Ashamed,
Like a volcanic eruption they fall,
Thick, black, foul, venomous air in the horizon
Mammoth tower fallen
Silence,
Is this what I believe in?
Most Gracious!
Most Merciful!
Not paranoia!
Not murder!
Not self-righteousness
Naked,
Feeling exposed to thoughts and visions
Beliefs and People
Insecurity –
Then Acceptance,
Acceptance –
To Honour,
Honour –
To Love,
‘Love thy neighbour’ Quote,
Some don’t get it
Belief is Funny-company
Some Run,
Some Hide
I love
I believe.
~M. Ramzi Zaindeen
Presented by M. Ramzi Zaindeen, at ‘Breaking the Golden’ Rule Open Mic Night, on 23rd January 2016, at Lentil as Anything, Footscray, Melbourne.
My Religion means a way of life to me. It has taught me a way of fair and just lifestyle through its teachings. Since I’ve been born to a Buddhist family, I had no choice but to learn the religion I was supposed to learn by default. But, it has taught me a great lot to live a good life. Buddhism, in my opinion is a philosophy; the essence containing simple and practical ways of living a balanced life. To understand the depth of Buddhism, you need a lot of patience. I personally have not looked into seeking the depths of my religion, because whatever I have been taught/ learnt gives me enough knowledge to lead a just life.
Buddhism’s basic teachings for me have been equality and compassion. The teaching of the religion has made me a person who values the right for life of all living beings, from the ant to the human to the biggest living being on earth. To me my religion isn’t a thing to worship upon or anything to be carried on my shoulders and raised to “greatness.” It is simply only a “bridge” which leads me to be a selfless, compassionate human being.
What more my religion has taught me is, regardless of a person’s religion, race, caste, complexion or social status to treat all as just humans. To make relationships with people religion or social status was and is never an obstacle to me, I don’t see it as a point to even consider. Buddhism has taught me to respect all religions and beliefs. In my opinion, simply, if a certain other belief or a religion leads a person to a good life, well that’s all what is needed. My religion does not force anything on me. I am not obliged to follow whatever is being taught. It gives me absolute freedom to question the teachings and choose whether I am going to follow a right path to live a right life. But, it always show the consequences of leading a positive or a negative life. And it’s solely my call to choose whether I want to experience negative or positive consequences.
I don’t have a particular “God figure” to worship and rely on, but neither have I been denied the access to other religious figures when I need a reliable thing/person. The greatest thing Buddhism has taught me is to respect all good things, be it a teaching or a person. After all, any God is a good God!
Nimna Wickramasinghe is a 20 year old Sinhalese, who is also a Theravada Buddhist. Her special interest is on Fashion, and she follows a course in Art and Design.
Everyone around us have different thoughts and perspectives in what their religion means to them. Theologically a Christian is someone who has received the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, trusts him alone for forgiveness of sins, repents from his/her own sins and being a renewed person in front of God.
I was born into a Christian family and from the day I started speaking I was involved in my Church Sunday School activities and other groups that follows the process. I’ve been taught to read my Bible, pray everyday and live my life according to the Bible. So for me, my religion meant a way of life in which you are trying to live your life like Jesus following his steps.
But as I was growing up, I was exposed to many of the worldly things, common beliefs of others and other religions then I realised being a Christian does not necessarily mean trying to be perfect or to go to Church every Sunday, sing songs and praises and reading your bible everyday. I also realised that some of my beliefs contradicted the common beliefs of other Christians.
So I started questioning myself on whether I am a good Christian or am I just going through a rebellious phase or whether I was under the influence of Satan turning away from my God. But as I turned 18 everything became clear to me.
I realised Christianity was all about love and forgiveness. I realised how much my God loved me that he sent his only son to die on the cross for my sins. I realised being a Christian means not following exactly what the Bible says but taking the guidelines from the bible to choose between the right and wrong because God has given us the choice to choose between the good and the bad. It’s about loving others selflessly as much as you love yourself. It’s about forgiving each other and learning to not hold grudges or to take revenge. Its about finding the purpose of your life and finding your role in making this world a better place filled with love. So at the age of 18, I chose to be a Christian with the Bible as my guiding light and Jesus Christ as my Saviour and protector.
