acadamic1

Theravada Buddhists in Sri Lanka are aware of and have a reasonably good knowledge of the Buddhas Teachings.
One of the Epithets of Gautama the Buddha is Shanthi Nayaka, the chief of Peace; and also Shanthi Raja: the King of Peace.
The Buddha taught religious tolerance and respect for other religion.
In Buddha's time there were already 63 well-know philosophical schools or religions, each having their own view of the Origin of the world and the nature of the Soul, whether it has a beginning and an end; or no beginning and no end; or a beginning, but no end; or no beginning, but an end. Etc. etc. (see Mulapariyaya Sutta)
One of the main contemporaries of the Gautama Buddha was the Jain founder, Mahavira.
His religion also preached peace and non-violence.
Sri Lanka considers itself as the Heir of the Dhamma, and claims that it was Vishnu himself who has entrusted the Buddha Dhamma to be kept pure in the Dhamma Dvipa, Sri Lanka.
The Theravada Buddhists in Sri Lanka have carefully tried to maintain peace and harmony in the country, despite various invasions from South India and the colonial influence from the Portuguese (from 1505 till 1648) who tried to introduce Catholicism by force; the Dutch (from 1648 - 1796) who introduced Dutch Reformed Christianity and the English colonialists, from 1796 -1947 (who introduced the Anglican Church).
As the Buddha had always preached to have tolerance and understanding and respect for other religions, the Sri Lankan Buddhists also did so to the other religions. Moor and Malay immigrants and Muslims from South India brought with them Islam and are practising up till this day; even thriving and are free to observe their way of life; as a minority. The Hindus, mostly Tamil have been living in the North and East for over 2000 years and since the British brought in Tea estate labour from Tamil Nadu, those labourers have been living in the central and southern mountains and hills working for the tea estates.
Up until 1983 the peace and harmony between the predominantly Buddhist Singhalese and the predominantly Hindu Tamils was reasonably maintained.
When separatist extremists among the otherwise peaceful Tamil population started to claim about one third of the Island (the North and East) for their 20% minority (of which the majority lives peacefully all over the island, doing very well in the big cities in trade, commerce, Government and the professions, such as Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers etc.), the Sri Lankan Army was forced to try and put a halt to the expansionist policies.
Even then, harmony was not much disturbed in the island between the various religious groups.
In Colombo we find many places where Budhist temples, Christian churches, Hindu kovils and Muslim mosques are within sight of eachother, sometimes one of each on the four corners of intersections???
As Buddhists one is used to practise tolerance, patience, forbearance and forgiveness, as the practice of the various Paramitas. But, as the general people are not yet Arahants, sometimes, when they are getting too much challenged, a back-lash, based on ethnic identification and indignation under the violence of terrorism, has led to considerable, but short-lived bouts of aggressive reaction. (e.g. July 1993)
In the light of Karma and Rebirth, the Sri Lankan Buddhists understand that violence cannot be appeased by violence; only through Metta can violence and hatred be overcome. It was President J.R. Jayawardene who had already quoted Buddha's famous words from the Dhammapada at the Establishment of the IMF in San Francisco in 1946.
This realisation has also led some sections of the Sri Lankan Buddhists to take their religion even more seriously and go deeper into the study and practice of it. More and more people are taking up meditation practice and Sutta study groups are springing up.
Under the many challenges of violence, terrorism, both from other sections of the population and from within the political sphere, as well as the economic hardships that are facing large sections of the population, the general Buddhist population is able to keep their calm and quiet and open, hospitable and friendly attitude in their daily lives.
By Ven.Olande Ananda.
11/01/02