Why this hate?
I wrote in the "Sunday Island" of 2nd January that it is hoped that the generous words with which President Kumaratunga extended her hand of friendship to the leader of the opposition, after she was sworn in as head of state and government of this country are indicative of a transformation she has had in her psyche consequent on the near-death experience she had when an attempt was made on her life by a suicide bomber at the conclusion of the Town Hall election rally.
But her recent three and a half hour T.V. address to the nation during which she blasted all those whom she considered her critics and opponents have put an end to all our hopes of the President having become a reborn Mrs. Kumaratunga.
Transformation it is said, takes place when you realize that you are absolutely nothing. Evidently that has not taken place.
It is quite possible that Mrs. Kumaratunga’s outburst is a phenomenon referred to as a "post traumatic stress disorder". In which case treatment is called for.
It is unbelievable that in a so-called Buddhist country such as ours, even the most "educated" among us are consumed by this fire called "Hate". Why is this so? A possible answer is suggested in the record of an encounter between a lady teacher and Jiddu Krishnamurti, one of contemporary India’s most renowned sages. He calls it The Process of Hate" and is reproduced below.
She was a teacher, or rather had been one. She was affectionate and kindly, and this had almost become a routine. She said she had taught for over twenty-five years and had been happy in it; and although towards the end she had wanted to get away from the whole thing, she had stuck to it. Recently she had begun to realize what was deeply buried in her nature. She had suddenly discovered it during one of the discussions, and it had really surprised and shocked her. It was there, and it wasn’t a mere self-accusation; and as she looked back through the years she could now see that it had always been there. She really hated. It was not hatred of anyone in particular, but a feeling of general hate, a suppressed antagonism towards everyone and everything. When she first discovered it, she thought it was something very superficial which she could easily throw off; but as the days went by she found that it wasn’t just a mild affair, but a deep-rooted hatred which had been going on all her life. What shocked her was that she had always thought she was affectionate and kind.
"You see, I always thought I loved the children, and even when they grew up they used to come to me for comfort when they were in trouble. I took it for granted that I loved them, especially those who were my favourites away from the classroom; but now I see there has always been an undercurrent of hate, of deep-rooted antagonism. What am I to do with this discovery? You have no idea how appalled I am by it, and though you say we must not condemn, this discovery has been very salutary."
Have you also discovered the process of hate? To see the cause, to know why you hate, is comparatively easy; but are you aware of the ways of hate? Do you observe it as you would a strange new animal?
"It is all so new to me, and I have never watched the process of hate."
Let us do so now and see what happens; let us be passively watchful of hate as it unrolls itself. Don’t be shocked, don’t condemn or find excuses; just passively watch it. Hate is a form of frustration, is it not? Fulfilment and frustration always go together.
What are you interested in, not professionally, but deep down? "I always wanted to paint."
Why haven’t you?
"My father used to insist that I should not do anything that didn’t bring in money. He was a very aggressive man, and money was to him the end of all things; he never did a thing if there was no money in it, or if it didn’t bring more prestige, more power. ‘More’ was his god and we were all his children. Though I liked him, I was opposed to him in so many ways. This idea of the importance of money was deeply embedded in me; and I liked teaching, probably because it offered me an opportunity to be the boss. On my holidays I used to paint, but it was most unsatisfactory; I wanted to give my life to it, and I actually gave only a couple of months a year. Finally I stopped painting, but it was burning inwardly. I see now how it was breeding antagonism."
Were you ever married? Have you children of your own?
"I fell in love with a married man, and we lived together secretly. I was furiously jealous of his wife and children, and I was scared to have babies, though I longed for them. All the natural things, the everyday companionship and so on, were denied me, and jealousy was a consuming fury. He had to move to another town, and my jealousy never abated. It was an unbearable thing to forget it all, I took to teaching more intensely. But now I see I am still jealous, not of him, for he is dead, but of happy people, of married people, of the successful, of almost anyone. What we could have been together was denied to us!"
Jealousy is hate, is it not? If one loves, there is no room for anything else. But we do not love; the smoke chokes our life, and the flame dies.
"I can see now that in school with my married sisters, and in almost all my relationships, there was war going on, only it was covered up. I was becoming the ideal teacher; to become the ideal teacher was my goal, and I was being recognized as such."
The stronger the ideal, the deeper the suppression, the deeper the conflict and antagonism.
"Yes, I see all that now; and strangely, as I watch, I don’t mind being what I actually am."
(Commentaries on Living - second series) (sent in by Avadhi Lanka activist Stanley Jayaweera)
Will the aged Pope have to retire?
