For Peaceful Elections
Flyer for the ongoing meditation for a peaceful election
I spoke to Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne at Sarvodaya and they’re very concerned about election violence. Not who wins, but there is a fear that the bitterness and personal acrimony of this campaign will spill into the streets. Indeed, people have already been killed, on both sides. This is an election where both sides have a lot to lose, but people need not lose their lives.
To that end Sarvodaya and my friend Raghavan (Ragi) Kadirgamar are organizing islandwide mediations for a peaceful election. I try to practice mediation personally, but it also has the power to change societies. The Buddha is the most obvious example, but non-violent movements like Gandhi’s or Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne’s through Sarvodaya are founded by people that meditate.
Do I think that meditation can prevent election violence? Well, no, not directly. But I do think it is something positive that people can do for themselves and their immediate interactions. That is, I tend to be nicer when I meditate and cause less angry ripples in the world, especially in traffic. Doing this publicly also shows that there is another way besides the cycle of mudslinging, revenge and retribution that seems the norm.
Everything To Lose
The status quo is really quite scary. We have a politics where politicians are often killed, leading to the strongest and most ruthless rising to the top. Mahinda and Sarath are both warriors, in their own ways. Since Sarath used to work for Mahinda and then turned, this is also personal. SF has a serious vendetta against Mahinda for sidelining him, and reserves a special vitriol for Gotabaya Rajapaksa. On their side, the Rajapaksas hate Sarath for turning against them, and for looking like he could actually win.
Which is, really, the point. Whoever wins does not look inclined to be kind to the losers. Honestly, I think Mahinda would probably be more conciliatory, and I think he even offered to give Sarath a job. Sarath, however, can’t really go back to America after this with the war crimes stuff still in the air. It would also suck to be here after losing.
For Mahinda losing is probably more terrifying. For Gotabaya it would be the worst. Sarath hates Gota personally and would probably make living in this country difficult for him. Gota even more than Sarath has legal problems going to the states and would likely be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
For all the people around Mahinda, also, it is a terrifying loss. Catchers like Mervyn Silva and the jumbo cabinet would lose their jobs. All the incompetent, family nominees to places like Mihin Lanka and Sri Lankan Airlines would probably lose their jobs, and the family who occupy government jobs is now in the hundreds. This doesn’t include cronies and friends. There are literally thousands of people who would take a bread and butter hit if their man loses. So they’re understandably agitated.
Then What
This is the climate and perhaps the cause of ongoing violence. This existential tension has to be stepped down or any little thing will set it off. At some level it has to be stepped down. Mediation is a start.
There are mediations ongoing islandwide daily now, the recommended times are 6-7 am, 12-1 pm and 7-8 pm. The final, big mediation will be at Vihara Maha Devi Park on January 24th from 3-5 pm. There’s more information at the Sarvodaya site or you can contact peacemeditate@gmail.com.
Raghi, you were born into a Christian heritage. Jesus Christ said ” I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to God except through me”. It is God (Jesus Christ)you created you and your life is in his hands. You must read the bible, pray and mediate on Gods words and you will find eternal peace, eternal truth and eternal life. God said in the bible ‘if you seek me with all of your heart you will find Him’. So do this. Do not be deceived. What you have got into with your knowledge and searching is a form of the new age movement. It will lead you to eternal damnation. It is deception.
So please give God a chance in your life and you WILL find HIM.
God Bless you.
Truth
I look forward to a response from you.
Mahinda Rajapakse or Sarath Fonseka cannot decide who is going to be the next President. It is God Almighty who has the final say in the affairs of the earth. Holding a candle or meditating will not help to usher in the next President of Sri Lanka. It is futile. Please ray to God Almighty and ask him to bring into power the man who could rule this country with justice,truth, peace and righteousness.
Raghi, when you read this pray and ask the God of Heaven to lead and guide you. Please read the bible. It is God’s infallible word to you. There is absolutely no other way. Other ways are just man made and they end no where.
Blessings
you can meditate if you’re Christian, in this case (as in much meditation) it’s not denominational. I’ve meditated with Christian priests, actually.
