Within a matter of a few weeks, some Sri Lankan Buddhists seem to have come forth to fight a so-called well-orchestrated and foreign funded plot allegedly aiming to create religious divisions in the country, especially among Buddhism and other religions. While these concerns are not new and are not limited to Buddhism, certain statements made by several public figures and the interpretations of those statements have been quite successful in convincing the people, religious leaders and even politicians that this threat has reached an alarming level that it requires legal actions and even law related reforms.

Although these statements hardly said anything that has not already been said by the public, they attracted widespread attention, especially on social media. Earlier this month, pastor Jerome Fernando said that the Buddha was merely an ‘enlightened one’ and that Jesus was the ‘light’ that the Buddha was looking for, and that therefore, Buddhists should embrace Jesus. During an event for his followers, he made similar statements about Islam and Hinduism as well, which resulted in the law enforcement seeking to arrest him for allegedly insulting religions. There is a pending arrest warrant and foreign travel ban on Fernando who is overseas and has since filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking the prevention of imminent arrest. Meanwhile, stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya, during an event for a limited audience, questioned certain aspects of Buddhist literature, among others, which resulted in her arrest last week and remanding as well as severe opposition from the public, not only against her but also the organisers of the said event and certain other local stand-up comedians that have spoken about religious beliefs earlier. This spate of concerns over allegedly insulting religions involved a Buddhist monk too. This week, Ven. Rajangane Saddharathana Thera was arrested and remanded for making statements that were allegedly detrimental to religious harmony.

Whether the said alleged threats or insults are perceived ones or real is yet to be discussed properly. However, they are all being investigated for allegedly insulting religions and trying to create religious divisions, and there is now a discussion as to how the law should and can deal with religious insults, and the criticism and questioning of religious beliefs. The Daily Morning spoke to a legal professional and a Buddhist academic to discuss these concerns.

• Buddhist and Pali academic don Ven. Ilukewela Dhammarathana Thera calls for engagement with logical discourses, instead of taking expeditious and splenetic umbrage at different or critical statements

Buddhism takes a very tolerant and receptive approach towards criticism and insults, and the Buddha has demonstrated those qualities many a time. Stressing this, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka’s Faculty of Buddhist Studies Dean and Senior Lecturer (Grade II) in Buddhist Philosophy, Ven. Ilukewela Dhammarathana Thera noted the importance of engaging in logical and peaceful discourses, instead of being offended at different or critical statements straight away.

Following are excerpts from the interview: 

Q: The main claim in all the above-mentioned incidents is that the said statements are tantamount to an insult to Buddhism. How does Buddhism see insults, criticism, and having different opinions?

A: There is a place for different opinions in Buddhism. In Buddhism, any person has the freedom to say anything the way they feel and understand what they are speaking about. Even the Buddha was seen by various people in various ways. But, he stated that understanding him for his physical features is of no importance, but instead, to understand him through what he has preached. He said that it is a person who sees what he has preached that sees him. People may comprehend what the Buddha has taught according to their intelligence and vision. Not just the said pastor, even Buddhist monks interpret the Buddha’s teachings in various ways, and that is based on their own understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

Q: What is your response to the criticism or questioning of Buddhism or the Buddha’s character?

A: It has become a trend to oppose different opinions claiming that they would cause a big damage. For example, no one likes when religious leaders, parents or children are criticised or their flaws are pointed out. This weakness could be seen in today’s people. Various people may see flaws in the Buddha’s character too. One might feel that it is wrong of the Buddha to leave his son and wife when he was Prince Siddhartha. It is merely how they have comprehended it. There are certain things about the Buddha that have been accepted in Buddhist literature. For example, some Buddhist monks question the Buddha’s 32 marks of a great man, while some monks even question whether the Buddha took seven steps on lotus flowers after being born. There are those who try to show that the Buddha was an ordinary man and they do so by questioning things that cannot be accepted in an ordinary society while stating that those aspects that they question exist however as special characteristics of the Buddha’s character.

We are saddened about Buddhist monks questioning the Buddha’s character, although we have no issue concerning statements made by non-Buddhists as they do not know who the Buddha was and since their comments are based on what they have heard from here and there. Some people use these types of incidents to create divisions in society and to get attention. Fernando is not a Buddhist. Even Buddhist monks level various allegations about the Buddha.

Q: If one feels that something about Buddhism is wrong or should be viewed differently, how can they do that in the context of Buddhism?

A: In one Sutta (scripture), the Buddha teaches how to deal with one’s teacher. To get to know that teacher, be it the Buddha or whoever, we must go to them and associate with them closely and see their physical behaviour. That is how we can get to know whether they have the qualities that they preach. So, when the Buddha was alive, he gave that freedom to any person. If someone had a doubt or a different opinion about the Buddha, any person was allowed to investigate it. When a Brahmin (member of the priestly class) expressed doubts about the Buddha’s 32 marks of a great man, the Buddha made those marks visible which dispelled the doubts that the said brahmin had. The Buddha talked about respecting other religions or religious leaders as well. A follower of Nigantha Nataputta (leader of a religion within the Hindu society) visited the Buddha because he believed that his former teacher was not good enough and that the Buddha was better. The Buddha told him not to give up their teachers and to continue to treat them well, even if Upali (a chief disciple of the Buddha) decides to follow the Buddha instead.

Any person may have different opinions about the Buddha. It is one thing to criticise them in a manner that causes a disservice to the (religious) teacher, and it is another thing to express one’s opinion the way that they have understood something.