A Sangha convention titled “Maha Sangha Convention” was held on February 20th at the headquarters of the Buddhist Maha Sammelanaya with the objective of informing the public about the pressures currently being exerted on Buddhism and the Maha Sangha.

At the convention, a Sangha Declaration was jointly proclaimed by all monks and Buddhist leaders in the country with the aim of alleviating the social crises presently faced by the Buddha Sasana, the Buddhist clergy and the people.

Accordingly, the declaration, bearing the signatures of the clergy, is due to be formally presented to the President in the near future, stated the Chief Incumbent of Moratuwa Lunawa Bodhirajaramaya and Head of the Department of Sinhala at the University of Colombo, Agalakada Siri Sumanan Thera.

The ten-point Sangha Declaration is as follows:

01. We emphasise to the Government that when Arahant Mahinda Thera brought the Sacred Dhamma to this land and established it here, it was done with the full patronage of King Devanampiyatissa, the then ruler of Sri Lanka; that from that time the State and Buddhism in Sri Lanka have been closely intertwined; that, based on this relationship, the responsibility of building a moral nation was entrusted both to the ruler and to religion; and that, as monks have historically fulfilled the role of guiding rulers in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha, this right must be recognised.

02. As the responsibility of safeguarding the Buddha Sasana and all cultures associated with it, protected and nurtured by former kings, has been affirmed by the Kandyan Convention, endorsed by the Constitutions of 1972 and 1978, and defined by judicial interpretation, we stress that it is the duty of the Government to protect this constitutional right.

03. We stress that national unity, harmony and coexistence depend on the historically evolved relationship between the laity and the clergy; that neither colonial powers nor even the LTTE were able to destroy this relationship; that it has helped mitigate various natural disasters and epidemics; and that the Government must take necessary action to defeat short-sighted measures pursued by state and non-state actors, including via social media, aimed at undermining and dividing this relationship.

04. We emphasise to the Government that past rulers governed with great reverence and respect for the Buddha Sasana; that inscriptions record that the irreligious should not rule this land; and that governance must therefore be conducted in accordance with Buddhist political philosophy, particularly by practising the Dasa Raja Dhamma and the Four Bases of Social Harmony, and by ruling without falling into the four forms of bias.

05. We emphasise that Buddha statues have, from ancient times, been objects of the highest veneration among the devout Buddhist people of Sri Lanka; that great creations such as Samadhi, Aukana and Gal Vihara statues were built by ancient kings through great effort to cultivate faith among the people; that these religious and cultural heritages continue to be deeply venerated today; and therefore that no action showing disrespect towards Buddha statues should be carried out by the Government or any other social institution, and that necessary legal measures must be taken to prevent such acts.

06. We stress that Anuradhapura Maha Vihara was the centre of Buddhist education; that monks served as the principal teachers of the people, thereby nurturing a morally upright generation; that the educational contribution of monks, including their role in developing advanced literary traditions, must be recognised; and that, based on the historical development of Buddhist education from institutions such as Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara Pirivenas to universities, modern pirivena and school education should be strengthened, with due attention paid to Buddhist educational principles in curriculum development.

07. We emphasise that the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, previously overseen directly by Presidents, has become inactive, weakened and ineffective due to the absence of a responsible minister; that officials have failed to efficiently serve monks and lay Buddhists seeking services from the Department of Buddhist Affairs; and therefore that the Government must make the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and the Department of Buddhist Affairs efficient and effective institutions.

08. We urge the Government to administer the State in a manner that fulfils the historic aspirations of the people for righteous governance, regarded as the foundation of economic, political and social progress, as expressed in the Buddhist prayer “Devo Vassatu Kalena”.

09. We emphasise that Buddhist archaeological sites, sacred places, temples and devalagam are not the private property of monks but the heritage of the nation, and that the Government bears responsibility for ensuring their protection against any form of damage.

10. We emphasise that when monks, anywhere in Sri Lanka, conduct themselves with moral discipline and dignity, engaging in altruistic service for the welfare of themselves and the wider community in this world and the next, actions that undermine the dignity of the clergy, such as derogatory statements, the spread of hostile opinions, ridicule, insults and accusations by social media activists, must not be allowed to take place under the authority of the State.

Courtesy:Sri Lanka Mirror