Insensitive and Hurtful Agenda
of The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka
Is This The Way to Consolidate Religious Amity with Buddhists?
--- The Centre for Buddhist
Action-----
Since April this year when an "advertisement" in the Sinhala
Lankadeepa newspaper of 6th April 2008 with a photograph of the late
Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero appeared to advertise
the launching of a CD on 19th July 2008 by Apostolic Father Rev. Lalith
Aponso of The Apostolic Media Office, Katunayake on "Life After
Death and Karma" the late Venerable Monk has become a symbol &
commercial tool of the Catholic Church.
Rev.Father Lalith Aponso supposedly recorded a cassette in 1994 on
"Life After Death and Karma" when Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thero
was still living. According to the advertisement in the newspapers,
at the time Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thero had listened to the cassette
and commented (English translation): "I have listened to the first
speech made by Apostolic Father Rev. Lalith Aponso on " Rebirth
and Karma" which irrespective of religious bias I think is useful"-Ven.
Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero. Although the late Venerable Monk states
"………… is useful………….."
he does not state whether he endorses or agrees with what the Apostolic
Rev.Father Lalith Aponso has stated in that cassette recording. Except,
that it is "useful…"
The Crux and Core Difference Between Christianity
and Buddhism:
People who are well versed in the Christian Scriptures and The Buddha
Dhamma are fully aware that Christianity and Buddhism are as far apart
as the moon and the earth in the very essence and core doctrines of
the two religions. According to the Bible it is said that God created
everything and even pronounced that earth was flat. According to Christianity
a human born to this human life did not have a life before this and
will have no life after death in this life- except what God decides
for him/her which can be either Heaven or Hell according to his conduct
in this life-and that is it! Buddhism taught by Sakyamuni Gautama The
Buddha, is completely different from what Christianity and The Bible
tells us. Buddhism is a philosophy of life and how our lives are guided
by " cause and effect" and that there are many lives before
this life and many lives after this life based on our own Karma we create
for ourselves whether good or bad. Based on our own efforts (not dependent
on a God) through self-purification of our defilements through meditation
and insight we can, even in this life attain Nibbana and end our Samsaric
sojourn. The Dhamma is very deep and intense and we do not hope to delve
into the intricacies of The Dhamma in this article. There is no such
doctrine in Christianity-everything including responsibility is placed
on an Almighty God who decides for and on behalf of human beings in
this life-man himself has no authority to do anything other than the
will of God whereas The Buddha gave every authority to human beings
to decide and do the right thing if he/she wished to attain Nibbana.
The Buddhas teach and show the path to self-purification and human beings
have to strive to attain it through one's own efforts. They extol the
virtues of Metta, Karuna, Muditha & Upekha towards all beings be
they humans, super natural beings or animals.
The Hidden Agenda of The Catholic Church & Insensitivity
Towards Buddhists Sentiments:
The Apostolic Media Centre at Katunayake under the instructions of
Rev.Father Lalith Aponso has been vehemently advertising the late Venerable
Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero in the newspapers, through posters
which show both the Venerable Monk and Rev.Father Lalith Aponso with
information about the CD launch scheduled to be held at the BMICH on
19th July 2008. The first batch of posters came out on the streets of
Colombo 1 day before Wesak Full Moon Day, the 2nd batch came out before
Poson Full Moon Day and subsequently until today. The poster gives a
telephone number 077-1306556 for people to call in and book their seats.
Callers have been told that a seat will be charged at Rs.1,000/=as the
minimum on this day to listen to Rev.Father Lalith Aponso and also to
receive a free CD to anyone present at the function on that day. It
is quite obvious that the Catholic Church is hoping to get as many young
Buddhists & Bhikkus to come because callers are constantly asked
"how old are you?" -does this really matter? We can see how
the Church is using the picture of the late Ven.Ananda Maithriya Thero
for their commercial purposes to cover (atleast part of it) the costs
of hiring BMICH plus the CDs by luring Buddhists because as far as we
know, Christians will "not buy" the ideas that Rev.Father
Lalith Aponso wants to sell about "Life After Death & Karma"
which are both unacceptable to their beliefs and "the word of God!"
In order to advertise this event more, Rev.Father Aponso had made a
TV appearance on TNL 2 weeks ago together with a Buddhist Monk who is
introduced as a pupil of the late Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thero by the
name of Ven. Ambegoda Kusalagnana Thero of Kettaramaya Temple, Bandarawela
who also happens to be lecturer at a Pirivena in Bandarawela. The Church
is now keeping this Monk at Katunayake and treating him really well
until they complete their agenda of cheating Buddhists with the CD launch.
During this TV appearance, it has been stated that Rev.Father Aponso
has developed his super natural powers to a level where he is able to
recall so many thousands of births before this life! This again seems
to be difficult to believe because the Christian belief is totally contrary
to this stand. Let us presume that Rev.Father Aponso truly has these
special powers- in which case as a Catholic Reverend Father, it will
appear to be difficult for him to have remained as a Catholic Priest
without being ex-communicated from the Church for blasphemy & heresy
because his revelations completely over rules the Bible and the Gospel
contained therein which in turn would make it out that he is even more
supreme that Almighty God!
