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General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: Namdrol on April 22, 2012, 12:25:16 PM
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I have read news of other religions protesting, but never Buddhists protesting about other religions, this is the first time and is quick shocking to me, what do you think?
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=43,10852,0,0,1,0 (http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=43,10852,0,0,1,0)
Thousands of Buddhist monks protest construction of mosque in Sri Lankan town
PTI, April 21, 2012
Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Thousands of Buddhist monks and their supporters stormed a mosque in Sri Lanka's north central town of Dambulla to protest its construction in an area designated as a Buddhist sacred zone.
About 2,000 protesters, including 300 monks, waiving Buddhist flags and shouting slogans on Friday marched from the Dambulla town to the mosque at Kandalama a few kilometers away.
The police intervened as protestors entered the mosque and asked the devotees to leave after Friday prayers ended.
Local administrative officials has said the construction of the mosque was illegal and its removal would be done starting next Monday.
However, the worshippers claim that the mosque has been there for decades and is legal.
The protest came as a powerful leading Buddhist monk blamed the authorities for allegedly selling lands within the sacred Buddhist zone of Dambulla to non-Buddhist elements.
The authorities denied the charge. A similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama.
The hotel remains a leading eco tourism location in the island. About 7 per cent of Sri Lanka's 20 million people are Muslims.
About 74 per cent are Sinhalese, who are mostly Buddhists, while about 18 per cent are Tamils, who are predominantly Hindus or Christians.
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I think these protestors have done right to protest because the mosque was allegedly built on a Buddhist sacred zone. In the first place why had the authorities sold the land within a Buddhist sacred zone? In the report it said a similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama. If the protest is not staged, a precedent will be set where Buddhist sacred land will be sold for commercial or other purposes by the irresponsible authorities! If that happens, more and more sacred lands will be lost.
Nowadays, Buddhists are more proactive and will not remain silent and would take the necessary actions to defend sacred Buddhist sites. Many ancient Buddhist sacred sites and relics have either been stolen, damaged or lost. If Buddhists remained passive, these holy lands and objects will be gone forever and the future generations will not be able to benefit from them. Buddhists must protect the legacies left behind by Buddha Shakyamuni and the lineage masters thereafter.
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I think these protestors have done right to protest because the mosque was allegedly built on a Buddhist sacred zone. In the first place why had the authorities sold the land within a Buddhist sacred zone? In the report it said a similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama. If the protest is not staged, a precedent will be set where Buddhist sacred land will be sold for commercial or other purposes by the irresponsible authorities! If that happens, more and more sacred lands will be lost.
Nowadays, Buddhists are more proactive and will not remain silent and would take the necessary actions to defend sacred Buddhist sites. Many ancient Buddhist sacred sites and relics have either been stolen, damaged or lost. If Buddhists remained passive, these holy lands and objects will be gone forever and the future generations will not be able to benefit from them. Buddhists must protect the legacies left behind by Buddha Shakyamuni and the lineage masters thereafter.
I understand your point and I see that the protesters had every right, however, protesting and demolishing another place of worship is perhaps not the way to go! If everyone were to fight and protest on what is seemingly theirs to begin with, we would be fighting an unending battle on this planet.
I say, do not let yet another political stance using religious freedom and rights be used. It is not about the muslims nor the Buddhist... it is about corrupt and greedy political elements in society that has to be weeded out. Let's not use a religious stance on a country already torn with civil unrest and war for decades!
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This is how disharmony begins. We Buddhist are thought to respect other religion and it's practitioners. But what will happen when other religion disrespect Buddhism? Protest againts other religion and demolishing other places of worship does not help elevate tension instead it creates more unrest and religious disharmony. What is wrong with having other place of worship in a Buddhsit sacred land? Isn't it good that other places of worship are next to each other which can be a foundation of world peace? Why can't all religions be side by side and promote peace? Protesting, fighting demolishing and etc is the direct causes of war and more unrest. In this current degenerate era we are already experiencing religious extremism created by selfish and ignorant people which leads to more suffering.