According to a BBC TV report on 9-1-2000 a German Roman Catholic Bishop (perhaps named Bishop Liemann) has suggested that Pope John Paul the second ought to retire in view of his infirmity and inability to function in leadership. This is characteristic of virile Germanic intellectuality and rationality in applied terms. They have contributed more toward universal wisdom and mind-oriented creativity than any other nation on Earth, going back several centuries to back, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagher, Goethe, Schiller, Heine and Diesel to Einstein, Schweitzer, Luther, Stormer (Nobel Prize for Physics in 1998) and others, whose monumental contributions to the collective humanity are perhaps obscured in the fine detail because of the greater usage of the English language world-wide. The phenomenon is indicative of a particular genetic factor, at the very least.
It is also regrettably true that German theologians have often found little favour with the tightly-knit Vatican "corps" owing to their un-remitting realism in their religious applications.
Outside of all this, it is also universally known that the leaders of all associations, societies, corporate bodies, national affairs, etc, are expected to be physically and mentally capable of providing genuine leadership! the retirement age in all instances never exceeds sixty or sixty-five years!
Quite sadly, the Pope as well as the majority of the college of Cardinals are usually in the age bracket of seventy to eighty five years, which is the time of life where mental and physical faculties fail and one lives on regimens of medication! Could such persons ever provide effective leadership in the dynamic and diverse world of today! Impossible!
In fact, even a sophisticated computer software process would be incapable of handling individually the myriad modern issues relating to morality and correctness within sociology, science, invention and experimentation, education, etc, etc! How could a "collection" of old men do it, instead?
Quite undoubtedly, the German Bishop is disturbed too by the departure of thousands of persons every day from Catholicism into a confused limbo of unknowns. Some even forsake religious belief altogether and become permanently cynical (called a "death" in itself).
The malaise worldwide is the consequence of the concentrated control of aged males over religious matters in all organised faiths and beliefs! This has contributed to the breakdown of morality within societies inside of national boundaries and also internationally.
If human societies are to recover, there must be compulsory democracy based in the fundamental rights of the human person within all religious societies and hierarchies. This means kicking out of archaic arguments against the inclusion of women in equal measure (being born equal), and also the exclusion of geriatric-types from leadership positions of importance in the overall interest of the general membership.
Persons who are possessed of good conscience should never presume to a sinecure-type existence which is based in the concept of dictatorships where the consequence is universal disillusionment, inefficiency of extreme sorts some periodic revolts and divisions (as shown by world history), plus the breakdown of morality within societies and within the individual spirit.
Rohan Jayawardane
Sasana Sevaka Samithiya rejects ‘false report’
We declare emphatically that the news item in the Silumina of January 9 was a false report published to disgrace Ven. Soma Thera.
Soma Thera had publicly rejected the allegation on the cancelling of votes at the Presidetntial Election. What the Ven. Thera said was that in order to combat corruption in the country, a virtuous leadership should take control of the country and that if the present political parties did not submit a moral philosophy, then the people should use their votes by marking crosses in front of the numbers of all the candidates. Details pertaining to this has been published through media.
The statement that this was a campaign launched to support the UNP candidate is completely false. We know that the Ven. Thero publicly and impartially criticized the iniquities of both parties. Those who are knowledgeable are aware that some of the points made Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe angry.
The news item which was published says that the Ven. Thero decided to go abroad due to the reason that the devotees who flocked to the Sri Vajirarama Dharmayatanaya after the elections results of the Presidential Election were released expressed their protest towards the thero. We declare with responsibility that this news too is incorrect. The Sasana Sevaka Samithiya which is the Association of Lay Devotees of the Dharmayatanaya have not expressed such a protest towards the thero. The thero went abroad for a few months on a decision taken earlier. The participation of more than 7000 people at the Meeting of Janavijaya held on the 26th of December proves that the affection of people towards the thera has further increased.
The statement that the Siri Vajiragnana Dharmayatanaya is an independent organization unaligned to any political party is true. Soma thera’s line of venerable teachers too refuted politics. What Soma thera too follows is the same path.
The Lake House who was so far engaged in slinging mud at Soma thero carried on a publicity canard to the effect that the thero had been expelled from Australia and that due to this reason he was not in a position to return there. It has started a different canard now after the thero went abroad. We are deeply sorry to note that the media ethics have fallen to such a mean level.
We declare that this news item has been written with malice and is false. We therefore earnestly request that due publicity be given to this letter in your newspaper.
Hony. Chairperson,
Sasana Sevaka Samithiya
Traffic congestion of the roads
Not a day passes without concerned citizens of this country writing in to the newspapers complaining about the ill discipline, the lack of courtesy and good driving habits, the consequent high accident rate and traffic congestion on our roads. Many valuable and practical suggestions are made by these interested citizens to minimise avoidable traffic accidents, obviate congestion which result in unnecessary waste of time, wear and tare of vehicles, wasteful consumption of fuel, frustration and inconvenience.