So for me Christianity is all about Love. As I understood this, I also realised that the base of all the other religions was also Love. With this new found knowledge I developed a respect towards all the other religions around me because in the end being a Christian also means respecting others and accepting them for who they are without judging, just as God also accepted us for who we are even with all our sins.
Ruth Aruni Aloysius is a 20 year old Sri Lankan Tamil Christian, who is a student and a volunteer dedicated to serve her community.
I would like to start off with what Islam is NOT to me. Islam is not terrorism and bloodshed like some of the world sees. It is not a teaching that promotes rape, oppression, extremism or killing of innocent human beings, but, to me, it is the best way of life!
As I type this, my eyes are filled with tears. I am blessed to be a Muslim and to have discovered the beauty of Islam, Alhamdulillah (all praise is to Allah). Everybody has a turning point in their life where one has to struggle to be stronger and I, had such a turning point too…
I remember, about two and a half years ago, sitting on the prayer mat, in my dark room; while everyone else at home were asleep, my eyes were exhausted with pouring tears. As my muscles tightened, the only word I remember uttering was, “Allah….” Those were the darkest days I’ve ever faced. I had no hope other than crying out to my Rabb (Lord) and having faith that no matter how lost and hopeless it all seemed, there would be something great in store for me…
It is strange how much the love of my Maker, filled my heart with peace. I started to realize that no matter who hurt me, there was something and someone I could always rely on; Islam, which gave me hope, and Allah, Who never abandoned me. It is when I was tested that I felt drawn towards Allah, and through this, I believe, I discovered my strengths which I once thought were my weaknesses.
Islam is not just about fasting a month and praying five times a day; it is a connection with Allah that is to be nourished every day. If I were to describe it in a different way, I would say, just as how water fulfills thirst, Islam is like a daily energy giver fulfilling all what I need! It teaches me to worship Allah in every aspect, and this gives me hope that I can fulfill the purpose Allah has created me for. I learnt to expect less from others and to do whatever I was doing for Him alone. The hijab and abaya I wear turned out to be my armour,(yes, I’d like to call it that way) protecting me from the eyes of tempted men. It also teaches me simplicity, that I am a slave to my Lord and that I dress to impress Him alone! It is also my automatic alarm system that constantly reminds me to not develop pride because, if I am blessed with something, the credits and praise are to Him alone!
Islam to me is the best form through which I can fulfill all my passions! I am reminded through the life of my Prophet Muhammadh that I could pray for others in their difficulty, even when we are too far away to reach out to those in need. It has given me motivation that I need not be powerful or rich to do great things, but even the simplest things matter if my intentions are pure. Islam means so much to me that it will always (at least I try hard) be my first priority! I could go on with the list, and I am very sure I will regret not adding in further!
For those of you, who do not know, today I am who I am only because of Islam and all praise is to Allah alone!
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
(Qur’an 13: 28)
And I pray, that whoever is reading this will find more peace than I did!
May Allah guide you all! Aameen.
Fathima Sajla Anees is a 20 year old Sri Lankan Moor Muslim. She is a first year law student at Sri Lanka Law College, but she is also passionate in special needs teaching and Psychological counselling.
I’m honestly not sure about what my religion has meant to me at this moment, as I am currently going through a phase of change in my life. Religion at times has been a form some, to understand or explain the unexplainable happening around them. It has been an anchor that prevents people from drifting away from their morals and values. In a sense it can be religion that makes us human.
I was brought up under a strong Catholic background. From strong influences of my father being one of the more active persons in church thought my childhood, right through my education in one of Sri Lanka’s leading Catholic schools. From altar boy, to choir boy to celebrating masses in the Vatican and audiences with the pope – I’ve gone from pilgrimages and prayer meetings to reciting the rosary at home. But my life has hasn’t only just been about prayers and visits to the church. I like to think that I’ve been blessed with a strong curiosity to question many of the things in life and society.
