Storm in a Teacup
A tea company made an ad with a little boy dressed in a saree dancing and then later refusing to box with his father. A Lankan Buddhist monk in Australia was arrested on charges of child sexual assault. All within a week. Guess who got the biggest reaction for ruining culture and Buddhism?
It wasn’t the monk.
Because Sri Lankans would rather worry about an implied notion of sexuality than actual sexual assault. Not just any assault – child sexual assault. And in these reactions – mostly on social media – one saw the absolute ugly side of a country where people have never learned to be civil when disagreeing or giving an opinion. The abject raw filth spouted in the name of protecting Buddhism and culture was truly disgusting and ironic at the same time. The brand managers and owners of the said tea company were named and shamed (I would have sued the people for defamation if I were one of them) and the so called educated of the island went on a rant to boycott the brand and its product. If one wasn’t living in this country, it would be almost hilarious to see these reactions and outbursts.
Because they would not last, they would eventually be forgotten in a month and in 3 months, the same ranting and raving crowd will be happily drinking the said tea brand without thinking too much about it.
But you know what lasts? The impact on the people who were trashed and who were implicated in those rants. It is so easy to spout vitriol purely by virtue of possessing a mouth – an unregulated mouth which never learned the basics of Buddhism – a middle path, compassionate love and tolerance. The great warriors of Buddhism and its protestant version have inadvertently violated the very tenets they claim to protect. And it is this irony that a majority who claim to follow the philosophy of the Buddha, so blindly fail to see.
This is our greatest failing as a nation – the lack of self awareness, insight and empathy have led us on a path of self destruction for centuries. With or without the coloniser, the average Lankan has an ego the size of the Indian Ocean while dwelling on an island the size of a raindrop. And we tout Buddhism like a badge of honour without an ounce of understanding of what it truly entails. It is a true travesty which keeps unfolding almost daily.
By all means, have an opinion and disagree vehemently. But learn to do so like a civilised human being and not some barbarian. Our education system is yet to teach these basics – to question authority without assuming it is insubordination, to disagree in a civil manner without resorting to aggression and to accept defeat with grace without resorting to violence.
We have a long way to go – the storms keep brewing and blowing over, yet the tea remains the same. It’s time to change up and brew a better cup.