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Some questions I have:
Is it okay for buddhist monks to protest something on the basis of this? The fact that the land is rightfully theirs? Or is it not buddhist of them to do so, seeing as it is just them succumbing to samsara, as they value the land higher than their practice.
In addition, is it negative karma for the monks to do so? Or do the corrupt practices by the people who have allowed this to happen receive negative karma?
Lastly, is protesting in this manner a practicing buddhism, or should they just learn to let go, and let others win, while respecting religions. I know it may have been the muslims fault, but should they be the "bigger man" and just let it slide?
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It is sad to see this articles. Religion practice is something that help one to become a better person in the pass but these days people used religion as a method to gain their own popularity. In the pass temple, mosque and church can be next to each other but these days you want to find one whom is next to each other is so difficult. Hopefully no one gets hurts.
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Some questions I have:
Is it okay for buddhist monks to protest something on the basis of this? The fact that the land is rightfully theirs? Or is it not buddhist of them to do so, seeing as it is just them succumbing to samsara, as they value the land higher than their practice.
In addition, is it negative karma for the monks to do so? Or do the corrupt practices by the people who have allowed this to happen receive negative karma?
Lastly, is protesting in this manner a practicing buddhism, or should they just learn to let go, and let others win, while respecting religions. I know it may have been the muslims fault, but should they be the "bigger man" and just let it slide?
My opinion is as a Buddhist we learn the meaning of impermanence and the law of cause and effect. Fighting, protesting does not make anything better in fact the results are always not pleasant. I'm not sure if it is the Muslims fault but it seems that it was there before. I think making friends and letting them share the space will create inter religious harmony.
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This is really serious , first time I have heard of Buddhist monks and supporters closing down a mosque ! Can imagine what will happen if this gets out of hand.
I totally agree with sonam dhargey on why cant they co exist peacefully and promote religious harmony. After all they are Buddhist right ? Impermanence is top of the list in the teachings of Buddhists , practice of generosity as well ! Why cant they allow for those poor minority muslims to have their mosque ? After all it not like they built a slaughter house there.
Maybe this is what happens when buddhists take for granted that they are the majority in Sri Lanka and they have the authorities on their side. In my opinion , this is does not represent the Buddhist community well. I have always been taught from young to respect others religion and their rights to practice what they belief. What better opportunity is there to show to the world what Buddhism stands for by allowing a minority to practice their faith. Wouldn't it be wonderful if those Muslims dedicate their prayers in thanks to the kind Buddhist for allowing them some space . That would truly change the world , blessed are those who can provide for others.
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I think these protestors have done right to protest because the mosque was allegedly built on a Buddhist sacred zone. In the first place why had the authorities sold the land within a Buddhist sacred zone? In the report it said a similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama. If the protest is not staged, a precedent will be set where Buddhist sacred land will be sold for commercial or other purposes by the irresponsible authorities! If that happens, more and more sacred lands will be lost.
This reminds me of another post, debating about whether holy sites should be developed or remain stet. http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=1544.msg23347#msg23347 (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=1544.msg23347#msg23347)
To me, I don't think the blessings embedded in a Buddhist sacred land can be lost merely because it is used for commercial or other purposes. Wouldn't the blessings be like how Buddha imprints in our mind cannot be erased even after we have taken numerous rebirths? I would have thought that the blessings of the sacred land would spill into whatever building that is constructed on it and benefit whoever that is using the land... So if a mosque was built on it, how wonderful that the Muslims who used the mosque can also get blessings from the Buddhas. However, it is easier said than done to remain cool and can still rejoice for the Muslims if we imagine ourselves as these monks!
If Buddhists remained passive, these holy lands and objects will be gone forever and the future generations will not be able to benefit from them. Buddhists must protect the legacies left behind by Buddha Shakyamuni and the lineage masters thereafter.
