“Something we cannot see protects us from something we do not understand. The thing we cannot see is culture, in its intrapsychic or internal manifestation. The thing we do not understand is the chaos that gave rise to culture. If the structure of culture is disrupted, unwittingly, chaos returns.”
– Professor Jordan B. Peterson
Culture is the cornerstone of civilisation; the bedrock of all the customs, ideals, laws, and behaviour amassed through time in a society. Culture could also be the myriad manifestations of human intellectual and artistic pursuits collectively achieved.
Culture can also be defined as all ways of life including arts, beliefs, and institutions belonging to a population that is passed down from generation to generation, embodying codes of conduct and mannerisms, religion, rituals, art, religion, dress sense, material traits, and ingrained habits that exist as part of civilised and progressive characterised existence.
The Problems
Of course, if culture is to be analysed, with us measuring its pros and cons, culture poses its own unique set of hurdles, debacles, predicaments, and problems.
Cultural issues can range from multifarious problems that occur when culture causes conflicts – sometimes clashing with value systems, more progressive thinking, goals, lifestyles, and, more often than not, with other cultures.
The culture you see emerges as a culmination of shared experiences – experiences of different groups – and isn’t necessarily centrally controlled or designed.
Let it be around for awhile at the epicentre of existence and culture starts to take a more darker, twisted, and contradictory disposition, shape, and form.
We have seen in the last few centuries how culture has become an object of exploitation, misinterpretation, and social manipulation.
In fact a very rigid culture, at times unevolved with modern times and contemporary thought, poses conflicts within tribal, rural, and urban societies.
Take for instance culturally sensitive issues pertaining to stratification when we bring into consideration elements and factors of caste, class, lineage, family, marital conventions, and the position and plight of minorities in society that face unfair polarisation, unbridled hardship, inherent chaos, and prejudices aplenty.
We talk about how integral culture is to carve a steadfast foundation for civilised societies to maintain a semblance of decency, adaptability, greater understanding, and order, while sometimes turning blind eyes to how crucial socio-cultural issues are, with problems galore that need to be addressed in this day and age; stuff that have been passed down from one generation to another through habitual and ritualistic dissemination which result in casteism, savage practices, dowry, communalism, harmful lifestyles, drug addiction, etc.
This proves that not all things perceived and fashioned into the fabric of society as something theoretically sound always translates realistically as something which is good for us.
A Philosophy Abused
Sri Lanka being a multi-ethnic country still identifies as predominantly Buddhist; with a large majority following Buddhism, while the rest of the population identifies as Hindu, Muslim, and Christian.
Ours is a nation that prides itself on great cultural diversity. The correlation and link between religion and culture is symbiotic and pervades many aspects of life in our island.
However, have we not seen the abuse of religion often, when the very teachings and origins of these creeds, philosophies, and doctrines are misinterpreted, undervalued, and taken for granted?
Sure. It is a global thing since time immemorial where certain fractions throughout history have always abused and exploited religious teachings. Some have done this for political advantage and leverage; others, for personal gain.
Yet humanity as a whole tends to often forget the principles and core essence of the underlying morals.
Human beings love to ride on the coat-tails of culture and religion, espousing and endorsing both for social, personal, and political benefits.
We need to learn to separate the forest from the trees – realising that some religious beliefs and cultural traditions and norms are irrational and irrelevant contextually in this day and age.
Simply because something has weathered the tests of time as tradition and custom does not necessarily mean its a practice that is pure of heart, honours the intentions of those who inspired the aforesaid, and inculcates virtuous sentiments and universal value systems.
After all, culture misconstrued and religious teachings misinterpreted have lead to much division, sorrow, polarisation, instilling of fear, discrimination, immutability, curtailing of freedoms, and causing of conflict between one another – triggering disharmony, leading to war, eliciting violence, and used as a tool to suppress and control others.
A Tortured National Treasure
The Nadungamuwa Raja was Sri Lanka’s most sacred elephant, which passed away at the age of 68 recently.
This caused an outpouring of grief and the lamentation of many – candidly and publicly.
There has even been a presidential order for the iconic cadaver to be stuffed and preserved for posterity.
Why were so many Sri Lankans shaken to their core with the death of Nadungamuwa Raja amidst the countless hardship and catastrophes people currently face? What have you, take your pick. A nation crippled by an economy in shambles, shortages in essentials, foreign currency crisis, elevated cost of living, future instability and uncertainty, and so much more.
Yet the gargantuan loss felt by the loss and death of the country’s oldest and most revered elephant was felt along the social media grapevine, as it did more widely.
Many who wouldn’t display an iota of compassion, empathy, or kindness to the numerous destitute, desolate strays and innocent animals around them were mouthing the loss of this magnificent creature.
People who wouldn’t give water to a dog, or feed a cat or adopt a homeless animal… Those who would dump litters on roads, unoccupied lands, and in temples and parks and such were suddenly collectively grieving.
Why?
Let’s however take a fine lens and look at this with a modicum of perspective.
The Nadungamuwa Raja was the largest tamed tusker who was the main casket bearer of the ancient and sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha, in processions.
It is of the belief that this creature was chosen to become a cultural icon and symbol, a real honour bestowed upon this creature held in captivity and trained to perform its holy duties and role to maintain tradition.
This magnificent creature did not just walk out of the wild and volunteer to be domesticated, submitted to incomprehensible physical turmoil and suffering, to be paraded around the island while shackled, pierced by henduwas and often coerced to carry large weights, be festooned from head to foot in garb and jewellery while carrying a casket around, surrounded by a security detail.
This is a wild animal separated from its mother and family at birth, spending endless torturous hours being trained and conditioned through force and violence to honour an age old tradition, where the Lord Buddha himself did not condone the harm, torture, suffering, and wrong doing to living creatures.
The hypocrisy of this debacle should not be lost even to the most ardent zealots and fundamentalists bellowing about culture and philosophy.
Lord Buddha was rather vocal on Buddhism being a philosophy that is grounded in kindness, empathy, compassion, peace, equality, and humility. In fact, Buddhism has long been a cornerstone to practise kindness to animals, to be respectful to nature, and to value living organisms.
Yet somehow the notion of symbolic value and upholding custom to preserve a national treasure and traditional practice has blinded and even expunged the very essence of the origins of the philosophy itself.
Does it not go against the very grain and nucleus of Buddha’s teachings? Would someone who shunned materialism, narcissism, and defied the cruel nature of our human condition condone such torture and suffering of a great beast that had no choice but to forcefully become a cultural symbol?
Thousands mourned, and even more took photos and selfies at the state funeral, many brandishing their deep pathos, grief, and sadness at the passing of the Nadungamuwa Raja…
Perhaps it’s prudent to possess some self reflection that as a nation we ought to be grieving for the long torture and subjugation this creature was subject to, and you know what? At least it’s torture has ended.
It will suffer no more.
The question is: Have we learned from this? And if so what is the lesson?
As we exploit and abuse culture for our whims and ideologies one must beg to ponder….
We are not so cultured after all, are we?
“When a man has pity on all living creatures then only is he noble. He who is kind to animals heaven will protect.”
– Gautama Buddha
(The writer is the frontman and lyricist of Stigmata, a creative consultant and brand strategist by profession, a self-published author and poet, thespian, animal rescuer, podcaster, and fitness enthusiast)
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.
