"Dr.J.J. Invited to Attend X'mas Mass by Pope" (News Item) - A Comment

By Darmitha-Kotte

From the week-end newspapers we read both in the Sinhala and English print media that Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane has been invited to attend Midnight Mass on 24th December at the Vatican. He certainly seems to be a "man of all religions!"

According to the Sunday Standard of 17th December, 2006 " UNP Parliamentarian and party Assistant Secretary Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane has been invited to attend the midnight Christmas Pontifical Mass celebrated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI on 24th December 2006 at the Vatican" and according to the same news item the invitation has been sent to him through the Apostolic Nuncio in Sri Lanka Archbishop Mario Zenari. Such invitations are not given to any and every Catholic merely because he is a Catholic but because he is a committed Catholic working under direct instructions from the Pope if we may say so, this is a way of appreciating his services and his loyalty to the Catholic Church and also for ensuring that the Catholic agendas are carried out in Sri Lanka! We are also aware that there is a secret Catholic movement called "Opus Dei" which is used for such purposes. To a Catholic, it is considered an extreme privilege to be invited for the Midnight Christmas Pontifical Mass of the Holy Father. It is similar to a visit to Mecca by a Muslim- The Vatican is the Mecca of Catholics!

As an ardent and loyal Catholic, we have no problem and we congratulate Dr. Jayawardane for having received this privilege and we trust that Christmas will be very special for him as well as his family if they accompany him. As a birthright a person is born either as a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim and according to the convictions of his parents he is brought up to study and practise his own religion and to be truthful to his own convictions. In the case of religious belief, one cannot follow two different religions -either one practices it, or one does not! However, one can be tolerant of other religions and beliefs, which is an accepted decent way of practicing the concept of " live and let live."

In recent years, what has been puzzling Buddhists in this country is why Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane has been practically forcing himself into the midst of extremely sacred Buddhist ceremonies which is highly hypocritical indeed. The same would be applicable if an ardent Buddhist were to force himself into a highly sacred Christian, Hindu or Muslim ritual- one can certainly be an invitee and a participant but it is insulting to that religion if one tries to take the sacredness of that particular religion by trying to become the "focal point" of the very ceremony being conducted. In Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane, we have seen this happen far too often and most often Buddhists feel that he is "intruding into our religious ceremony" which is not very complimentary to him at all! Somehow, it is almost certain that there is "a hidden agenda" behind this kind of behaviour and the writer just hopes that this assumption is wrong?

A few examples come into the mind of the writer: (1) Conducting the Sacred "Chudamanike" from Kelaniya Viharaya to Jaffna a couple of years ago after the UNP came into power-it was Dr. Jayawardane who kept it on his head and carried it while there were plenty of Buddhists in the procession; (2) Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thero was a highly respected Bhikku among the Buddhist and even among some non-Buddhists- when he mysteriously passed away in Russia and it is still thought to have been a Christian conspiracy that killed him and his remains were brought to Sri Lanka, we saw an intrusion by Dr. Jayawardane into a Buddhist ceremony which hurt Buddhists no end; (3) Wesak of 2006 which happens to be the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi Celebration year, when a Bo-sapling was being taken from Sri Lanka to India under the patronage of the Indian Ambassador Ms. Nirupama Rao and The Maha Bodhi Society, again Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane was seen carrying the Bo-sapling while Buddhists were aghast watching this process - these are just a few important incidents in recent Buddhist events which show an insincerity and intrusion into Buddhist affairs by an ardent Catholic. No doubt, it could be said, " I was invited to do it and I acceded to the request of certain Buddhist Bhikkus" - true indeed. However, if one is sincere and honest in one's dealings it will be possible to explain that since one is not a Buddhist, it would be more prudent for a Buddhist to handle that while you remain in the crowd as a mere participant. We must know our limitations.

Buddhists would certainly appreciate honesty and sincerity of actions to be judged as a true friend.