The bible says you must mediate on the word of God. You don’t meditate on things or in nothing. It sounds idiotic.
This idea is ok if you don’t believe in a supreme being. Since I believe in a power that is greater than us I would rather seek that power than trust in our selves. This idea seems futile and meaningless. Actually there is no substance.
Actually unlike the concept of a supreme being, meditation has scientific evidence to back itself up:
http://tinyurl.com/yky5g8b
Engaging in meditation is not ‘futile and meaningless’ as evidenced above.
Worshipping an imagininary creature in the sky is another matter however.
There is no imaginery creature V. Read the bible and you will come to the realization of the eternal truth.
I have read the Bible. I don’t think Christianity is superior to any other religion. All religions are beautiful. And I think “god” is an imaginary creature made up by humans to explain the unknown.
The bible is the word of God. He is the Beginning and the End. God Almighty has said he is the only God and there is none besides him. As th bible says ” A fool says in his heart, there is no God” .
What another fad. I have tried all of this. This does not work. Meditation only makes you hallucinate. I have gone round the world searching for the truth and found it at at last. it is in Jesus Christ who said ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega – the ‘beginning and the end’. Try this and it will work.
Please log onto Dr. Ravi Zacharias and you will find the answers to your quest for the truth.
This message is for Mr. Ariyaratne and Mr. Kadirgarmar. Please log onto the site of Dr. Ravi Zachrias and watch his message on you tube – “where do evil thoughts come from” . Once you have watched this you could watch his other messages and probably become enlightened.
Please do this and you will not regret. This may change your destiny if you receive it in your heart.
Yeah and Dr. Ravi’s message on ‘Postures of the mind and affections of the heart’ are superb. I have watched him on
u tube. My life was transformed.
Faith in God should not be a barrier to peace meditation.
Besides, any God worthy of its followers will help those who promote peace.
You meditate of Gods word as He has commanded. You don’t meditate on nothing. Sure Jesus said in the Beatitudes – Blessed are the peaced makers for they shall be called the sons of God. Matthew 5: 9.
In your face religion… i hate it…. morons…
Hey this reaction does not come by meditation???
Uhh uhh, no no, I love Jesus Christ. He’s the man! God bless him and all.
Am confused. How does this work. Could someone explain more in detail.
Hi All,
It’s Raghavan (Ragi). Thanks for all the comments, I just read them, great to see that at least it stirs up some interesting debate. My christian friends thank you very much, I am still a christian and Jesus is my guide . . .but I’m sorry if the fact that I have other guides upsets you, it has brought me everlasting peace, “the peace that surpasses all understanding” If you have found that peace too, then wonderful it is truly a gift, a divine blessing.
I am more than willing to share this with you all, to answer questions and offer whatever little I have learnt in the mere 43 years of my life. One example is forgiveness. I have forgiven those that assasinated my father, because I have truly accepted that that is what God intended, for my father, our family, all his friends and the country he served. The people that did it can be held acountabe by us humans, but God has forgiven them even before they committed the act.
If you would like to learn about not just meditation (thank you friend for pointing out that meditation exists in christianity too) then please join me one day at one of the venues. I share techniques to help with tiredness, stress, worry and anxiety, creativity and much more, simple things that can be done on a daily basis wherever you are, home, school and office. It is not religious in any way, simply helping to balance our health and spirit, make us more happy and bring the inner peace we desire.
Please feel free to criticise, but I ask that you simply meet me first, allow me to know you, know me, try what I am sharing with people of all walks of life, and I will share what you know and cherish; and then comment from your heart, as Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Mohamed, would have; from their hearts.
For more info on techniques, please come and try it out. I will also be posting some specific inof on a blog, shortly.
One point of interest for Indi is that studies have shown when groups of people have gathered to meditate, in cities like chicago, detroit and other places, during the days of the sessions the crime rate of the city has gone down significantly. It works in practice Indi, not just in theory. Try it, and come to Vihara Mahadevi Park on Sunday 24 Jan, 3-5pm, for a mass meditation prayer gathering, involving all faiths, civil society groups, and hopefully also YOU ALL.
Gods blessings to all.
