tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post5735666085818480349..comments2024-03-13T21:38:21.872+05:30Comments on Sri Lanka Guardian: Let’s extend Maithri, loving kindness to PrabakaranUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-83823692244264062892009-04-11T13:11:00.000+05:302009-04-11T13:11:00.000+05:30Dear Middlepath and Kahagalle, to me you seemed to...Dear Middlepath and Kahagalle, to me you seemed to have misinterpreted the original article that was written. <BR/><BR/>eg Kahagalle said "Then why on earth we hunt for Bin Laden. Why could not we give pardon to Saddam Husain?"<BR/><BR/>which implies that you felt the original article was suggesting that Prabakaran should be "released" without charge, or go free from his crimes. <BR/><BR/>Contrary to this view, my interpretation of original article was quite different. Let us look at the words that are written above more carefully (after all this is what we are discussing):-<BR/><BR/><I>[excerpt from original article]</I><BR/><BR/>"Let the trial take its course. Prabakaran must live to see the calamities he caused to the people both Sinhalese and Tamils..... There is no chance therefore that Prabakaran can be saved from the justice even if he is surrounded by a battery of lawyers."<BR/><BR/>My impression is that the author is saying - do not "kill Prabakaran" something the Buddha would have never advocated - I'm sure "Middlepath" would agree with this (I would hope?). And also find in our heart forgiveness. You can forgive a criminal without dropping the charges, the judiciary system is there for this purpose (just as was the case with Saddam Hussein and Milosovich). <BR/><BR/>When one maintains hatred it only acts to hurt ourselves and society - it doesn't bring back those who died, and it doesn't solve the conflict in the future!<BR/><BR/>To quote from the Buddha in the Metta Sutra "May all being be at ease! Whatever living being there may be, Whether they are weak or strong, Omitting none.... Let none through through anger or ill will, wish harm upon another - Even as mother protects with her life her child, her own child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings.. freed from hatred and ill will"<BR/><BR/>This was not advice for "gods" as one commenter stated, but for human beings like you or I. <BR/><BR/>There are just my views dear friends, and food for thought. Again thank you to the author for the original articles, and thanks also to the commenters for sharing their view points. Only by dialogue will we achieve better understanding. With better understanding will come peace.<BR/><BR/>May all being be at peace!<BR/><BR/>Bishan <BR/><BR/>“Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong” <BR/><BR/>“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” <BR/><BR/>“Be the change you want to see in the world.”<BR/><BR/>“Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected” <BR/><BR/>(quotes by Mahatma Gandhi)<BR/><BR/>"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that" <BR/><BR/>(Martin Luther King, Jr.)Bishanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04383721597867041588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-49816383331464224132009-04-11T02:42:00.000+05:302009-04-11T02:42:00.000+05:30The writer may be a LTTE sympathizer. Anyway forg...The writer may be a LTTE sympathizer. Anyway forgiving people for their crimes may be a godly thing to do. But none of us are gods, so forget it. Anyway if these people renounce violence and meaningfully regret for their mistakes, perhaps there may be some kind of accommodation. However, for Prbhakaran, who apply no norm for his cruel conduct, should be penalized under the law for his crimes. There should not a pardon of any sort in a society the hapless Somapla get death sentence and more affluent Jayewardene’s’ and Bandaranaike’s go scot free. <BR/>The writer calls of 600 policemen who died as cattle. Then the two Army camps LTTE ran over and killed more than 2000 soldiers have to be discarded as cattle fodder. All the suicide bombings, killing of moderate Tamils, Prime Ministers should be treated as history. Then why this war crimes tribunals and spend such enormous funds. Then why on earth we hunt for Bin Laden. Why could not we give pardon to Saddam Husain? The writer is out of track or may be has committed crimes and want to go scot free.kahagallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13324979729241509601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-79351302856620042032009-04-11T00:31:00.000+05:302009-04-11T00:31:00.000+05:30I think this is a great letter. I think the philos...I think this is a great letter. I think the philosophy of Buddhism can be used effectively in dealing with all conflicts. <BR/><BR/>The suggestion by the author is a kind an noble one, which i also feel should be followed - that Sri Lankans should offer Maithri for all invloved in this conflict including Prabakaran himself. By harboring hatred we only hurt ourselves. (actually it doesn't matter which side of a conflict you sit on)<BR/><BR/>I would like to re-iterate that where Pilliyan and Karuna have committed terrible crimes, as had done elements of the JVP, however Sri Lanka has shown it is capable of forgiving given that they entered mainstream politics and dropped their previously held violent tactics. War and conflict is a terrible thing for which I believe we all bear the Karmic consequences. The sooner violence ceases and we turn to Maithri for all involved, the better for everyone. <BR/><BR/>Praying for an end to this conflict soon. And towards building of nation that we can all live peacefully within. <BR/><BR/>I believe it can happen!Bishanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04383721597867041588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-53753266864868492152009-04-10T23:42:00.000+05:302009-04-10T23:42:00.000+05:30As a Buddhist, I say, "Nice thought, but utterly f...As a Buddhist, I say, "Nice thought, but utterly foolish"!<BR/><BR/>The Buddha never instructed to do foolish things even in the name of Maithriya.<BR/><BR/>Prabhakaran was let go by Pres. JRJ, in his Dharmishta philosphy, and what did Prabhakaran do?? Turned right back and bit the hand that released him, and we have had repeated cycles of war for over 2 more decades.<BR/><BR/>Do we still want more rounds of terror in Sri Lanka? <BR/>No!, No!! and NO again!!!middlepathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17965285894756062060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-7556249810965919562009-04-10T21:33:00.000+05:302009-04-10T21:33:00.000+05:30Tudor the Canadian: You have no idea who these Tam...Tudor the Canadian: You have no idea who these Tamils are. It is pretty easy for anyone to in Canada to asks us Sri Lankans to become Saints for a day, when we have become the targeted victims of Tamil terror. So preach that sermon to the Anglophones who detest Francophones for seeking separation from Canada.Sinahahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16571599301343056597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-29313351784421006082009-04-10T21:13:00.000+05:302009-04-10T21:13:00.000+05:30Yes, let's extend maithree to this psychopathic ma...Yes, let's extend maithree to this psychopathic mass-murderer. Yet the karma this maniac has created for himself will ensnare him in the Four Worlds of HEll for eons to come.<BR/><BR/>Enjoy!!!1Coreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01068290709345282614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2468613367801394261.post-47532024124452807352009-04-10T18:49:00.000+05:302009-04-10T18:49:00.000+05:30I think it is a wonderful letter.Maithri ,law and ...I think it is a wonderful letter.Maithri ,law and punishment go hand in hand.Perhaps Sri lanka can have a bright future if they chose the right path.Regardless of what the politicians do it will be up to the ordinary citizens who can bring about peace,understanding and respect of each other regardless of ones differences.It will take years this recover from thos ordeal so parents,religious leaders and teachers can start at the kindergarden level and teach the young the proper path.Discrimination can be got rid of but it takes time sometimes generations.Even in the so called pious western countries who seem to advice the whole world discrimination still exists but declining by every generation.Laws or division of land alone will not protect minorities but the love of the majority towards the minority is what matters.Of course vice versa.We as former residents of that beautiful land can only pray for them and give a helping hand if and whenever asked if its for a noble cause not to buy weapons of destruction.Tudor the Canadianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465253625756206064noreply@blogger.com