When I heard that the Madani government is trying to equate itself to Buddhist beliefs and practises , my first thought was of Donald Trump posting a picture of him looking like Jesus recently.
What is wrong with politicians these days ? I don't know who they think they are or how they believe that the people see them, but if they assume that if their effort to identify themselves with religion or sacred symbols will cause the people to see them in a more positive light, I don't think they are going to be happy with the result.
When Donald Trump tried to portray himself as Jesus, he was universally condemned. Rather than make me see him in the same light as Jesus, it actually made me wonder whether he is the antichrist that Christians often speak about.
Although I won't say that the first thought that crossed my mind when I read that the Madani government is trying to identify itself with Buddhism is that he Madani government is the personification of the anti-Christ , or Mara, since we are speaking in the Buddhist context here, I must say that my first impression of what they were doing is that it is laughable. Other than laughable, a close second impression I had of the Madani government is that it must be quite desperate. At the third place, I also found the Madani government to be quite ignorant to assume that its practises are in line with Buddhist beliefs and practises.
According to transport minister Loke Siew Fook, the value of compassion is one of the core principles of Buddhist teachings that aligns with the Malaysia Madani concept, alongside doing good to others and speaking kindly.
“So these are universal values which transcend all religions, as emphasised in the Madani principles. It is not unique or exclusive to any particular religion,” Anthony said, adding that the Madani concept is also grounded in values such as mutual respect and sustainability.
It is indeed the case that compassion is a practise that is celebrated in Buddhism, but compassion is just a word, and because it is just a word, it can have many meanings to many people.
The Madani government might genuinely believe that it is a compassionate government and since Buddhism is a religion that celebrates compassion, then the Madani government and the Buddhism must have a lot in common, but to this I will also say that Donald Trump might also sincerely believe that he is a leader who champions freedom, and thus his desire to destroy Iran is motivated by his desire to liberate Iran.
But just as the ministers in the Madani government will have trouble in seeing Donald Trump as a liberating figure, it must also understands why the people will likely have trouble in seeing the Madani government as a compassionate government.
I am not saying that I think that the Madani government is an anti-Buddhist or cruel government, but I will say that the Madani government is almost certainly ignorant of what Buddhism means by compassion and is free from any Buddhist influence in running its government.
I am quite sure that there is no minister in the Madani government - even the Buddhist ones - that goes to work everyday wondering whether their actions, desires and intentions are in tune with the Dhamma, in line with the teachings of Buddha or meets the approval of the Sangha.
Some of the things that the Madani government does might overlap with the teachings and practises of Buddhism, but to that, I will also say that both Gandhi and Hitler were vegetarians - just because they are some overlaps in practises between Gandhi and Hitler, it would be absurd to think of Hitler in the same light as Gandhi or vice versa.
In short, I think that if the Madani government is compassionate, it is compassionate only according to its standards, and its standards is something that operates independently of the Buddhist standard.
Just because it operates independently of the Buddhist standards, it doesn't mean it is antagonistic to the Buddhist standard - but even if has overlaps to the Buddhist standard, it is not synonymous with the beliefs and practises of Buddhism.
Rather than the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, the compassion that the Madani government practises is more is likely more in line with Anwarism, and perhaps influenced by such things as our constitution, history, convention and norms.
While I think it is well enough that the Madani government wished to felicitate the Wesak Day celebration, I don't think it is necessary, or even good, that it goes to the extent of equating its practises with that of Buddhism.
Rather, I think it is enough that if it just sends a representative to a Buddhist Vihara and say that it hopes the day goes well and that it will do whatever it possibly can to facilitate the celebration, without needing to equate itself to Buddhism in the process.
Even if the Madani government is afraid of how it will fare in the coming elections, to the point that it is identifying with everything from Vaisakhi to Wesak to improve its chances, I think its effort is going to backfire, because rather than be seen as virtuous or admirable, it is mostly just looking desperate through its attempts.
If it believes that by identifying with Buddhism, it will gain the good fortune of winning the next election, all I will say is that Buddhism is not really a religion that bestows much favour on rulers, even the ones that are favourable to it.
Even the ruler that is most closely associated with Buddhism in Buddha's time itself - King Pasanedi of Kosala - would die of exhaustion in the gates of foreign kingdom, after finding his throne usurped by his own minister and son.
Another ruler who was famous for patronizing and showing favour to Buddhism in Buddha's time - King Bimbisara of Magadha - would find himself imprisoned and starved to death by his own son.
Buddhism can't be said to be a religion that particularly looks at rulers in favour.
In many passages, kings are actually mentioned in the same breath with thieves: They confiscate property and show little regard for the rule of law.
In one of sutta where a ruler will be having a discourse with a monk, a 80 year old king will be complaining that though he was a very strong man in his youth, he is not only racked with pain in his old age, he is also so weak and feeble that when he tells his right foot to go left, it goes right, and when it tells it to go right, it goes left.
To this, the monk would ask the King: “But say if you hear that there is an adjacent kingdom that is ripe to be conquered today, would you not set yourself to conquer it? ”
“In a heartbeat,” the King will reply, even when he was so close to death, that even his feet do not obey his command.
This should tell you to a certain extent as to the view that Buddhism has of rulers.
At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I tend to see almost all of the interaction that Buddhism has with the government of the day to be underlined by indifference and acceptance - from the Buddhist point of view, like a child has their heart set on toys, a ruler is someone who has their heart set on winning - and thus, no matter what you tell them, the only thing that they are concerned about, is how or win.
Even if at times, they are compassionate or considerate, at the end of the day, it is not compassion or consideration that defines them - it is winning.
Realising that, you just have to accept them as they are l, for as long as they wish to be who they are.
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