This sounds like what the "extremists" would say in relation to their religion / religious objects.. :P
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To me, any religion who protest against other religion is not acceptable. Hearing Buddhist protests against other religion is even more sad because Buddhism has been known for its tolerance on other religions.
I once heard a Lama said, we as Dharma teacher should find the similarities between religions, not to compare the differences. He said, if we focus on the differences, it will definitely create a lot of frictions and tensions. However, if we focus on similarities, then we will work in harmony and people, government, country around us will be happy.
Let's stop the protest and set a good example!
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The Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka need not feel threatened by the construction of a mosque in Sri Lanka, even though it is situated on Buddhist land. After all, the Muslim population is only 7 %. It is possible that the mosque had been there for decades and nobody took notice until the leading Buddhist monk complained to the authorities. In fact, being Buddhists they should be kind and helpful to others and promote religious harmony. In the history of the world, Buddhists have never gone to war in the name of religion. Buddhists are supposed to defend non-violence and promote world peace. The protestors were not ordinary people. They were monks with dharma knowledge! To me this is incredible.
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Buddhist monks shouldn't behave this way. It is not acceptable for the monks to shout and protest. As Buddhists, we should lead by example to promote religious tolerance. A mosque is also a place of worship and if the mosque is built on Buddhist sacred land then whoever enters the mosque will also received blessings. Muslims are human beings too and we as Buddhists should have compassion for them too. In fact, to show respect and tolerance of each others faith, it is good if places of worship of different religions are build next to each other.
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1. When was the area designated as a Buddhist sacred zone?
2. The worshipers claim that the mosque had been there for decades - what this before or after the declaration as a Buddhist sacred zone?
If the mosque was built after the declaration, then legally it would mean that the mosque should not have been built? But can they not share the land and be at peace?
But whichever is the case, the protesters were Buddhist monks and supporters - this should not be so as Buddhism does not teach nor condone such an act.
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I have read news of other religions protesting, but never Buddhists protesting about other religions, this is the first time and is quick shocking to me, what do you think?
[url]http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=43,10852,0,0,1,0[/url] ([url]http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=43,10852,0,0,1,0[/url])
Thousands of Buddhist monks protest construction of mosque in Sri Lankan town
PTI, April 21, 2012
Colombo, Sri Lanka -- Thousands of Buddhist monks and their supporters stormed a mosque in Sri Lanka's north central town of Dambulla to protest its construction in an area designated as a Buddhist sacred zone.
About 2,000 protesters, including 300 monks, waiving Buddhist flags and shouting slogans on Friday marched from the Dambulla town to the mosque at Kandalama a few kilometers away.
The police intervened as protestors entered the mosque and asked the devotees to leave after Friday prayers ended.
Local administrative officials has said the construction of the mosque was illegal and its removal would be done starting next Monday.
However, the worshippers claim that the mosque has been there for decades and is legal.
The protest came as a powerful leading Buddhist monk blamed the authorities for allegedly selling lands within the sacred Buddhist zone of Dambulla to non-Buddhist elements.
The authorities denied the charge. A similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama.
The hotel remains a leading eco tourism location in the island. About 7 per cent of Sri Lanka's 20 million people are Muslims.
About 74 per cent are Sinhalese, who are mostly Buddhists, while about 18 per cent are Tamils, who are predominantly Hindus or Christians.
Sigh... I suppose this happens everywhere. Regardless of religion, the minority always suffers and constantly in a difficult situation.
If the area truly was a holy site... why was it abandoned until a mosque was built on it and then forced to demolish after a few decades? The protesters should at least check the validity of such claims before storming in a place of worship, causing much disharmony... And if after checking it was found to be indeed true, then at least try to talk to the muslim devotees and come up with some agreeable terms where both ends with a win-win situation.