I’ve been lucky to have come across people from different parts of the world many of which are from the South Asian region, where People with different casts, ages, cultures, beliefs and ways of thinking exist. My interests in the political science have brought me new perspectives on social behavior. Most interesting of which is ‘Liberal thinking’. I feel that this worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality has seemed so promising to many of our youth today (be it in different variations of the idea).
I’ve often heard people say that “when I have a child, I’m gonna let him or her choose his/her religion, his beliefs and what he wants to be”. As noble and brave as it sounds, I’ve felt that such a thought, would seem silly. You can never live a life void of any influences. The people who live around you – their beliefs, their likes, their cultures, and their biasness will eventually rub off on you at some given point.
One thing I do believe in, however, is that we all yearn to do be good. What is ‘good’ on the other hand is again subjective. We all simply don’t have the time or the will power to really put into thought, on what really is ‘right or wrong’ or ‘good or bad’, which is why many of us turn to religion for salvation or for answers. Religion gives us the answers and the reasons. These answers have gone through decades of refinement. I feel that this is why the prominent religions have a strong core or a base. Religion provides us with purpose and reason.
I’ve also heard of those who advocate the core philosophies of most religions to being equal or of living in harmony. To me such views and beliefs have stem from ‘Omnism’, Religious pluralism and my favorite, Universalism. I personally feel that such views on religion are views that simply sound ‘nice’ rather than be reflection of the reality. The fact that some religions are Sectarian proves to be a point to consider.
As for Catholicism, I feel that there is still much that I should know about my own religion in order for me to have a clear understanding on it for me make a proper statement about it. And I feel it is the same for many of us who have our own views on our religion. If we really think about it, we are all prone to change. Of all things, the way we think changes the most. Whilst our religions tends to be less prone to sudden changes as we are.
The author wishes to remain anonymous. He is a 22 year old Sri Lankan, and a born Roman Catholic. He is a Sinhalese, who also believes that he is part of the Human race.
It gives you a foundation about what is right and wrong, but at the same time it boxes you in. It can define your identity, and at the same time it can suppress your personality.
Everyone’s perception of religion is different. Some like to be spoon fed what was taught by religious leaders, religious institutions, their parents or peers. It is very rarely people tend to think outside the box; the idea has been formulated in their mind that ‘what is familiar is the only virtuous thing’. But at the same time there are some who question what is right, what is wrong and if there is only ‘one true religion’ in this world.
I’ve never been a fan of worshiping things or obeying orders without understanding first, the principles behind it. You can probably understand my stand on religion by that single sentence. Freedom to think for myself, freedom to express myself is important to me. To elaborate you could say that blind faith is not my idea of religion.
So what do I love about religion? Well the best thing for me are the stories; stories full of life lessons. Mesmerizing stories about people who lived in lust, love, passion and also people who lived virtuously, and how they either ruined their lives or prospered through the introduction of religion to their lives.
From Moses who went through the parted red sea; saving his followers from death, to Buddha who tamed Angulimala; the man who cut off the fingers of the people he killed, to a woman who cut off her curtains to drape around her body in filial piety to Allah; so her body would be safe from the lecherous looks of men, to Rama who crossed an ocean to save his beloved Sita from the cunning Ravana; which gave birth to the Deepavali festival; all sorts of religions offer beautiful and terrible stories. To see the repetition of human mistakes, human adaptability, human humility as well as extreme pride that refrains them changing themselves for the better, makes you understand how the world has always worked.
I don’t believe that there is only one true religion. Most religions basically guide you as to how to live as a decent human being. For me personally, reincarnation nor heavens nor a perdition don’t matter. I will live the life that has been given to me now, as a good human being.
Layanvi Tennakoon (21) is a Sinhalese Buddhist from Kandy, Sri Lanka. She works as a part-time invigilator, and she is also a student. Most of all, she is a free-thinking woman.
