Buddhism has no creator or God to explain the origin of the Universe. Instead, it teaches that everything depends on everything else, viz: present events are caused by past events and become the cause of future events known as the law of Karma ( cause and effect.
The scientific community believes that all activities of the cosmos are governed by nature. Some believe that there is a massive force embracing the gravity that consists of ‘the weak force; electromagnetic and the strong force’. These fundamental forces together seem to govern everything that occurs in the universe. It is called the universal force.
Various religions identify this natural force by many names. Christians believe it to be the Almighty God, Muslims call it Allah and the Hindus call it Lord Siva and so forth. Buddhism has no creator or God to explain the origin of the universe. Instead, it teaches that everything depends on everything else, viz: ‘present events are caused by past events and become the cause of future events’ known as the law of Karma (cause and effect). It simply means positive or negative ‘action’ in man’s spoken words, thoughts, and deeds.
The scientists’ answer to Gravity (i.e.: The weak force, electromagnetism and the strong force) is a manifestation of just a single great force of the universe. One may question, if that is so, then each force should merge with other forces. Apparently, there is evidence of this.
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of accepted systems and ensures that a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world. Astrology is rejected by scientists for not being able to testify by explanatory power for describing the universe, except by dabbling in various planetary movements! Scientific experiments find no evidence to support the purported effects outlined in astrological practices.
In Sri Lanka
Astrologers in Sri Lanka lost their reputation with false predictions, especially during the Presidential Elections. The science of astrology may be accurate and precise, but thus far, Sri Lankan astrologers managed successfully to demonstrate their predictions as a pseudoscience.
If one focuses on the recent Presidential Election, many astrologers predicted their prejudiced and partisan personal opinions or got their calculations wrong! During the previous Presidential Election too, an eminent astrologer advised Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former President of Sri Lanka, to follow his (astrologer’s) guidelines that lead towards the dissolution of Parliament two years in advance. That caused Mahinda Rajapaksa to lose.
During the 8th Presidential Election in 2019, numerous astrologers, including a well-known yogi, claimed that his predictions had never gone wrong, and foresaw Sajith Premadasa as the winner. They apparently worked on planetary positions of Sajith Premadasa’s horoscope. They also claimed not only Sajith Premadasa would win the Presidential Election, due to a Raja Yoga in his birth chart, but he had a brighter future beyond the Presidential level. They mentioned about a planetary transit (Guru Maruwa), which was due to take place on the day of the Election, which meant the SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa would lose. Repeatedly they maintained that Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s chances of winning the Presidential Polls were minimal. Indika Thotawatte, who was regarded as one of the most talented astrologers in Sri Lanka also went wrong in his predictions, causing an uproar within the Sri Lankan society.
Universal forces
Apart from astrologers, there are separate groups who claim to have a dialogue with the Universe during meditation. They affirmed that the Universe exists to reflect the consciousness of man. During their dialogue with the Universe; they were advised through the law of attraction how the Universal Force works. They confirmed a message received from the Universe that when a world leader becomes erratic and irrational his people get depraved, nature then becomes irascible and punishes the entire country! In this regard, as a global punishment, people could expect natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earth slips and dangerous viruses akin to COVID-19, HIV, Aids, Chikungunya and Dengue as a direct result of the wrath of the Universe.
The Universe, according to this group, appears to be quite incensed with environmental destruction caused by man. In Sri Lanka, they were advised that people were becoming utterly selfish, despondent and miserable; equally, through political debility citizens were getting morally and monetarily debauched.
Those communicators with the Universe did come up with a unique message. Due to the exploitation, dishonesty and deceitfulness of Sri Lankan politicians and not paying any heed to protect the environment, the Universe chose to send a principled leader who could save this blessed country and work towards harmony and complete fulfilment. Everyone who communicated with the Universe came with the same perception (on YouTube ) that Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the chosen saviour from the Universe to run the country. Naturally, the astrologers were uneasy with such notions.
