Bodhi Pooja Crisis

So the temple next door is having one of its lengthy and extremely noisy Bodhi Pooja's again. I can barely hear myself think.

This is the 2000th one as I heard. (Yes, the 2000th, I kid you not). And they are being conducted by this super arrogant monk to whom Father Dearest fondly refers as the බෝධි පූජා කොමසාරිස් (Commissioner of Bodhi Poojas) some Kumara Kashyapa Thero who NEVER participates in an alms giving, never comes for a preaching, etc except to a very few select houses which also incidentally happens to be the habitats of the most wealthiest and the most powerful personalities of the area. Oh and of course, in order to be graced by his presence you have to support his mammoth lineup of bodhi poojas and donate hefty sums to him his cause as well.

Father Dearest says he's trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records by holding the most number of bodhi poojas. And I'm not entirely sure if he was kidding or not. It's really difficult to tell whether he's serious or not sometimes.

While I have no objections to people reveling, drowning, indulging, bathing, etc etc in their respective religions whichever way they want, it is so irritating how they have to force others to participate (very unwillingly so) too. We have two loud speakers attached near our house and others are strategically set up so as to not let anybody have any peace at all for the next few days all over the neighborhood. So very absurd. Its almost like having sex and installing speakers all over the place so that others can hear how much fun you're having in the bedroom. We just don't want to hear it! Do whatever you want, break all the furniture, prance around making monkey sounds, babble and screech complete nonsense or sing it in soprano but PUH-LEESE keep the noise to yourself? I do enjoy the sound of pirith and sometimes even a meaningful bana once in a while but all these annoying made-up verses sung in an equally annoying tone (and very stupid ones too), not to mention the senseless and ignorant things these monks "preach" are just too much to bear.

Buddhism is a precious philosophy. It is a very practical doctrine based on the stark utter reality which is credible and so very down to earth. It is devoid of all the nonsensical aspects that we heap on it today which weighs it down and degrades it to a mere gooey superficial pulp. If practiced, learnt and grasped the true essence, it is an invaluable elixir. Such a shame how these nitwits who call themselves "monks" make a fool of themselves in such a manner, sullying the name and the reputation of this invaluable wisdom in the process. Breaks my heart.

But then, one has only to look as far as the home page of one's social media profiles to see absolute morons who call themselves "Buddhists" debase this truth with anti religious hate speech. It's disgusting. I'd be surprised if these idiots knew even an iota of what Buddhism is about.

Nevertheless just a few days before, went exploring around Pettah and Colombo Fort with The Darling. It was an amazing experience, just wandering about, getting drowned in the activity and the hoards of people buying, selling, roaming, etc. And we were just blown away with the amount of history, culture and wonderment that this dingy corner of the country often overlooked by many holds. Sometimes its almost like stepping back in time when exploring within these old Dutch and Colonial buildings, as if the world outside just falls away and fades into something of a dream and an ancient world just unfurls itself before your eyes. It truly is a flabbergastingly jaw dropping experience.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm obsessed with old buildings? Well I am.

The evening ended with a beautiful cup of tea at the Heladiv Tea Center. Had this absolutely lovely cup of tea called the Tropical Sunset....or something. It was so fragrant that I was convinced that I could burp, fart and sneeze wonderfully perfumed matter that day! By then it was as if the both of us were drunk - with tea, the experience or exhaustion I'm not sure. Laughed like maniacs (for no apparent reason) and chattered nonsense, came up with weird stuff that made absolutely no sense to either of us and then laughed about that all over again all the way home. It was good. We are so silly together that its so cool :))

The noise has stopped and I hadn't even noticed. Seems like I've learnt to zone out the racket thank God. But I was told that it will be like this till the 21st or so. Oh well, lets see. If the worst comes to worst, I'm taking down the loud speakers and selling them on ebay.