Personally, I think it was unfair of them to just storm in a person's religious place and demand them to leave... I would be pretty miffed if that happened to me...
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To me, I don't think the blessings embedded in a Buddhist sacred land can be lost merely because it is used for commercial or other purposes. Wouldn't the blessings be like how Buddha imprints in our mind cannot be erased even after we have taken numerous rebirths? I would have thought that the blessings of the sacred land would spill into whatever building that is constructed on it and benefit whoever that is using the land... So if a mosque was built on it, how wonderful that the Muslims who used the mosque can also get blessings from the Buddhas. However, it is easier said than done to remain cool and can still rejoice for the Muslims if we imagine ourselves as these monks!
This sounds like what the "extremists" would say in relation to their religion / religious objects.. :P
negra orquida, I like your point. How wonderful it is for people of other religions to be blessed with Buddha's energy and power. This is not the first time we have heard about monk going on a protest, how many of this protest show success? Look at the situation from collective Karma point of view, perhaps these people do not have the collective karma to have Dharma staying in that place? Going on a protest will only create more tension among people. How can the issue be resolved when 2 parties become defensive?
Peace, harmony, compassion, respect are the key values in Buddhism, use these methods to resolve issues. If we want to solve a problem, start from ourselves, it is easier that way. When others see us change, they will change too.
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Sad to read about this..
As a practitioners of all religions, we should not solve any problem by protest isn't it?
Either the place belong to any religion, at the end of day it will bring benefit to people in that religion. Once the practitioners of any religions does protest, it bring down faith of people as it contradict with the essence of the teaching which is about peaceful, compassion and care etc
i not sure how this protest will going to end but i hope, no one get hurt from it.
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Holy mack. This is the first time that I've heard of monks interfering with another religion. I mean there are monks who protest (e.g. for the Shugden ban, in Burma), but never to enter another holy site to chase them out. It's so disrespectful. How can they face themselves to have the arrogance to say what's theirs and not theirs. Do their vows allow them to do that?
I agree with what Drondrop says though, that monks now have to fight for their own rights to preserve the teachings. But how far can they take it? :S This protest harms others...
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Personally, I feel that the protestor has all the right to protest to protect their sacred land but in term of removing worshiping place I can’t really agree much. No doubt the land is a designated area as a Buddhist sacred zone but there would be a better deal/way to protect the harmonious of inter religious. For example having built a new mosque outside the Buddhist sacred as a replacement.
I also disagree about the police intervened as protestor asked the devotees to leave. This is not the way and is a bad way. No respect shown. The real problem is the authorities for allegedly sales the lands. If it’s a sacred Buddhist zone how can it be sold? Obvious reason, Greed!
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I think these protestors have done right to protest because the mosque was allegedly built on a Buddhist sacred zone. In the first place why had the authorities sold the land within a Buddhist sacred zone? In the report it said a similar protest in the area in 1992 couldn't prevent the construction of a five star hotel at Kandalama. If the protest is not staged, a precedent will be set where Buddhist sacred land will be sold for commercial or other purposes by the irresponsible authorities! If that happens, more and more sacred lands will be lost.
Nowadays, Buddhists are more proactive and will not remain silent and would take the necessary actions to defend sacred Buddhist sites. Many ancient Buddhist sacred sites and relics have either been stolen, damaged or lost. If Buddhists remained passive, these holy lands and objects will be gone forever and the future generations will not be able to benefit from them. Buddhists must protect the legacies left behind by Buddha Shakyamuni and the lineage masters thereafter.
What dondrup wrote is very true. The key here is setting a precedence of respect and preservation of the religion for the sake of the spiritual practitioners. A notorious case of destruction with no regards to Buddhism is when the Talibans blew up the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
(http://tganderson.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/dscf00191.jpg)
If no one refutes in peaceful methods and allow others to take away holy sites or destroy holy objects, this set precedence will lead to more destruction. Then the repercussions will not serve the spiritual practitioners ultimately.
