Sri Lankans always respect humanity

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

Sri Lanka’s first citizen - President Mahinda Rajapaksa took the lead to develop moral values of Sri Lankans to make the newly dawned peace more meaningful thereby setting an example to the whole world. He observed Ata Sil on May 17 at the dawn of the Sacred Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, which is significant to Buddhists as it marks the 2600th year of Buddha’s Enlightenment.

He participated in religious observances at the Buddhist Shrine at President’s House and later offered dana to Maha Sangha and also Buddha pooja to to the sapling of Jaya Sri Maha Bhodi at Temple Trees.

The President offered dana to over five hundred Bhikkhus who participated in the Pindapatha Charika from Gangaramaya Temple to Temple Trees to commemorate the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi anniversary.

The President at the opening of the Buddhist museum in Kandy

The President serving food at the dansela at Temple Trees

In his Vesak day message he said the teachings of the Buddha help Buddhists to bring to the world the means of resolving disputes that arise from unbridled desire.” During the 2600 years the teachings of the Buddha have shown the correct path of living to mankind. The comfort and consolation it provided to humans is immeasurable. Today, our motherland is honoured throughout the world for preserving the teachings of the Buddha in its pristine purity over two millennia.

Having achieved a lasting and sustainable peace in our land and realised our goals of development, we have sought to follow the teachings of the Sakyamuni Sammasambuddha that showed us the path to free ourselves from the four evil dispositions of desire, hatred, fear and ignorance. Accordingly, the policies of our government accord the foremost place to the Buddha Dhamma.

“Let an angry man be conquered by love; an evil man by goodness. Let a miser be won over by liberality; and a liar by truthfulness”, states the Dhammapada in the Koda Vagga. This exhortation of the Buddha should always nurture us to face all challenges. On this Vesak festival it should be our determination to take refuge in the teachings of the Buddha, and through its proper observance make the 2600 Sambuddhatva Jayanthi meaningful to all people”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who declared May 2011 to May 2012 as the year of the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi.

At the diamond jubilee celebrations of Colombo Hindu College held on Sunday, the President who was the chief guest said adults had a great responsibility in building a strong bond between all ethnic groups and they should guide children on the correct path to become good citizens.

“Hatred or envy should not be aroused in the tender minds of children by highlighting past incidents. Harbouring grudges can do nothing except arouse feelings of discontent and resentment regarding others. ‘As adults we are duty-bound to build a strong bond between all ethnic groups.

It is useless to create animosity between each other. Adults have to show the correct path to children to be good citizens. Moreover, the adults should guide children to be valuable citizens and become an asset to society’, he said.

The President in his message to the Thai Government, which hosted the United Nations Vesak Day, said many crises faced by the world today, in the diverse aspects of economic and finance, food and fuel security, climate change and protection of the environment the spread of terrorism and the growing search for peace and democracy, underline the importance of the core teachings, of Buddhism that presents the Middle Path for genuine social progress.

“These teachings could be the means to overcome the widespread problems of society caused by the incessant search for material wealth, fuelled by greed, instead of the great spiritual and ethical values of tolerance, understanding and compassion.

Sri Lanka is particularly pleased at the continuing success of the United Nations Day of Vesak, due to the important role played by our late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, in co-hosting the UN resolution in 2000, giving international recognition to Vesak as the most sacred day for Buddhists the world over. “The many delegations of Buddhists who will gather at Ayutthaya in Bangkok for these celebrations will engage in learned discourses and other activities that will seek to draw increased attention to the relevance of Buddhist Teaching to the world today; and chart more paths for the spread of this Great Message of The Middle Way to many more regions and societies in the world”. he said.

President Rajapaksa said as a result of the peaceful situation in the country, all were united and live peacefully as one nation under one flag. “All can live happily without any fear.

The way of living with kindness and compassion is learnt through Buddhism. There had been close connections between Hinduism and Buddhism’. Due to terrorism it was difficult to hold such an event even at school or religious institutions in the recent past. Social, cultural or religious events were no exceptions.

As everyone is aware, social events also came under terrorist attacks”, he said adding that children have to be given a proper knowledge through education as no one can steal knowledge.

“Sri Lankans, who follow the teachings of kindness, tolerance, humanity, equality and harmony in the Theravada Buddhism, have always respected humanity”, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said adding that it is clear that Sri Lanka has the strength to go ahead, solving the country’s problems as a nation.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Mandira at Thummulla, Colombo 5, he said there was freedom to observe any religion in Sri Lanka and from ancient times, Sri Lankan kings treated other races with respect.

A series of religious events were organised to mark Vesak and also the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi throughout the country. President Rajapaksa participated in several religious ceremonies during the last week. At a ceremony at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura, he declared the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi Year Vesak Poya - 2011 to Vesak Poya 2012.

The President opened the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi commemoration monument at Anuradhapura town and named the road leading to the monument as Sri Sambuddatva Jayanthi Mawatha.

Four stamps to commemorate the Sambuddhatva Jayanthi were also issued at the ceremony, at Anuradhapura. These stamps depict sacred locations such as, Lumbini, Buddha Gaya, Isipathana in India and Kusinara in Nepal where significant events in the life of the Buddha took place.

He also opened the newly built granite steps leading to the Vihara Maluwa of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya and participated in the religious ceremony held at the temple.

The Sri Dalada International Museum of World Buddhism at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy was opened by the President on Friday. It showcases the historical value of Buddhism and the country’s heritage. Over 17 countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Maldives too contributed to it. A book on Sri Lanka by Sunil de Costa was also presented to the President.