It is my belief and an obvious fact that ‘order’ is the key for the existence of anything at all. In the same way it is a necessity for human existence and the continuance of the world that ‘order’ remains strong. Where order fails chaos is inevitable. But, what could be the governing factors that keep order in place? Some would say that it is the law, enforced by man for the purpose of retribution. But at all places is the law equal and does it always serve justice? As it is evident enough the law is not always sufficient or accurate to maintain order. Hence, acts contrary to maintaining balance will always be committed since man enforced law is faulty. How can man refrain from committing these acts? Since there will be no consequences of his actions man has no reason to uphold order. If man is to discipline himself and protect order it needs to come not from any external force but from a force within him.
That is why man has a conscience, an inner force that tells him what to do. That stands as the ultimate judge of what a person has done. If a man is to be held accountable for his actions, what better way is there than within himself? An inbuilt system that holds him answerable for his actions. It all comes down to this, the verdict of a man’s conscience. This is where the fact known as morality comes up. A moral good or bad is what values a person has inbuilt in his conscience. If he is infused with good morals that is when he will always answer to his conscience and be held accountable in a way that is correspondent with maintaining order. But how can a person instill good morals in him from the very beginning of life. Which force can guide him to do so?
Finally I come to my point with the clear answer for the all the above questions. The answer is ‘religion’. It is the system, no matter how different, that develops a persons a conscience to uplift order. Teaching him what is good and what is wrong. It could be so strong that it affects a person’s conscience with guidelines as the good and the bad to hold him accountable at the end of the day. Hence religion is the ultimate force of accountability. It is beyond humans themselves and in a person’s mind there is no hiding from retribution laid down by religion. Hence, religion governs people indirectly, which as explained above is pivotal to maintain order.
Out of all religions that lay down guidance to what’s good and bad, what I should do and how I will be held accountable for it, I chose Buddhism. Not simply because I was born as one but because at some point in life I went on a journey of discovery which finally lead me to agree with the teachings of Buddhism. If you ask me why, it’s simply because it is correspondent with the way I see the world. What I explained in length above is how I perceive this world. In the search for the perfect system of accountability I find Buddhism to be more suited to my perspectives. Why I think so cannot be explained briefly but ill outline it through a few key words which according to me are the values in Buddhism I admire.
The first one is ‘Karma’. In the eyes of a Buddhist he is accountable for any and all of his activities. The phrase which we say “put yourself in their shoes” is basically how karma functions. At some point your actions will come back to you. Whatever done to others will return in an equal or similar way as if every action has a reaction. May it be good the reactions will be good and if it is bad the reaction will equally be painful. This brings us to classify the good and bad deeds we do as sins and merits. Depending on your merits and sins your fate will be determined. The mere belief of such a system of accountability makes a person think if they would like the same done to them before doing anything to another person thus making him fear the consequences of doing what is deemed wrong to another person. I see this as a brilliant way to hold yourself accountable for your actions thus ensuring a person’s stand point as someone more disciplined. Also to me personally it helps me keep track of my actions and make sure I do what is right and not do what is wrong. Hence, this has become the main building blocks of my morality.
The next thing I value the most is the very key concept of Buddhism which is the key concept of admittance and acknowledgement of change. We as humans desperately hang onto what we hold dear, to a point where letting go is one of our greatest fears. Buddhism teaches us to admit the fact that change is inevitable and that at some point what we hold dear will change. Thus remaining unattached to superficial things makes life more humble and simple. In my life this has guided me to obtain and keep my needs very simple and less complicated. Also as a person I have grown stronger having the ability to not emotionally get over attached to changing elements in life making me more stable as a person.
The next thing would be how Buddhism grants us the ability to unlock the mind. In moments of distress I meditate which helps me sort out my thoughts and calm my mind helping me achieve stability. Meditation is the key to attaining higher levels of spiritual development in my religion and practicing this has allowed me to be more focused in the targets in life I need to accomplish. Buddhism provides guidelines on how to open the gateways to discover your identity through a spiritual approach. Which I find to be one of the most important elements any person should have in life. It helps you become independent, confident and also genuine to yourself. Hence, it helped me find myself.
Among many other things I value in my religion these are a few that would allow me to outline why I follow its teachings. As much as I respect other religions and learn from them, Buddhism is the religion I prefer to agree with my perception and above all, it molded me to the person I am today.
