Nandasena, Mahinda and the Big Bull Elephant!

 

Nandasena, Mahinda & the Big Bull Elephant!

By Prof. Samitha Hettige

Approx 200 years after the Buddha, Maurya Kings chased King Nandasena & took control. Prominent among them was Ashoka the great. He was a man of action unlike those who spend precious time protesting under the Olcott statue at Fort Railway station. Across the street is the ‘Theosophical Society’ of Ceylon established by Henry Steel Olcott. Theosophists believe that Olcott was the reincarnation of Ashoka. There may be some truth since Olcott was also a man of action. He may have expected Sri Lankan Buddhists go global with his action (the Buddhist schools). Whether Sri Lankan Buddhists kept to his expectations can be analysed by those interested. It is good to re-evaluate how Ashoka’s son Arahath Mahinda attempted to build Sri Lankan capacity on a ‘Poson’ full moon day.     

The Small Elephant.

The first sermon Arahath Mahinda delivered to introduce Buddhism to Sri Lankans was the ‘Chullah-Haththi-Padopama-Sutta' (Aanalysis of the small Elephant’s foot print) (Ref  Mahavansa). It indicates how Mahinda implemented the system to train Sri Lankans to prevent conflicts & be resilient.

He preached; suppose an Elephant hunter was to enter an Elephant forest & see a large Elephant footprint, long & broad. A skilled hunter would not yet come to the conclusion, 'What a big bull Elephant!' Why is that? Because in an Elephant forest there are dwarf female Elephants with big feet. The footprint might be one of theirs.

So he proceeds & sees another large Elephant footprint, long & broad & some scratch marks high up. A skilled hunter would not yet come to the conclusion, 'What a big bull elephant!' Why is that? Because in a forest there can be tall female Elephants with prominent teeth & big feet. The footprint might be one of theirs.

So he proceeds & sees a large Elephant footprint, long & broad, with some scratch marks, tusk slashes high up & broken branches. He sees that bull Elephant at the foot of the tree or walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. He comes to the conclusion, 'That's the big bull Elephant.'

"In the same way, when a Buddha appears in the world, he teaches the Dhamma admirable in its beginning, middle & end. He speaks in season, what is factual, with the goal Dhamma & discipline. His words are worth treasuring, seasonable, reasonable, circumscribed & focused on the goal.

He would teach his followers;

1. Abstain from damaging life.
2. Not to take what is not given.
3. Refrain from sexual act that isn’t ethical.
4. Abandon false speech.
5. Abstain from addictive substances.

To his disciples he would say;

1. Eat once a day, refrain from evening meal & food at the wrong time.
2. Abstain from dancing, singing, instrumental music, & from watching shows.
3. Abstain from wearing garlands, from beautifying self with scents & cosmetics.
4. Abstain from high & luxurious beds & seats.
5. Abstain from accepting gold & money.
6. Abstain from accepting uncooked grain, raw meat, women & girls, male & female slaves, animals, birds & fields & property.
7. Abstain from buying & selling, dealing with false scales, false metals, false measures, bribery, deception, & fraud.
8. Abstain from mutilating, executing, imprisoning, highway robbery, plunder, & violence.

Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings as its only burden, he is content with a set of robes to provide for his body & begged food to provide for his hunger.  Were ever he goes; he takes only his barest necessities along (Ref. Buddhist chronicles).

2024 being an election year, Sri Lankans will have to be wise like the hunter. First they may follow Buddha’s advice to his followers to minimize conflicts within families & the society. They should wisely identify matured to manage the country. Indians & Chinese were exposed to Buddhism & travels of Xuanzang & Bodhidharma contributed to that. They acted like the elephant hunter & are enjoying welfare within market economics. If best managers are picked they shall manage welfare efficiently with South India & the Belt & Road. Those who know welfare but geopolitics may not be fitting.