It is on record that when someone asked a highly respected Catholic
Reverend Father Earnest Poruthota about Rev.Father Lalith Aponso and
what he claims, Father Poruthota has stated that had been sent out of
the Catholic Church (we do not wish to insult Rev.Father Lalith Aponso
by stating that "he was expelled from the Church"). We also
respect Father Poruthota as a Catholic Priest who is held in high esteem
in this country and do not doubt his statement if he stated so. However,
if what Father Poruthota stated is correct, then we fail to understand
why the Most Reverend Archbishop Oswild Gomis as Head of The Catholic
Church in Sri Lanka is turning a blind eye on the doings of Rev.Father
Lalith Aponso? Or for that matter The Bishop's Conference which is all
powerful within the Catholic Church? By both these parties turning a
blind eye it means, that they directly or indirectly endorse the actions
of Rev.Father Aponso.
Most Reverend Archbishop Oswild Gomis has gone on record as promoting
"inter-religious committees" to resolve matters related to
disputes among religious groups in this country especially due to the
complicated issues arising from unethical conversion activities being
conducted against Buddhists and Hindus in this country. Does he hope
to bring about "Inter-religious harmony and amity" between
Buddhists and Catholics in this country by permitting another Catholic
Father Rev.Aponso to indiscriminately "sell and commercialize"
a highly respected and venerated Buddhist Monk of the calibre of the
late Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero to suit the hidden agendas
of the Catholic Church? Another question that comes into our minds at
this point is, why did Rev.Father Lalith Aponso wait 14 years after
recording his first cassette in 1994 and nearly 7-8 years after the
passing away of Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero to paint his picture
on the posters publicising the launching of his CD? The most ethical,
credible and decent thing to do if the Catholic Church truly respected
Ven.Ananda Maithriya Thero would have been to get his participation
in this business when the Venerable Monk was still among the living
and during his lifetime instead of waiting till we have no sound proof
of the authenticity of the statement supposedly made by the late Venerable
Monk? With the modern technology available today, with amazingly "credible
sounding dubbing being possible"- we place serious doubts as to
the authenticity of sound recordings of the late Venerable Monk's voice
as claimed by Rev.Father Aponso! Do all these things sound as if there
is a genuine and honest attempt to maintain "inter-religious amity"
between Buddhists and Catholics in this country?
The answer unfortunately is an emphatic "No."
We do not think Buddhists or Buddhist Clergy have abused the dignity
of personalities/Clergy belonging to other religious groups for commercial
purposes or to spread Buddhism amongst Catholics at any given time.
This is the sincerity that Buddhists have shown towards other religious
leaders and religions in the true sense of Metta, Karuna, Muditha and
Upekha as taught by The Buddha. It is extremely sad that the Catholic
Church of Sri Lanka and its Clergy do not reciprocate in the same vein
to show their genuine intentions of maintaining "inter-religious
harmony and amity" between Catholics and Buddhists in this country.
To achieve the hidden agendas of the Catholic Church, it is not unusual
for them to approach the highest levels of government officials to twist
their arm into even getting publications made in government Buddhist
publications in order to gain credibility for this particular issue.
We will not be surprised if an article or advertisement on the CD launch
scheduled for 19th July 2008 appears in the Lake House "Budhusarana"
Weekly Buddhist Supplement which is issued to coincide with every Poya
Day. To get such a publication done, there is no doubt whatsoever, that
they would have approached Ministerial level connections as is true
to their agendas.
One wonders whether the Catholic Church and other Christian Churches
(including Evangelicals) are so bankrupt in their search for methods
to prove their credentials and credibility without having to misuse
and insult revered Buddhist Monks in this country ? Their actions certainly
seem to point a finger in that direction if we are not mistaken.
Buddhist Aspirations:
Many are the instances where Buddhist sentiments have been hurt by
aggressive and subtle manipulations of the Christian Churches in this
country and this particular instance of Rev.Father Lalith Aponso using
the name of one of our most revered Buddhist Monks who is no longer
among the living, is a blaring example of the insensitivity of the Catholic
Church and it's Clergy.
Buddhists and Buddhist Clergy in this country have always stretched
out our arms in friendship towards all religions. This gesture of generosity
by the Buddhists have often been abused, insulted and manipulated by
the Christian Churches and in this instance, it is most unfortunate
that the Catholic Church which is considered to be an Orthodox Christian
Church in Sri Lanka should have acted in such an insensitive manner
towards Buddhist sentiments and the high regard they have for the late
Most Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero.
We would like to see true and sincere gestures on the part of Christian
Churches and their Clergy towards Buddhists and Buddhist Clergy if there
is any intention whatsoever on their part to respect and develop "inter-religious
harmony and amity" between these two religious groups. To win the
confidence and trust of Buddhists in this country, there are many sincere
ways that Christian Churches can use to extend a true hand of friendship
and brotherhood. Our tolerance should not be mistaken and understood
to be a weakness.
True "inter-religious amity and harmony" can be achieved
only if each religious group and their leaders learn to adopt an attitude
of mutual respect and understanding, learn the essence of " live
and let live" and learn to act within their own boundaries without
overstepping such boundaries. It will be only when this is evident and
seen through example, that real and sincere amity can prevail in this
country. We trust that the Christian & Catholic Church will strive
to prove through their actions, that they wish to work in harmony with
not only Buddhists in this country but also with the Hindus.
|
