first ideological-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Champion \nof the unarmed battle for freedom,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nthe first proponent of modernity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Properly \nbased on Buddhist tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though \nBrits and colonial parasites<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Projected \nhim as a Don Quixote<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through \ntheir malicious vile propaganda,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being \na leader gifted with great foresight,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He \nwarned the majority Sinhalese<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \na racially divided country<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where \nthey would be at the receiving end <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When \nthe foreigner would leave them at last<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless \nthey were united as a race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, \nas we can see, that prophecy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has \ncome true, sad though it is to say this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet \nthe Anagarika\u2019s life mission<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was \npassing on the word of the Buddha<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across \nthe world for all peoples\u2019 wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He \nwas convinced that Sinhala Buddhists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had \na unique responsibility<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To \nprotect Buddhism for the whole world<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \nLanka is the repository<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \nthe Dhamma in its first pristine form<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \nhallowed Theravada tradition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Committed \nto writing at Matale,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central \nSri Lanka, one hundred plus-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years \nBefore the Common Era began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though \nreligions are anachronistic<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In \nthe human reason ruled world today<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their \nethical teachings are relevant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To \ntheir politically organized<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adherents, \nwhile not being so to others,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \nsituation that causes friction<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With \nmonumental repercussions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That \nendanger the very survival<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \nthe human civilization itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \nBuddha preached an ethical doctrine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That \nis self-realization based and free<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From \nblind faith and ritual performances<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something \nthat Albert Einstein chose to call<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \ncosmic religion in the sense that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All \nhumans could embrace its moral code<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based \non kindness, reason, and mind culture, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nwork to create a safe peaceful world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dharmapala \nknew this before Einstein<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \nhe showed in his great dedication<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For \nspreading the Dhamma across the globe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without \nany proselytizing aim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being \na true disciple of the Buddha <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He \ndidn\u2019t seek to convert non-Buddhist people.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But \nhe believed that Dhamma was<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \nSinhala Buddhists\u2019 gift to the world<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \ncustodians of the pure Teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile \nhe was passionately concerned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About \ntheir material wellbeing as well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \nany good Buddhist leader would be<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He \nadvocated the education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of \nthe young for acquiring good life skills<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nthe study of science and technology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In \naddition to cultural subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lanka\u2019s \nfreedom movement and its leaders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nall patriotic politicians<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That \nfollowed in the subsequent decades<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Were \nprofoundly influenced by this great man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All \nthe prime ministers and presidents<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since \nindependence with two exceptions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Whose \npatriotism is of a foreign make)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have \nbeen influenced by his nationalism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had \nthe Anagarika been living- <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, \nhe would have highly commended<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \ncurrent president Gotabhaya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For \nhis moral uprightness, gracefulness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nhis commitment to Buddhist values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All \nMembers of Parliament on both sides,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If \nthey really want to serve the nation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ought \nto forget their personal concerns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And \nsoon ensure that the president get<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \nenlightened parliament he deserves,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So \nthat this fourth decisive surge that we-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are \nin the middle of making since the Year-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \nBuddha Jayanti was observed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towards \nindependence from foreign sway<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In \norder to stand on our own two feet,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will \nnot be suppressed like the previous three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May \nthe Lotus Bud Bloom in our Troubled Land<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh \nand pure out of its muddy waters!    

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Rohana R. Wasala (The title is a line from the concluding passage of  Sir Edwin Arnold\u2019s \u2018Light of Asia\u2019. The Spanish title and name Don Quixote used below is pronounced dong khee khothe\u201d) ANNO FELIX, HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO YOU! Rejoice my beloved Mother Lanka! With us your dear children just debunking The entrenched […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rohana-r-wasala"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97142","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=97142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97142\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}