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| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
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President's Vesak Message : Buddhism could solve man-made conflicts President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in a Vesak Message issued yesterday said the noble Buddhist philosophy could provide solutions to modern man-made conflicts. She also said "we are striving to arrive at an honourable peace acceptable to all following the lessons on equality bequeathed to us by the Buddha". The Message: " I wish a happy Vesak to Sri Lankan Buddhists who together with the Buddhists the world over are celebrating the thrice blessed Vesak Day. "Buddhism based on equality, compassion, kindness and sympathy is a philosophy of life that transcends the bounds of mere religion. Even modern scientific investigations have confirmed its nobleness, rationality and supremacy. It is also the life philosophy that guided the Sri Lankan Buddhists for ages. " Buddhist philosophy could provide solutions to modern man-made conflicts. If people act according to Buddhist philosophy that clearly says that a man's greatness does not depend on birth, race, religion or caste most of the ethnic and racist conflicts faced by many countries today would not have arisen. " It was the Tathagatha Buddha who taught us the first lesson in equality. Following its noble principles we are striving for an honourable peace acceptable to all under which all could live in equality and harmony. "I take this opportunity to pay our remembrances to thousands of our brothers and sisters who died during the tsunami disaster five months ago. I appeal to all Buddhists to conduct dana, Seela and Bhavana campaigns giving priority to pratipatti puja and transfer merit to the thousands who fell victims to that disaster irrespective of race, religion, caste or any other distinction. "Let us resolve to contemplate on Buddhist values, thereby create a good peaceful Sri Lanka and to refrain from unproductive action that denigrate the supremacy of Buddhist philosophy and lead our lives as principled Buddhists." |
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