The four fundamental Buddhist values: Metta, Karuna, Mudita, Upekkha - We are reminded of these four values every time we pass the Kanatta round-about.

I am agnostic. But I appreciate Buddhist philosophy. Sri Lanka is apparently a country founded on Buddhist values.

I think this would be the ideal time to "show and tell", especially if you are a strong advocate and believer of Buddhist values.

Our military and government has militarily defeated one of the most feared terrorist groups. We are a proud nation. But Buddhist philosophy says:

Metta - "the wish that all sentient beings, without any exception, be happy."
Karuna - "wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering."
Mudita - "is the wholesome attitude of rejoicing in the happiness and virtues of all sentient beings."
Upeksha - "not to distinguish between friend, enemy or stranger, but regard every sentient being as equal. It is a clear-minded tranquil state of mind - not being overpowered by delusions, mental dullness or agitation."

Should we not show humility and compassion? I can understand politicians creating drama and generating publicity over the recent victories. That is what politics is about. But if we are citizens who believe that Sri Lanka is founded on Buddhist values, should we not show compassion towards the IDPs and be humble about the recent victories?

Quoting Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmavihara

Metta/Maitri: loving-kindness towards all; the hope that a person will be well; loving kindness is "the wish that all sentient beings, without any exception, be happy."

Karuna: compassion; the hope that a person's sufferings will diminish; compassion is the "wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering."

Mudita: altruistic joy in the accomplishments of a person, oneself or other; sympathetic joy, "is the wholesome attitude of rejoicing in the happiness and virtues of all sentient beings."

Upekkha/Upeksha: equanimity, or learning to accept both loss and gain, praise and blame, success and failure with detachment, equally, for oneself and for others; equanimity means "not to distinguish between friend, enemy or stranger, but regard every sentient being as equal. It is a clear-minded tranquil state of mind - not being overpowered by delusions, mental dullness or agitation."

Metta and Karuna are both hopes for the future (leading, where possible, to action aimed at realizing those hopes), while Mudita and Upekkha are attitudes to what has already happened, but also having consequences for future action.

While these four might be delineated as attitudes of the future or past, they contain the seed of the "present" within their core (as a living embodied practice). This is the essence of the spiritual laws of karma, self-responsibility, and samma sankkalpa - right thoughts.

A dedicated intention that all beings are in the "here and now" tranquil, happy, in touch with their gifted talents/accomplishments, and feel interconnected by that synergy to eschew suffering by abdication.