Miracle
Miraculously, the theory of the Universe came true beyond belief when Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the November 2019 Presidential Election with a popular vote of 6,924,255(52.25 per cent ). Nearly seven million people voted for him with absolute faith and confidence taking his immeasurable experience in handling the terrorist war, which lasted for nearly thirty years.
During his Election campaign, Gotabaya Rajapaksa travelled throughout the country and made a single request to the people: “Give me the mandate to form a new Government, with a two-thirds majority, to put the country back on the rails.” The result was a clear indication of how people reacted to his appeal. Lo and behold, the miracle materialised and the main opposition party, the UNP, disintegrated completely. There was internal squabbling within the UNP and reached a breaking point. Many UNP MPs and supporters of the party wanted Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign and abandon politics altogether. Such bickering and backbiting caused an irreparable setback for the UNP, the oldest party in Sri Lanka, which was in power intermittently from the time of independence in 1948. The total collapse was unbelievable and the UNP was completely washed out. Sajith Premadasa, who was the deputy leader of the UNP, launched the SJB.
Universal Force choose a Saviour
The choice by the Universe in making Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the new President of Sri Lanka became a reality from the moment he was sworn in officially. It was the first time in Sri Lankan politics that someone who is not a politician became President of the country. He was a good administrator with an Army discipline-background who demonstrated his mettle as the Defence Secretary, during the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.
From the time he was sworn as President of the country, people respected him for his simplicity, modesty, fairness, objectivity and far-thinking ability. The entire world accepted that Sri Lanka was fortunate to have Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the President during the COVID-19 pandemic. His qualities became transparent when he visited remote villages and entered poor peoples’ huts to discuss their problems. Immediately he advised the appropriate authorities (on the phone) to rectify whatever the problem was
. It did not bother him whether it was a school kid or poor suffering old villager, but when he saw a problem his intention was to promptly advise the appropriate authorities, from wherever he was and made the responsible officers attend to the matter forthwith.
In an isolated case where he saw how a poor citizen’s house was demolished by a wild elephant, he immediately ordered the responsible authorities to find a solution to the ‘elephant-man confrontation’ within two years.
Simultaneously, the President ordered the Forces to build a new house to replace the demolished house by the elephant. Within 2-3 days the house was completed. Such was his discipline and administration on all matters.
People in Sri Lanka had never seen a leader of such a high calibre before! The writer has a first-hand experience where he appealed to the President personally about the lassitude of his town Council. Despite the writer sending numerous requests to the Chairman of the Council, in both Sinhala and English for years, the council turned a blind eye to the situation. Within a few days, the Director of Environment attached to the Presidential Secretariat visited the writer and the problem was resolved.
19th Amendment
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received an overwhelming mandate in the recent Parliamentary Elections. In his inaugural address to Parliament, on 3 January 2020, he reiterated the peoples’ mandate to abolish the19th Amendment, as a matter of priority and work on a new Constitution suitable for Sri Lanka. Former President Maithripala Sirisena reformed the country’s political system by reducing the President’s power.
The Opposition members seem to think the 20th Amendment is a major hindrance to the Nation. In fact, the Yahapalana regime introduced the 19th amendment to the Constitution during its administration. Repealing of the 19th Amendment and introducing a brand-new Constitution, suitable for Sri Lanka will strengthen Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s hand in bringing the country back on track. In conforming to the mandate given by the people to repeal the 19th Amendment, the Government is scheduled to go ahead with it despite the opposition going to Courts protesting about it. A final Court’s decision was reached at the time of compiling this article with the Speaker until 20 October 2020. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is facing many limitations to execute his plans for the betterment of the country because of the 19th Amendment.
It appears there are forces within the Government and outside attempting to block his programmes and the progress of the country. One wonders whether Kuveni’s curse is still on the Sinhala people that no two Sinhalese can get on with each other in harmony. It boils down to nothing, but only as traitors without an iota of national feeling?
Picture credit: Ceylon Today Newspaper, Daily FT, Google Photos; deposit photos; Thespinoff.co.nz
