This post was instigated by my being involved in the annual Vesak Bakthi Ghee event held at the half way home yesterday and a subsequent conversation with one of the latest additions to the staff cadre of the home who had read Anthropology for her degree. Bakthi Ghee is a collection of devotional invocations to the Buddha. The modern day renditions are extremely catchy and pleasing to the ear. I was hired to design and print the Souvenir for this occasion and as the Sinhala lyrics had to be transliterated into English, (to allow those who couldn’t read Sinhala to participate) resulted in my trying to understand the lyrics when it suddenly dawned on me that these devotional songs were actually documenting historical events musically and an extension to the famous chronicle of the period when Lord Buddha preached Buddhism and the events thereafter, the Mahawamsa. Why religious overtones surrounded this event, when wonder and awe at a rich cultural heritage would have been more appropriate, struck me as absurd!
My understanding of Buddhism is that it is a way of life and religion shouldn’t be playing any part in this philosophy. This view is shared by many a practicing Buddhist who have asserted so to me as an when this topic has been discussed when the occasions arose. I shared this that evening after the event with some the staff at the home.In the course of this conversation I asked the student of Anthropology, who is a Catholic as to how she reconciled Darwin’s theory of evolution with the Catholic premise that God created Adam, Eve and the rest of the whole haramarang! (choose the order). So much so for what we learn, believe and practice. Reminded me of my physics teacher in school who once told the class that we all knew our theory as far as Ohms law was concerned but wouldn’t know how to replace a domestic electrical fuse if our Moms asked us to!
What is even more bizarre is that we generally end up with the religion that our Parents belong to and seem to modify our thinking along the way, seeing and learning completely contradictory philosophies and still end up with this fanatical belief that ours is the right choice so much so that we are even ready to kill for this! Religion does play a significant role in people’s lives. The comfort, solace and the strength that we humans derive from it is no doubt beneficial provided that is not intrusive and shoved upon all and sundry as the best choice. That choice or method of practice should be private and judiciously enforced as such. Certainly macabre rituals cannot and should not be tolerated and everything should conform to what is acceptable to the social norms of the Geographic Location. This is bound lead to problems and they will have to be no doubt dealt with. Finding a method to do so will be contentious to say the least. But I digress now, that is another issue.
It is the Institutions that end up interpreting Religion and assume custody that should be checked and monitored. Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying “I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world, and yet they lay hands on everything they can get”. How very true! I have only seen one Priest in my entire existence whom I can vouch for personally never had anything apart from a hut in the Jungle in which he sheltered from the elements (It didn't belong to him), slept on the floor and was surrounded by various Idols that were very generously donated to him by the Owners who believed they brought them bad luck!
History has proved on numerous occasions that religion and politics is the most lethal cocktail to ever hit the sack. It is then that events so barbaric occur and that is when morality and consciousness don’t complement justice and fair play but get thrown out of the equation. We cannot allow institutionalized religion in the modern context especially with the advances we are making and the progress of technology. Our young need to learn the latest in Science and that has to be nurtured with the sense of balance and comprehension required to believe in whatever religion or philosophy that cater to individual needs and comfort zones rationally. It is important is to bridge the huge contradiction between what is taught at and what is perceived so that individuals empowered and confident about their ability to make the distinction between right and wrong fairly and without preconceived notions will emerge. This would lead to a more mature collective and a philosophy of live and let live.
One of the Buddhist staff members participating in the discussion opined that Buddhism is more close to evolution than anything else religious or otherwise (apart from evolution itself, that is) she is aware of. I agree! The philosophy teaches a way of life that ensures the evolution of the being from the present state of existence to the ultimate state of enlightenment. Breaking the cycle of rebirth as it were. It attracts me and quite a lot of people as well. In its simplest form it is the essence of clean living and a clear conscience. Call it what you like but what I find so appealing in this concept is that you are ultimately responsible for what you do and are answerable for your actions. There is no divine intervention or lack of, to thank or blame. However I too contradicting myself seek recourse from that elusive God for comfort when in distress. This is hard for me to overcome and is an essential ingredient in my philosophical potpourri. But then I am a complex person who not only has strange relationships with both my Gods and Demons but also with fellow Humans.
