Mahanayaka Theros should wake up to stop further decadence of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Every temple should be a place of worship and a centre of Meditation.

By Charles Perera

The abandoning of the Pirivena System of Education for the monks, admitting them as ordinary students to the Universities was the beginning of the decadence of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The decision that had been taken to accept Buddhist monks as ordinary students, allowing them to follow an education under lay teachers, among lay men and women, was a wrong decision. Even the lay University curriculum does not suit the Buddhist monks.

The result of this unwise decision is the complete break down of discipline, decorum and behaviour among the student monks in Sri Lanka .The only way to redress the situation is to go back to the Pirivena System of Education and disrobe the monks who do not want to follow the system and adhere to the Vinaya Rules.

A respectful Order of Sangha will help build a respectful law abiding citizenry. All the ills of the Sri Lanka Society I am afraid are related to our belief system. When the people have no set pattern of living and no fear for unwholesome deeds the social system itself break down. In a village the temple was where people came to have their disputes settled, and get advise when they have personal difficulties. Today in many villages and towns the people have lost their former attachment to the temple, the head priests cannot control their disciples.

Why cannot a monk be treated as a lay student ? A monk is by definition one who has left behind a lay life- a householders life , to take up a simple monastic life, having given up comfort of a home, attachments to persons or property and follow the teachings of the Buddha, observing 227 vinaya rules. Therefore his education should be in keeping with that noble role of a” mendicant” Monk.

In present day Sri Lanka taking to robes has become going from discomfort to comfort, no disciplinary rules to follow, and becoming a law unto themselves The young monks behave no differently from the ordinary lay students. They too join in anti- establishment demonstrations with the lay students, shout slogans, and sit in public places making hunger strikes, exhibiting themselves shamelessly, making themselves a laughing stock in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Their curriculum of studies have changed from the study of the Suttas and the teachings of the Buddha. Their choice of subjects is employment oriented. After graduation they become teachers, administrators, lawyers, politicians, taxi drivers or even seek employment in the Police force.
This is completely out side the vows of pabbajjha- relinquishing the householders life they have taken in donning the yellow robe.

If the trend is allowed to continue we may soon have , mafia chiefs, contract killers and drug peddlers in yellow robes. We already have experience with yellow robed thieves and temple breakers in search of ancient treasures.

It is time that the Maha Nayaka Theros step in first by becoming an example themselves, and weed out the miscreants and re-organise the Order of the Sangha in Sri Lanka. Even the wearing of the robes have changed and the colour of the material used have changed from yellow to different shades of yellow, to rose and pink and then black, and the material from rough cotton to shiny poplin or even to coloured silk.

In the temples the monks have nothing to do most of the time and it is usual to see at least some waste away their time smoking, or chatting away. In some village temples they even take to drinking alcoholic, drinks in company with three wheel drivers or village goons with whom them become friends.

This sad situation could be stopped by making every temple in Sri Lanka a place of worship as well as a centre of meditation. If every temple has a number of small “meditation kuti”; The monks when they have free time after studies and daily temple work could go to their “kuti” to meditate. That is possible if the Chief Priest could wheel authority. The student monks when in temple should be encouraged to discuss Dhamma with young visitors rather than become ”chums” and engage themselves in mundane conversations.

This is a suggestion that I hope those responsible for Buddhist Affairs will take up with the appropriate authorities.

The Buddhists believe that , Sri Lanka blessed by the visits of the Buddha and where his true teachings are established, the deities and four great Gods keep guard over the Island. The reason for all the trouble we have in Sri Lanka may be partly due to the misbehaviour of the Buddhist Monks who are supposed to be the guardians of the great teachings of the Buddha.