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At the end of the day, I strongly believe this article is really not about Buddhism versus Islam. It is, as always, just the press creating sensationalism to sell the story.
This is purely about corruption and its effects. How the violation of basic rights are often disregarded and bulldozed aside. In this instance it so happens to involve a Buddhist sacred site and a Islamic mosque. Purely coincidental but certainly “sensational”!
One needs to go to the root of the problem and shovel out the problem. This like many other religiously laced, political agendas, are very sad because it pushes the wrong issues to the limelight. Sad but it is an often used ruse to get the votes!
The Dorje Shugden ban is no different as at times it seems like Dorje Shugden is used as the scape goat to propel certain political goals… so some people may want us to believe. However I know there is a higher purpose and a greater motivation than just purely political. But then even HHDL knows a thing or two about sensationalism I am sure! ;)
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Hey Nmadrol,
Thanks for sharing the news. It is indeed very rarely do we hear of such 'violence' act under the banner of Buddhism. It is never in Buddha's teaching that we are taught to fight but we are to offer victory to others.
Having said the above, I have to agree with the decision of protesting by those monks. They were protecting the right of use of the land, the temple built on it are the means to spread Buddha's teaching hence should be safe-guarded at all costs.
I am not encouraging violent act in any way, shape or form but we must be assertive in defending dharma and not simply surrender to unfair treatments. We should be kind, loving, compassion and embody all good qualities that a good Buddhist should be BUT at the same time be FIRM in defending our rights and not be a sad pushover.
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I think we have very little information with regards to what spurred these monks to protest. I think that the grounds must have holy remains of ancient Buddhis temples, perhaps. Whatever the case, I can't really make the judgement on whether the monks did was wrong or right. I believe either way, if the monks protested in a peaceful manner, it would be alright. As long as nobody gets hurt, it should be alright.
Who are we to judge the monastics? We cannot make judgement of the situation when so little information is presented to us. We still cannot be certain of the true intentions of these monks. I think in the end, this little protest will not inspire other monks to do the same unless the whole monastic tradition is threatened. After all, who wants a repeat of the Bamiyan Buddha situation. That's the only fear and i believe if it takes protests to stop such negative actions, so be it.
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Holy mack. This is the first time that I've heard of monks interfering with another religion. I mean there are monks who protest (e.g. for the Shugden ban, in Burma), but never to enter another holy site to chase them out. It's so disrespectful. How can they face themselves to have the arrogance to say what's theirs and not theirs. Do their vows allow them to do that?
I agree with what Drondrop says though, that monks now have to fight for their own rights to preserve the teachings. But how far can they take it? :S This protest harms others...
I think it is incorrect to judge whether what the monks did was right or wrong. We should instead findout if to refrain from protesting falls under one of the 253 monk vows. If it does not, then that is fine. Being a Buddhist does not mean that you let others step all over you. You have to stand for what is right to protect yourself and also not to let the other party create more bad karma by taking away from you what is rightfully yours. Shugdenpas also protest against the surpression of their practice. So is that right or wrong then??
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To me, any religion who protest against other religion is not acceptable. Hearing Buddhist protests against other religion is even more sad because Buddhism has been known for its tolerance on other religions.
I once heard a Lama said, we as Dharma teacher should find the similarities between religions, not to compare the differences. He said, if we focus on the differences, it will definitely create a lot of frictions and tensions. However, if we focus on similarities, then we will work in harmony and people, government, country around us will be happy.
Let's stop the protest and set a good example!
Tolerance doesn't mean we do not stand up for our rights and letting others take advantage and bully us. I do believe that in modern times, it is important to do so and not let the rest of the world label Buddhist as 'passive' and weak.
I am not sure about the details, but I do think there must be something fishy/not right there to the extent that monks have to come out and protest. Why is it that the authority sell off lands that were sanctioned as "Buddhist sacred zone"? Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country, I think the authority would have some respect for the monks? Or perhaps greed overrides the virtuous mind?
