Our worthy traditions on visiting temples

The article in The Island, dated 15th March 2021 – “Buddhists must visit temples regularly – PM” – takes us back to the pre-Independence era when we Buddhist children, in the 1930s, observed ‘Ata Sil,’ on Poya days, boys in shorts and girls in white frocks, with a piece of white cloth as a shawl, representing the ‘Sil Redda’, around our shoulders, go to the temple early morning, recite ‘Pan Sil’ the five Precepts, and the memorized ‘Gathas’ in ancient Pali or Sanskrit, not knowing their meanings; worship the Buddha in the ‘Budu Ge, and then squatting on mats on the soft sand covered ground to worship at the foot of the Chaithya ‘Pagoda,’ then a few prayers at the Bo Tree, light ‘pol thel panas’ and handun kurus., forego lunch as a ritual, and later listen to Bana, and, in the evening, disrobe that shawl, have dinner and attend to our normal routine work.

Those days, during the colonial era, Poya was not a government holiday. Only Sunday was observed as a day of rest and hence a non-working day. Of course, when someone falls ill and needs blessings for a quick recovery, or before one sits for the annual promotion exam., one goes to the temple to worship the Buddha and seek blessings for success.

During our childhood, there were no radio and TV providing news and entertainment. Never heard of politicians going to temples, and no one spoke about them. But now, It is a common sight to that the Heads of Government, Ministers, Deputies and their retinue of back scratchers, and cameramen, visit the Chief Monks of popular temples, going down on their knees, offering ‘Ata Pirikaras and huge fruit trays, seeking advice, get holy ‘Pirith Noolas’ tied on their wrists and come out , ignoring the advice and announcing to the public around them what they propose to do to elevate the suffering of the poor by building expensive highways, harbours, etc. One wonders whether these politicians do care to visit temples privately, to pray without their TV and security staff around them?

In the good old days, one could hear, at dawn, in the distance, the beautiful toll of the temple bells, and the beating of drums, to indicate it was Poya. It was like the Christian Sabbath. Even at home, neither fish nor meat was cooked, but only Kiribath with sambol for breakfast. Temples were holy places for worship. The monks were well respected and one would go on one’s knees to worship them. The yellow robe represents holiness. Long ago, it was a familiar sight that monks, long before noon, go on Pindapatha, piously walking barefoot, from house to house, with their begging bowls wrapped with the edge of the robe, where they were served food and whispered “Budu Saranai’ and the monk saying ‘Suwapath Wewa’, seeking blessings of peace and happiness by the offerings. Those days, the Buddhist monks were venerated and the preachings of the Buddha was sacred. The monks wore the sacred golden yellow robes, known as the ‘Sivura’, with shaved heads. Now the robes are tinted shades of yellow, brown, purple and almost red, which has robbed its holiness.

Of late, everything has changed where monks are given prominence at public meetings and are in the forefront of strikes, forgetting their religion, behaving like thugs, even uttering filthy. Long ago, they received teachings in Privenas, but now they enter Universities, join the disgruntled, sit with the female students, and I suppose do not behave as monks, and, finally, leave the monkhood, bringing disrepute to the yellow robe.

It is imperative the Maha Sanga should never be allowed to dabble in politics. Their opinion could be sought. Most TV channels have Bana preaching programmes on Poya days and there are several Buddhist TV channels, too. No parent should let their children listen to anti-religious, anti-communal preaching. It should be Karuna, Metha, Upeksha. In the modern science-dominated world, children have hardly any time to visit the temple, even on Poya. There shouldn’t be any compulsion, but encourage a child to pray at a temple, in addition to reciting prayers every evening, and kissing or worshipping their parents, and elders, saying ‘Thun Saranai,’ and good night before going to sleep.

Parents should spend more of their free time with their children, be vigilant about their behaviour and company they keep. Children, without parental love,are prone to take up to drugs and crime. Religion to a child is very essential, whatever religion they belong to. Our beautiful country of mixed races and religions, needs patriotic religious politicians like the ones during the pre-independence era; who sacrificed their wealth and time to eradicate poverty and make Sri Lanka a beautiful and a peaceful country.

A CHILDHOOD DREAMER Kohuwala