Regarding the cyclone and flood situation that recently affected Sri Lanka, a Buddhist monk residing at the Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) sacred area had made a prediction some time ago during an interview with the Dhanush Vlogs SL YouTube channel. Below is an excerpt from that conversation.
Monk
It could be air, it could be water. Some kind of movement will occur across a region in Asia. Do not accept this as a tsunami, and do not accept it as a cyclone either. What I see is a powerful movement. This movement will especially affect the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. From Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa onwards, through the central hill country, there will be a movement from east to north, and also from north to south — a disturbance. It could be both air and water; it could be air, it could be water. I see such a movement.
Let’s say within the next six months — that is the time frame I can give. It will become active and develop into a major force. That means a disaster. The people must protect themselves.
Question
Venerable Sir, are there any suitable places in Sri Lanka where people can seek safety, or places that will not be affected by such destruction?
Monk
To escape natural disasters that occur on earth:
“Na antalikkhe na samuddha majjhe
Na pabbatānaṁ vivaraṁ pavissa
Na vijjatī so jagatippadeso
Yatthatthito muccheyya pāpakammā”
There is no place in the sky to hide from the consequences of evil deeds. There is no place to hide in mountain crevices or rock caves. Even in the depths of the ocean, one cannot escape the results of bad karma.
All people in this world are collectively carrying a chain of unwholesome actions. It is not just one or two people — the entire world is moving together in a wave of wrongdoing. Therefore, hiding will not help.
The only place to hide is within one’s own mind. You cannot deceive your own mind. If you refrain from engaging in hidden immoral acts within your mind, then you can be saved from this.
Question
Venerable Sir, if Sri Lankans are to escape the coming disaster, how should they behave?
Monk
“Dhammo have rakkhati dhammacāri” —
The Dhamma protects those who live according to the Dhamma.
That alone is sufficient. The Buddha instructed laypeople to observe the Eight Precepts on Poya days and to regularly observe the Five Precepts.
But who truly observes them? Who truly lives within the Five Precepts?
“I abstain from killing living beings” — this is a law of nature.
“I abstain from taking what is not given” — this is another law.
If this principle of not taking what belongs to others were followed, then today the vast wealth of the nation would remain in the state treasury. In Sri Lanka, the entire population is sustained through the Central Bank — that is the heart of the country.
In ancient times, when positions such as finance minister were given, if the treasury faced depletion, that person would use his own personal wealth to protect the treasury. That is because they would not allow the country to fall into disaster. That is a true ruler.
In recent times — I am not accusing anyone in particular — rulers accuse other rulers. They say the Central Bank was looted in broad daylight. Did we accuse them? No. Did the people accuse them? No. Rulers accuse each other.
“If both the fence and the boundary eat the paddy, to whom shall we complain of this sorrow?”
In ancient times, the finance minister would protect the treasury using personal wealth, without even the king knowing. He safeguarded his position at the highest level and allowed nothing to happen. That is why people were appointed to such roles — because the leader cannot handle everything alone. Responsibilities are divided so that each person performs their duty properly.
Back then, when disaster struck, the king did not need to question the minister — he knew the treasury was full. There was no fear. The country would not collapse because the treasury was secure.
But today, if the Central Bank is looted, to whom can the people turn for protection?
When those at the highest levels of power seize what belongs to others, what foundation is left for the people? That is when nature delivers consequences — to everyone. Nature does not choose selectively when giving results. This is not only in our country; it is happening all over the world.
I am not accusing only Sri Lanka’s treasury — this is happening globally.
There is a saying in our village culture: if the teacher stands and urinates, the student will run and do the same. If rulers behave this way, what will the lower officials do? Can a country survive? Can a world survive?
There doesn’t even need to be a court to punish this. If someone steals a coconut, they are taken to court and punished. But where is the court to punish the crimes committed by those at the very top? Is there one?
For them, there exists the law of nature. And that punishment is what we are receiving now. This is happening all over the world — not just in Sri Lanka.
Therefore, the law of nature — the law of natural order — delivers punishment to all.
By Chanaka Liyanage