Anyway, I have read claims that a minority was trying to create sectarian problems in Sri Lanka where most Muslims and Sinhalese Buddhists co-existed well. There were news that a group of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka led a crowd that demolished a Muslim shrine, but no media in Sri Lanka has reported this except for BBC so I am not too sure whether the event actually took place and then the authority tried to do a cover up, or it was just fabricated propaganda.
Read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14926002 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14926002)
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As Buddhists, one of the verse in 8 verses of transformation is to let others win.
As Buddhists, one should understand that we own nothing and die with nothing.
A mosque is a meant to be a place where people come together and engage in spiritual practice. They may not have the same beliefs but all religions are good. In fact, these Sri Lankans should take this opportunity to make friends and show the world that we accept all religion and can live in peace.
That is what all religion should do ... Promote interfaith religion and harmony to set an example.
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It saddens me that the monks have to be involved in secular movements and it is because of the way the government work. Just like this one http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=2074.0 (http://www.dorjeshugden.com/forum/index.php?topic=2074.0)
And I thought as Buddhists we shouldn't have attachments and this one have to do with a land that we cannot take with us physically. What happened to tolerance and harmony? All of us here do not live in a country that has 100% Buddhists hence there will always be dispute over who it belongs to, why this/that religion can do that, whose religion have more practitioners, etc. HHDL have always time and again promote religious freedom which promotes harmony.
Excerpts from His Holiness the Dalai Lama's address to the inter-faith seminar organised by the International Association for Religious Freedom, Ladakh Group, in Leh on 25 August.
Ladakh has been a predominantly Buddhist area for so many centuries. But other religions such as Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism have also flourished here. Although it is natural for the people of Ladakh to have attachment to and love for their own religions, yet this place has a very peaceful environment with no major problems of religious intolerance. During my maiden visit to Ladakh, I heard elderly Muslims using the phrase "community of sangha" in their speeches. Although such phrases are not found in Islam, yet a reference of this kind invokes a lot of trust amongst the Buddhists. Therefore, people from different religious background in Ladakh are very close to each other and live in harmony.
As far as the Muslims are concerned it is appropriate for them to have complete devotion to Allah while praying in the mosques. This is also the same with Buddhists who are completely devoted to the Buddha when they pray in Buddhist temples. A society, which has many religions should also have many prophets and sources of refuge. In such a society it is very important to have harmony and respect amongst the different religions and their practitioners. We must distinguish between belief and respect. Belief refers to total faith, which you must have in your own religion. At the same time you should have respect for all other religions. This tradition of believing in one's own religion and having respect for others is in existence in Ladakh since your forefathers. Therefore you do not have to invent it. The most important thing at the moment is to preserve and promote this tradition. I would like to thank all of you for working hard regarding this and request you to continue to do so in the future.
If a harmonious relationship is established amongst societies and religious beliefs in today's multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural world, then it will surely set a very good example for others. However, if all the sides become careless, then there is a danger of imminent problems. In a multiethnic society the biggest problem is that of between the majority and the minority. For instance, in the capital Leh, Buddhists constitute the majority of the population whereas Muslims belong to the minority community. The majority must consider the minority as their invited guests. The minority, on the other hand, should be able to sensitise with the majority. In other words, both sides should live in harmony. In order to sustain this harmony, both sides should not take lightly the sensitive issues between themselves. Indeed, the majority should pay attention to and appreciate the views and opinion of the minority. Both sides should discuss and clearly express what they think about the other's view and opinion. The minority, on the other hand, should be careful about where the sensitive issues of the majority lies and express whatever doubts they have in their minds. If problems are resolved in such a friendly manner; then both sides will gain. Suspicion of each other will only harm both communities. Therefore, it is very important to live in harmony and analyse where the opinion of the other lies. The best way to do this is to engage in dialogue, dialogue and dialogue.