Photo: From Facebook |
Very recently a new form of Buddhist religious festival has been being observed in Chittagong Hill Tract by a few Buddhists specially by those who follow and believe in late Ven. Sadhanaanda Mahathera alias Bana Bhante's dogmatic ideology. During the festival day the devotees brought out a rally with a large motorcade in the local street. It has almost been one year since they have been observing it in rollicking. The festival got enough online media coverage i,e.. মানবকন্ঠ, নববার্তা, পূর্ব পশ্চিম, হিলবিডি etc. The supporters and defendants of the Tripitaka worshiping festival claim that such kind of mass engaging religious festival will inspire people to know the actual meaning of the Dharma. The people will feel compelled to intensively study Tripitaka. As a result it will effectively bring benefit to society. According to the news report Mahamitra Bhikkhu from Rangamati Sadar Bana Vihar said that, ''Bana Bhante wished to worship Dharma. He meant the Tripitaka worshiping as worshiping of the Dharma".
At the same time it has faced huge criticism in social media like facebook from various corner. Some critics argue that the prevailing socio-economic reality of the CHT Buddhist dwellers do not favor such luxurious festival in the name of Dharma as the living conditions of the most of the people here is below poverty level. They are deprived of basic human rights too. Some critics questioned that how many people studied Tripitaka being inspired by this immediate festival? The others argue that in Buddhism there is no place of such Book worshiping as the Buddha denied the existence of God and so the custom of worshiping deity or books. Buddhism is a religion of rationalism. It does not support blind faith rather it encourages free-thinking and judgmental thought.
After Tripitak worshiping festival in Rangamati another worshiping festival observed in Ghagra on 13 January. Unfortunately during the festival rally a teenage boy was died in road accident and another boy two boys were fatally injured which video footage later released in facebook. It shocked many people. Some people have expressed their painful feelings by seeking responsibility of the accident. They claim that if the meaningless and extravagant so called Tripitak worshiping festival were not arranged in such frenetically and irresponsibly then the unexpected accident could be avoided.
What is the lesson we find in the Tripitak about Tripitak worshiping? And what the Buddha advised us about worshiping or offering? If we search the answer in the Tripitak then we find in the "Alagaddupama Sutta (The Simile of the Raft)" in MAJJHIMA NIKAYA(The middle length discourses of the Buddha) that -
The boy died in road accident during Tripitak worshiping festival. |
What is the lesson we find in the Tripitak about Tripitak worshiping? And what the Buddha advised us about worshiping or offering? If we search the answer in the Tripitak then we find in the "Alagaddupama Sutta (The Simile of the Raft)" in MAJJHIMA NIKAYA(The middle length discourses of the Buddha) that -
"And what should the man do in order to be doing what should be done with the raft? There is the case where the man, having crossed over, would think, 'How useful this raft has been to me! For it was in dependence on this raft that, making an effort with my hands & feet, I have crossed over to safety on the further shore. Why don't I, having dragged it on dry land or sinking it in the water, go wherever I like?' In doing this, he would be doing what should be done with the raft. In the same way, monks, I have taught the Dhamma compared to a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto. Understanding the Dhamma as taught compared to a raft, you should let go even of Dhammas, to say nothing of non-Dhammas."
Here we find that the Buddha advised us to use His Dharma(the teachings) as a means of crossing the ocean of Samsara not to worship it. But in the name of Tripitaka worshiping which is not supported by the Buddha at all, in our hill tract some pietists has been insanely observing peculiar Buddhist festivals. It is not only wasting wealth of society but also promoting knowledge-less and ill-judged Buddhist customs based on hyper emotional personality cult which in turn causing to lag-behind the society.
May the light of the Buddha's true teachings be available and comprehensible to all.
May the light of the Buddha's true teachings be available and comprehensible to all.