Raghavan Kadirgamar
Thanks for that excellent write-up. The religious intolerance displayed by some people claiming to be Christians in the above few posts has been appalling. All religions are beautiful; claiming that only one is the true pathway is quite excluvist, I think. All the best to you and the Sarvodaya initiative.
Sorry V. It is not religious intolerence. Its a sense of urgency I believe. When someone is drowning you would jump into the water to save that person. Likewise its not intolerence is just that its grips ones heart when you know that people are being deceived and going into a lost eternity and you do nothing. I would kindly urge you to read the bible . You will surely find the truth. Blessings.
Nah, I think it is plain old Christian intolerance – the kind that has led to massacres of non-Christians in various parts of the world.
The bible teaches about Love, peace and joy. What man does is not what God has said.
Hi Raghavan
I liked your article. God Bless You. If you read the bible Jesus Christ said ” I am the way, I am the truth and I am the life, no man comes to the God the Father only through me” . Period. There is no other way. There is no book other than the bible which speaks of the past, present and future to detailed acuracy. Actually there is no time for anything other than what is spoken of in the bible as time is short and we are at the 11th hour 59th minute, The bible speaks of it all. So I urge you and all the other readers to be prepared and ready because Jesus Christ is coming very soon and He takes with Him only those who follow Him and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. A Christian label is not needed.
So much more to write . I must meet you. But as someone has commented Please go to Dr. Ravi Zacharias teaching on you tube and you can learn something. Do read his books too and maybe you could get in touch with him.Really. I mean is it very sincerely.
I hope I have not been too imposing on you and all who read this site. Blessings.
“Period. There is no other way” – oh no…that’s not at all intolerant…
Of course its not intolerence. It is the truth.
Dear Raghavan,
A friend of us from Geneva that you have lost approximately one year, would see you gladly again. The phone N° xx xx xxx 366 034 that she has from you is not in function and she cannot contact you.
She is at present in Colombo and seeks you, but must leave soon.
If you wish see Le… also, let me know it by e-mail : info@idbs-securite.com.
Cordially
Hi Ragi
Are you in Sri Lanka
wish you a happy new year
Para
Ridiculous
If you do politics just do politics. GOD. MEDITATION. HaH.
Actually its hard to meditate and so boring, I think its the heart and mind attitude that matters. If they are right then we could live peaceful.
What was the outcome of the meditation? Was there any feedback ?
Mr. Raghavan Kadirgarmar, you are the only person who could follow your great fathers footsteps. Why dont you? I am sure you could. It could begin now? We will all support you. Meditation classes will not help
Mr. Raghavan Kadirgarmar if you believe in something you have all the right to follow it. If you feel the knowledge should be shared it is your choice.
Well good… thank you for sharing.
It is the choice of others to follow or not… protest or support. We all have a mind of our own… if god has created a path for all beings then no one can change it… so there is nothing to fear now, Is there.
We were born to a world that already had different religions and all great leaders of those religions said great things. Did those people at that time expect those religious leaders to emerge? How would you know something that’s in the future…?
There would have been protest at that time too… Every thing has a problem that follows…
If you don’t have an open mind it is hard to see that.
If we were not born in the particular religion that we were born into we may have not even followed it. Certain other instances some of us have changed diverted… that is the choice of that person. This is because we are given a choice. So he or she chooses the path that brings most peace to them. There can be one path or many… it is your choice. If that choice brings problems along, then what to do.. you chose it… so that maybe your destiny… that maybe what god planned.. as many said… you can’t really change what god set out for you.. now can you.
Nothings wrong with that. If you do good, you don’t harm others and live honestly what is there to fear.
If something needs to happen it will happen… it is our destiny or not. Who knows… Don’t worry about it too much. you can control only certain things at your reach…
so take it easy.
my comment… was not meant to criticize, support or any other…
its just a comment… and nothing more…
if anyone things otherwise… well.. I can’t help it either… :) now can I
Peace
Sach.
Dear Brother And sister,
Greetings in the Mighty Name of Lord Jesus Christ,
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Hi Ragi
If you happen to come down south please drop in at Nooit Gedacht
Para