Whilst these suggestions will catch the vigilant eye of the DIG (Traffic Administration) I wish to make a suggestion which may be implemented without much involvement of time. This is because ill discipline and traffic congestion on our roads needs immediate implementation of practical solutions, in addition to the long term solutions which have been enumerated at length by your concerned readers.
As far as I can see the ill discipline and congestion on our roads is ultimately due to the non enforcement of the law. Of that there is no doubt whatever. If the law is enforced strictly on all traffic offences, however trivial the offences committed by motorists and other road users are, discipline and respect for the law will return and prevail. The problem of traffic accidents and routine congestion is a total lack of discipline, which has come about due to the non enforcement of the law over a period of time. It has deteriorated to the level it is and will continue to further deteriorate to a state of chaos sooner than later. Non enforcement will continue to lead to further ill discipline, further congestion, further accidents, loss of life, avoidable expense, wastage of time and inconvenience to many.
The suggestion I make is that a part of the fines imposed on all traffic offenders be given to the traffic police as an incentive. I suggest that fifty percent of the fines imposed on every offender be given to the policeman or policemen who detect and apprehend offenders whilst the other fifty percent is credited to revenue.
If this incentive is implemented the Traffic Police will act far more enthusiastically and ensure that all offenders, without exception, are brought to book. If even the minor offences are detected and dealt with in this manner a greater sense of discipline will soon return to our roads.
I would further suggest that the fines now levied be increased to at least double what they are as a further deterrent to discourage habitual offenders.
I wonder whether the authorities will agree ? If so will they implement this suggestion as early as possible ?
Major General H. G. Silva
"Someone Somewhere"
"Someone, somewhere has saved my life. It is a miracle!" These words are from the address of President Chandrika to the nation soon after she returned home from hospital.
Yes, quite often something really tragic has to happen in our lives for us to realise that there is indeed "someone, somewhere", who loves and cares for us, protects us, comforts us and guides us. Many of us know this someone and commit ourselves daily to his care. Indeed, we can truly assure our President that many of us entrust her too to his care every day. She will not find it at all difficult to find out for herself who this wonderful someone is!
The popular South African cricketer, Jonty Rhodes, recently said, "You have only to open your heart to him and he will abide in you."
May that great someone grant her a speedy and complete recovery and also give her courage, strength and wisdom to succeed in the many arduous tasks that lie ahead for her is our earnest prayer for our President Chandrika.
R. F.
Mount Lavinia.
Appreciation
Ruby Anthonis
Ruby Anthonis, wife of the renowned surgeon Dr. P. R. Anthonis was one the extraordinary ladies of Sri Lanka. There were very few who could match her outstanding qualities. She was sincere, loving, kind, generous and always helpful. Though she was blessed with wealth, position and influence, she was simple in her ways, soft-spoken and well mannered. She was not proud, did not boast or put on airs, did not seek fame or popularity and was much loved and admired by her relatives and friends. She did not indulge in gossip or criticise persons. In fact I have never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She was deeply religious and led a truly exemplary life.
I first met Mrs. Anthonis at a doctors’ party, shortly after I got married. I was standing alone, as I hardly knew anyone among those present. I was lost in the crowd, when she walked up to me and said, "Aren’t you the wife of young Aloysius, come and join us". She introduced me to Mrs. L. D. C. Austin and Mrs. E. H. Mirando and began to involve me in their conversation and so put me at ease. This incident demonstrated to me her concern for others. On several occasions I have noted over the years, that at gatherings that she and her wonderful husband move about graciously greeting and conversing with those present, without waiting for others to come up to them.
I came to know Mrs. Anthonis very well, over 15 years ago, when we invited her to be the Founder Patron of the Doctors’ Wives Association. From that time onwards she took an active interest in all our programmes -the social service projects, the fund raising activities and also the social activities. She was a tower of strength to us. She used to contact me often and offer assistance. "Have you enough money for this project?" She often asked me and then added "if there is any problem please let me know and I will help". I recall that on two occasions when we had problems finding a venue, she even invited the Association to her spacious home for our get-togethers. She went out of her way and supervised all the arrangements. The last time I spoke to her was when I visited her when she was gravely ill. She was interested in the DWA and inquired about our next project
Dr. P. R. and Ruby Anthonis were a unique couple. In spite of the very busy lives they led they always found the time to visit the sick, comfort the bereaved, attend official and social functions. They had no religious or racial or class biases. They were extremely kind to those who worked for them. During their 58 years of happy married life they were a model for all of us.
Ruby Anthonis was a devoted wife to Dr. Anthonis, a caring mother to Lal and Priyadharshini and a loving grandmother to Erashika and Rayen. Ruby has gone but she will continue to live in our hearts and memory.
Chrissie Aloysius
President, Doctors’ Wives Association