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www.tamilarangam.netBuddhism has light to dispelSri Lanka's darknesssays Canadian Christian PriestEvery civilized person in the world isrepelled and horrified by the wantonbloodshed in Sri Lanka. It has beenescalated by a rampaging army, operatingwith the declared intention of repressingseparatism among the Tamil minority.In retaliation, an illegal organizationcalled the Tamil tigers has struck outagainst the military. Atrocity follows atrocityon both sides and there seems to be nopossible end to the killing.The Sri Lankan government has askedfor the help of India to mediate the conflict.Something must be done. Canada alsohas good credibility in Sri Lanka becauseof extensive aid for development givenover the period since 1948 when Sri Lankabecame independent from Great Britain.A mediation role for Canada may also behelpful. By whatever means — somethinghas to be done to achieve a state ofreconciliation in Sri Lanka.Some commentators have over simplifiedthe horrible situation by saying it isjust another conflict between the Buddhistswho form 65 to 70 per cent of the populationand the minority Hindus who arepredominently Tamil. Among the Tamilsthere is a Christian minority who havesuffered greatly, even though they arenot numerous enough to be protagonistsin the conflict.Even here in Canada, people are appalledthat a secretary with 10 years of capableand faithful service at the Sri Lankan HighCommission has been fired simply becauseshe is a Tamil. The firing was affirmed bythe home government despite a recommendationto the contrary by the HighCommissioner.As Christian people looking at theBuddhist beliefs of the majority of SriLankans, we want to see some hope forpeace in that country coming from theinfluence of this ancient religion. It is notan arbitrary exaggeration to state that asa religion founded on the four-fold valuesof compassion, freedom, kindness andtruth, Buddhism has the key to unlockthis dark chamber of violence and shedlight on the minds and hearts of reasonablepeople in Sri Lanka.Like medieval Christianity, Buddhismto this day has an influence on the governmentsof many nations in Asia. Nepal,Bhutan,Thailand, Laos, Compuchea andVietnam are a few countries where Buddhistinfluence has been felt.Sri Lankan claims an even deeperBuddhist presence than these countriesas its living relationship with Buddhismgoes back to 300 B.C. That religion hashad an enormous influence on the country'sculture, civilization, language, literature,art, architecture, laws, moral codes andcalendar.A sad episode in Sri Lanka which greatlydisturbed religious people all over theworld was the assassination of the President,Solomon Bandaranayake, Sept. 18,1959by the chief Buddhist monk Soma RamaThero. He was later executed.This unfortunate man departed drasticallyfrom the non violence teachingwhich was the brain child of Lord Buddha.Buddhists who resort to viojence betraytheir religion and are equally misguidedtoday.Buddhist monks and priests should letthe government of Sri Lanka know thatthe solution to human problems does notrest on the barrel of an automatic weaponbut in the "Tripitka" or Buddhist scriptures.The eight-fold path which Lord Buddhaleft for his followers is comprised of rightknowledge, right aspiration, right speech,right action, right mode of living, rightendeavour, right mindfulness and rightconcentration. We Christians pray thatBuddhist leaders will be faithful to thispath and persuade the leaders of Sri Lankato walk with them.It is a sure path which will lead to mOOflight than heat, more wisdom than militancyand more love than revenge. Only in thisway can the Killing which is destroyingSri Lanka be replaced by peace.This ethnic conflict must not be alloweato go on. It has already destroyed SriLanka as an island paradise for its peopleand as a country that was loved andrespected all over the world.Let us have a happy and contemporarystory of "Paradise Regained".(Father MacNeil, weekend assistant atHoly Cross Parish, is chaplain at St. JosephJr. High School).•§22jkpo;j; Njrpa Mtzr; Rtbfs;