On Islamic Way

The story of how Mohamed Sabpra became Talangama Nabeetha Thera

At this moment of time when there are major conflicts between the Buddhists and the Muslims that never existed before to this extent. There are many instances that can be recalled about the relationships of the Sinhalese and the Muslims.
There have been many instances before that many that were born as Muslims who had joined The Buddha ‘Sasanaya’.A such story is heard from M/s Abdeen as.....”I have a child who is married to a person in the Catholic religion. My eighth son Mohamed Farouk Abdeen got married to a Buddhist girl. Although we objected to it, but owing to son’s insistence we gave our consent. After marriage the daughter in law came to our religion. They are blessed with seven children. They have no house; hence they live with us. I too live on rent. Although we are Muslims we associated mostly with Sinhalese people.
My grandson loved to go to temple from his young days. We could not stop his habit. From his younger days he was requesting permission to be ordained. We could not stop his request. The grandson’s father did not say anything, kept quiet. The child’s mother gave her consent. I could not change his mind. Ultimately we made up our minds allowing the child to be ordained as a Buddhist monk. Initially our relatives objected but now they do not talk and object to it. The grandmother, Sabpras Mohamed, confessed accordingly her grandson was ordained as a novice Buddhist monk on the 25th January as Talangana Nabeetha thera.”
Although a visit was made by us to meet the Talangama Nabeetha thera’s mother and father, but we could meet only the monk’s father and the grandmother.
“ I studied at Jayawardena school in Koswatta. There are seven children in our family. Eldest sister is married. Mother stays at home. My father does odd labour work for our living. From my small days I had an intention of becoming a Buddhist monk. On the day I got ordained at the ‘Koswatte Lumbini Wiveka Sevanaya’. On that day all family members to the family came for the ordaining ceremony. The Buddhist monk most cordially welcomed me” quipped the Nabeeha thera.
The Lord Buddha did not lay restrictions about caste; creed and religion about those were ordained. From the high Brahaman’s to those in the ‘Sadol’ caste was ordained. What Lord Buddha wants was a huge generation of Buddhist monks. This child had come with his mother to meet the Head monk to reveal his need. But the Head monk had requested for them to come with the father as well. The day he got ordained his father did not come. However now twice a week both father and mother comes to see the Nabeetha thera. This was disclosed by the Chief Incumbent of the temple Sri Saddhamangala Temple at the Koswatte Lumbini Wiveka Sevanaya premises.
There are several trainee monks who had come from several parts of the country. Among them there was a young novice monk just seven years old. He is also a monk who belonged to the Muslim community. He spoke in a timid sober manner and not in a boisterous manner young boys behave.
“ We also stayed in Talangama. My father comes home drunk and assaults my mother. Mother cries .At those moments I felt very sad. My sister too cried. My mother brought me and handed over to the Nayaka Thera of the temple to be ordained as a novice monk. I consented to be ordained. The home life was terrible and sad. The Nayake thera is very kind and looks after us well. So I like to be in the temple.”
In order to make our journey through ‘Sansara’ to be short we are thought all aspects of Buddhism as novice monks by the Chief Incumbent monk of the temple Ven. Sri Saddhamangala thera. All those monks who are under study here were never canvassed by me. They have all come here on their own initiative and willingness. What our nation needs is unity amongst all religions and communities. The novice monks have now through sheer perseverance are now able to even chant ‘pirith.’
The Lumbini Sri Viveka Senasnaya is located along the new Kandy road at North Talangama , in Koswatta is still under construction. More than the comforts found there what is needed is to make efforts to develop a large Sanga generation. It should be mentioned that there are no differences among the novice monks who are all committed to Buddhism and to learn the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Article by Inoka Samarawickrema
Photographs:Wimal Karunatillake/ Saman Sri Wedage