Another unforgettable day

By Shalini Fernando,

YCS Diocesan Committee, Archdiocese of Colombo.

The date was Sunday, the 1st June 2008 and the venue was Sri Munindharma Temple in Meerigama.

Young Christian Students Movement in the Archdiocese of Colombo took a small step towards inter-religious dialogue in the country by organising an unusual fellowship.

The move was unique as the participants came from all the main religions in the country i.e., the Buddhists, the Muslims and the Catholics.

The day’s programme was effectively coordinated by a resource person, Mr. Anesley Perera with some attractive and motivative activities to make all present mixing with each other and feel that we belong to one family. Little awareness was given on the environment as well and then challenged us to protect it as our eyes.

Ven. Narada Thero, the chief monk of the Munindharma Temple extending a warm welcome to the members explained that what matters for peace is not the religion one practises or belongs to, but one’s good heart and the deeds.

He elaborated, what matters most is your befitting conduct in the eyes of the masses around you.

Speaking further with great admiration of the thoughtfulness that prompted the YCS Movement to come all the way to experience a difference from their day to day life, the Thero emphasized that we cannot be superior than the Jusus, Lord Buddha or the Holy Prophet but if we strive with some commitment, we could easily cultivate at least one or two sterling qualities that would be admired by millions of masses all over the world.

Ven. Thero concluded that we all have ambitions and goals but we should exactly know the limitations and in our untiring efforts to reach new heights in the ladder of success, we must cultivate the most valuable quality to give up one or all of such ambitions if it is in the best interest of humanity.

It was a wonderful experience and we well understood that though we belong to different religions, we all belong to just one race which is the human race and that we all are equally moulded out of blood and flesh.

The programme was coordinated by Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ramanayake, Chaplain for the YCS Movement and Peace Unit at Seth Sarana, Rev. Fr. Xystus Kurukulasuriya who contributes towards inter-religious harmony was also present.

As an observer, Rev. Fr. Benney from the Philippines joined us to make our programme meaningful.