𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍 ( දුක් ගන්නා රාළ )

A few senior boys and their thugs stormed into the school during interval/recess time to beat up a classmate, when we were in grade 10. We did not say nor do anything to avert but watched in shock as we did not know what to do. The chemistry subject was the period immediately after the break and as the master entered the class, we knew that he was not in a mood to teach. He was silent for some time and we waited for him to say something. Then he asked all of us a very simple question. "What kind of young men are you, watching your fellow student being beaten up by thugs on the school premises and doing nothing?" There was no chemistry lesson that afternoon and some enjoyed the break but a few started pondering the incident seriously. Having enjoyed success the previous day, the seniors and thugs revisited during the interval with the idea of bashing the poor fellow up a little more. What happened thereafter is well known in the school history and that was the last time we had...

What hopes can we have What inspirations can we get From the message and belief, If innocent aid workers And journalists Are being killed in cold blood To protect the message? What are they so afraid of now? And what have they been trying to stifle for centuries? Freedom of expression Or the desire of living beings To have something better Than their prevailing conditions. I count my blessings today Because I was born a Buddhist And exposed early to Buddha’s teaching, Especially the Kalama Sutra. Kalama Sutra set me free And it can set anyone free.

When you resort to cold blooded killing of your own people, while crying at the top of your voice for the world to hear, “ My neighbour is killing my people ”, it does sound bigotry to me. Sadly, today this world is full of such bigotries.

Human feces and snakes were all I dreamt last night, Elders say those are good signs, Just before a windfall of some sort to come, Many have seen them in their dreams, What would be my next windfall?

We were at each other’s throats  100 years ago, Two fissions and two cities obliterated, And almost annihilated the population 69 years ago. Vietnam, Cambodia and Rwanda a few decades back, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria are still burning, And not forgetting Gaza. We go for other’s throats When more than half of the population is looking for something to eat, To quell their hunger. Nuremberg trials and international court of justice, United Nations. What have we learned from history? Just to shake hands and issue flamboyant press releases In front of 1000 flashing bulbs and Nothing.

Blind hunger for a Degree of some sort, Irrespective of whether the much needed grey matter Perseverance, discipline and or endurance Are there or not, is something sad to watch. Fly by night Colleges and Universities Springing up at every street corner is fuelling the frenzy Making everyone want to hold something Whether the capacity is there or not. Engage society in a useful manner Not always endorsing everything. Encourage intellectual rivalry Stop following trends, and be different. One may end up sans a hood or a cloak Few photographs to adorn the walls At the end of the day. But when push comes to shove Degrees earned in such a manner Will hold their ground better Than the ones bought cheap on street corners.

Decency is what, our parents taught us While we were growing up It should be in every man’s bones Like You & Me Resting in our marrows. Decency is the bone marrow Of living society. Marrow starts a war as and when The defence of the body is breached Kills and destroys the harmful Invaders. Decency should work the same way What marrow does for the body. As and when society is threatened By indecent invasions Do not wait for others to cast the first stone Or to fire the first salvo. Let decency Our parents taught us Let decency Imbedded in our bones Come to rescue and save society of Becoming indecent, insensitive and intolerant. Decency is the bone marrow Of society. Decency is what, our parents  taught us While we were growing up.