Dhisal Kapuge is a 20 year old Theravada Buddhist who resides in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He is a Law student and a dedicated volunteer. His passion is to explore the world and learn from the experiences by his journeys.
I was asked what my religion meant to me, which got me thinking – what really does Islam mean to me? ‘mean’, just another daily used 4 letter word yet it holds so much gravity. A four letter word, which would express and represent to you something that I believe in very deeply.
Islam.
Google says Islam means Peace, obedience and submission. It also says in the religious sense Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law. For the seven billion people who breathe on earth, Islam as a religion may mean many good or evil things. To me Islam means many things I keep close to my heart,
Islam is beauty. Sometimes people say you wouldn’t know the real meaning of something unless you are personally experiencing it. I may not be able to justify to you with my words how beautiful my religion means and is to me, but Islam as a religion for me is not just a religion I was born to, but one that I have now with all consciousness chosen for myself, One that I have chosen for me to be my pathway in life.
Islam for me is forgiveness. As a Muslim I have made and am making a lot of mistakes in life and I know as I grow the amount of mistakes I make may not reduce, yet this does not mean I am being any less of a Muslim. Every time I intentionally or unintentionally make a mistake and cannot muster the courage to face society, I drop down on my knees with tears filling my eyes and bow down and pray. I pray to allah asking for forgiveness because I know he listens, Allah says in the Quran in chapter Al- Zumar( The Troops) , verse number 53 : “Say: O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Regardless of the gravity of the sin, with a sincere heart if you ask for forgiveness I know Allah will listen.
Islam is security. “And he is with you wherever you are.” Surah Al- Hadid: Verse 4. To have the reassurance that the guidance and the blessing of your God is with you at all times is one that puts the heart at ease. In the Quran it is said that “Allah will test you with hardship after hardship” (At-Talaq 65:7), yet it is also said, “Allah does not burden a soul more than he can bear”. (Surah Al- Baqarah 2:286). Today I know that as long as the glow of my faith in Allah brightens my life, I shall have the strength to face any hardship that comes my way.
Islam for me is also equality. From childhood I was always taught to never look down on anyone. Regardless of what societal ranking a man or woman posses my parents always taught me to never look down on them, this teaching is nothing but a reflection of the teachings of Islam. Regardless of where we stand in this world in monetary and educational ranking, at the end of the day there is a God above us and in Allah’s eyes we are all in one level. Being privileged than someone doesn’t make you any better but what makes you better is if you treat them fairly and equally.
Islam for me is love and unity. Love your parents, your family, and your friends. Love your spouse, your children, your neighbours, the animals and any fellow human being who follows another religion. Islam is also respect, hatred never made anything better and being a Muslim I have learnt that respecting other religions is an act that reflects the beauty and teachings of your religion. Putting down another person never makes you any better. Being exposed to the practices of other religions and my religion has made me realize that all religions at the end of the day teach the same thing, “You will not be able to rise high in your faith by trampling another person’s faith.” So respect people and their ways of life; spread love and practice the action of being united.
Lastly Islam is guidance, the way of my life. You cannot judge my religion based on me, I am yet another mere soul dwindling on earth figuring out how to be the true example of the faith she follows. Islam is much more than what you see on Media, Islam is much more than what meets the eye.
Islam is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered; one that you will know about when you set yourself on the journey to learn about it, yet one that you will be unaware of if you don’t have the heart to believe in it.
The Prophet (pbuh) didn’t choose to be a Prophet. The job was chosen for him. Sometimes we don’t get to pick what we have to do, but rather, it is chosen for us. In the end, though, it’s what’s best for us, and we have to make the most of it. I didn’t choose Islam to be my religion it was chosen for me. Today as a 21 year old who learns something new every day in life, if I was given the chance to choose my religion I will always chose Islam; I will chose to be known as a Muslim. Not because I believe it to be the best or because it is what I have to follow, but because it means something much more to me than what I can put in to words and express to you.
