Mahasammata

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The principle of Mahasammata was the rule of law in Lanka. No others were necessary because society operated on the basis of meritorious acts and had almsgiving as a way of life. It is the giver who is blessed and to thank some one for a gift, was to take away from that merit. In other words allowing someone to do something for one was also meritorious. As a result one's obligation to one's village overrides one's obligation to oneself. It also meant that once one's societal duties had been performed one's time was one's own. 

No one knows what it is like to be anyone else and this unique inquiry was the only thing any individual could actually know. Society exists to facilitate such inquiry and expresses its civility by the protection of the weak from the strong. One could do anything one wanted in one’s unique self-discovery, so long as one didn't interfere with anyone else’s. 

Hence ahimsa comes from himsa, that is non-hurt comes from hurt, and is expressed by the dictum, "if the people live in dhamma, then Dhamma will protect them" and the people and the land, the flora and fauna would be safe. And this is the Maha (great or common) Sammata (consensus) that ruled this land for thousands of years. 

This was nothing less than a personal and societal undertaking to behave well. 

In this spirit we have drafted a possible consensus for today. 

The Consensus (draft)

We, the citizens of Mahasammata, a free and sovereign society of like-minded sentient beings, who agreeing that knowledge of oneself is an unique and individual pursuit, hold the following to be true and irrefutable:

1. All life is sacred and sacrosanct.
2. All knowledge, science and technology arising from human achievement must be utilised towards this value.
3. The most critical and valuable material in maintaining the life support system of the planet is its photosynthetic biomass.
4. Society is a free association of independent individuals for mutual benefit.
5. All in Society must do all we agree to do and not encroach on other persons or their property.
6. Society has a duty to transmit human knowledge and all its benefits to generations yet to come.
7. Society has the ability and so the duty to provide the best quality of food, clothing, shelter, education and healthcare it can to its citizens without compromising the viability of all extant living species and generations yet to be born.
8. All citizens can avail themselves of the benefits of knowledge, science and technology in common with their fellows. 
9. Each citizen may choose, with ever increasing freedom and complete independence, whether they will or will not assist in any project placed before them.
10. This is the consensus of us all: if man lives right the people and the planet will be safe.
    

Acknowledgments
Edwin J Connors II, Swami Siva Kalki, Manik Sandrasagra, Mudiyanse Tennekoon, Ranil Senanayake, Patrick Harrigan & Amrik Jayewardene
Buckminster Fuller, J. W. Smith, C. H. Douglas & Richard Maybury 

e. o. & e. 

fm.