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| Sunday, 4 January 2004 |
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A much respected Buddhist Monk - Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne The Incumbent of Thapodarama Temple, Mt. Lavinia, Ven Pandit Talalle Dhammaloka Nayaka Thera was taken ill and had been warded in a hospital in Singapore where he passed away. He had participated at the World Conference of Bhikkhus and was returning to Sri Lanka. The Ven. Thera at 86 years, a much respected Buddhist Monk untiringly and with determination worked towards spreading Buddha Dhamma whilst dedicating himself to religious harmony and world peace. As President of the Sarvodaya Bhikkhu Conference, his guidance and blessings to us as well as the younger monks came as fatherly advice. As we mourn his parting from us, we realize that his service to humanity cannot be easily filled. He opted a simple way of life and when travelling in a trishaw served his purpose very often. He encouraged the activities of Buddhist Organizations in Korea, Thailand and Taiwan. His knowledge of Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and English was of a very high standard that he had the valuable books on Buddhism translated from English to Sinhala and distributed them free. He Served as a Dhamma Teacher at Kumara Vidyalaya, Kotahena and Hena Road Vidyalaya, Mt. Lavinia. He served Buddha Sasana fittingly by fearlessly working towards establishing the Bhikkhuni Sasana during the past decade. This great Buddhist personage possessed the rare quality of patiently extending loving kindness to people who did not agree with him and ultimately winning them round. He was a faithful follower of the Dhamma-Vinaya enunciated by the Buddha and always acted sincerely. About one year back, when severe drought hit Hambantota and Moneragala Districts he came to Sarvodaya Headquarters with a Buddhist lay follower from Taiwan and donated items such as clothes, medicine, dry rations and drinking water. We yet remember the way he collected water bottles and worked with Sarvodaya staff helping the people in those districts. I knew the Ven. Maha Thera for over a period of 50 years. He was our Chief Advisor/Patron when he accepted to be the President of the Sarvodaya Bhikkhu Conference. On December 24 he spoke over the telephone and assured us that he would be there on the 27 December at the Sarvodya Annual General Meeting to lead the meditation. But the inevitable happened. May the Ven. Anu Nayake Thera attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana. |
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