Buddhism: Tennis to Terrorism July 11, 2013, 12:00 pm Buddhism has been in the news lately in the western media for many reasons but what shocked me most, was notable by the lack of reporting. Rather ominously, for the first time, I had difficulty in accessing the internet edition of ‘The Island’ for two days but when I did, ultimately, after a lot of frustration, it was with shock and horror I read about multiple blats in Bodh Gaya. Though the accompanying excellent editorial, ‘When savagery explodes’ in ‘The Island’ of Monday starts: ‘Yesterday’s multiple explosions at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya have left the civilised world in a state of shock and dismay. They must be condemned unreservedly and bracketed with the barbaric attacks on Sri Dalada Maligawa (1998) and the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues (2001)’most of the world was not aware of this incident. Unless I missed it badly, which I doubt, BBC TV and Sky TV, the two largest media outlets in UK had no mention of this incident at all in the news bulletins. I was reminded, a few years ago, how both of them camped outside the hospital in which a previous leader of Israel was treated for a stroke. There were regular updates too but this dastardly act did not merit even a mention. Is this not enough proof of the duplicity of the Western media? Is it not they who call themselves the civilized world! Tennis has been much in the news in UK and a very successful Wimbeldon season just concluded with the crowning glory of Andy Murray winning the men’s final, watched by nearly twenty million viewers in UK, according to some estimates. Andy broke a spell of 77 years, the last British winner of this coveted title achieving this feat long before I was born! Having read the pre-event publicity, I was very doubtful whether Andy will win more so when I read an article in the Telegraph titled ‘Novak Djokovic taps into the power of Buddha for inner peace during Wimbeldon 2013’. Novak, one of the finest players of Tennis and the current number one, who ‘crosses his heart ‘ many a time during games, going to a Thai temple in Wimbeldon did surprise me a bit but when I read the news item, could understand why: Buddhist meditation is the best way of helping to develop focusing of the mind. We in Sri Lanka are used to massacres, thanks to the brutalities unleashed by the Tigers whose remnants are still treated with respect by some ‘civilised’ countries! Other than the acts of violence by the IRA, the one that shook UK, in recent history, was the ‘Dunblane Massacre’, which happened in March 1966, when a mad gunman killed 16 little children and a teacher at a primary school in a small Scottish town. This happened in the gymnasium and the next class that was due to go in there was Andy’s. A kid who was brutalized by that trauma to develop the mental strength to overcome it and become one of the finest Tennis players in the world is indeed a remarkable achievement. It was more traumatic to his family because they knew the gunman well. When questioned about this in a recent BBC documentary, Andy cried like a baby, seeking comfort by hugging his dog. His tears should give us inspiration. We are followers a unique path laid before us by a fellow human being, though exalted he was, who elevated humans, demolishing the concept of creators. We insult Him if we resort to violence even when violence is directed at us. We have shown restraint when our Monks were killed in hundreads; when Sri Maha Bodhi was attacked; when Dalada Maligawa was attacked; but we won thanks to the leadership of President Rajapaksa. Let us wait with hope that our big brother gets to the bottom of this dastardly attack Dr. Upul Wijayawardhana
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:34:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015