My religion to me means much more than just a religion I have to practice. Islam is the torch bearer to brighten up a dark room and today I may not be the best example for my religion yet with time and the guidance, I know that one day the spark I have within me, which will brighten up much more than just a tiny dark room.
Hafsa Mazahim is a 21 year old Sri Lankan Moor girl who has an educational background in psychology. She also serves as the Project Coordinator for Oceans and Continents.
What does religion mean? According to Google, it’s “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods”. But is that all religion is? Just a belief in a superhuman? – It obviously means way more than that.
It means next to nothing to some and to the others, it’s the way to live. There is a huge difference of what each religion means to every individual and the best part of it is that no one can tell you that you are wrong!
My relationship with my religion is a long complicated journey with twists and turns. My parents aren’t the most religious type so growing up I could choose to go to the Kovil or stay at home, or decide to not follow certain rituals.
So for me, until my rebellious teenage years arrived, religion was something that I was taught in school, which I studied just to get good grades. All I knew was that there were many stories, rituals, traditions and my religion had a long boring history. At home, I just did whatever I could to stay on my mother’s good side which included not eating meat on Fridays and going to Kovil on special occasions.
Then came my rebellious teenage years and I questioned anything and everything. Suddenly the stories seems like fantasies, the rituals and traditions seemed to be either sexist or ridiculous and nothing really made sense. I started reading up on other religions and even considered myself an atheist for a while. I never voiced these thoughts though, because no matter how “right” I thought I was at the moment, it wasn’t worth explaining to everyone the ‘why’ and the ‘when’.
At sixteen, I started growing out my rebellious age (which my mom was so thankful for) and started thinking that there must be a reason why Hinduism is one of the oldest religion which can’t even be dated back and started reading everything I learned with a clear mindset.
Then I realized that Hinduism is more than the ‘scary gods with 1000 faces’ or the ‘colorful festivals’. There are reason behind the rituals and the stories.
Hinduism is about compassion and peace, to believe that every organism has soul whether its plant or animal, therefore we have to show compassion to everything.
It’s about karma, about how every action has its effect and we are responsible for our action. Sometimes the present life is not enough to account for our sins or our good deeds which is why we have rebirths and it’s a cycle until you lose all desires in your mind which is the goal of our existence.
It’s about righteous living.
It’s about achieving peace of mind and soul.
I would say Hinduism is not a particular belief system but rather a way of life that you choose. There is no “one Hinduism” as it lacks any unified system of beliefs or books.
You could be a Hindu and not agree with anything that I have said above and that is alright too. But I think we can agree that Hinduism is a ‘religion’ of love, kindness, mercy, selflessness and helping the needy even at cost to oneself.
Karthika Jeganathan is a 19 year old student who believes in Hinduism and a proud Sri Lankan.
To me, being a Roman Catholic is about loving God and obeying His commandments; one which I hold dear to me is helping other people. I see the Church reaching out to the sick, the hungry, the homeless, and the helpless. We do this through Catholic Charities and in our participation in local programs.
Being a Roman Catholic, and attending a school which taught only another denomination in Christianity, has helped me understand that we need religion to have spirituality and faith in our lives, also to respect other religions and its core values. Although I may not feel the same sort holiness or a sense of tranquility, when I enter a mosque or a Buddhist temple as I do in a Catholic or Christian church. I’ve learnt to understand that the inspiration lies in all other religions is its people.
Praying to Holy Father above, during my desperate times and when in need, has pulled me through many situations in life. It has given me enough courage and blessing to keep moving forward. Although I may not go to church every Sunday or read the bible daily I do not consider myself a less of a catholic as being a believer in god and praying when needed has given me enough faith and guidance to have a spiritual life.
Being around people from different religions has taught me that no matter what people say being a part of my religion has helped me have a very cultured life. This has given me the wisdom to understand and respect the teachings of other religions also to have a deep connection to my faith. Also not use my religion for power or pride but use it, when in doubt and to seek guidance.
I conclude with the wisdom of St. James, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep him unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)”
Menura Mudalige (20) is a CIMA student who resides in Kandy. Currently Menura aspires to become a Trainer and a public speaker.
Open House 