At UNESCO in Paris:
World yearns for peace – Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa
The following is the special address made by Chamal Rajapaksa, MP,
Speaker of Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
at the inaugural session on “Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue:
Reconciliation Through Education”, organised by UNESCO in commemoration
of the Vesak in Paris, France on 23rd May, 2013.
“Ven. Master Chin Kung and Venerable Members of the Maha Sangha,
religious dignitaries, Your Excellency Katalin Bogyay, President of the
General Conference of UNESCO, Janis Karklins, Assistant Director General
of UNESCO, ambassadors and permanent delegates friends.
We gather this morning to commemorate not just the life and example
of a philosopher, thinker and spiritual leader hailing from Asia, but to
comprehend
His life and its example and the impact it had and continues to have
on each and every one of us.Today, we reach further in understanding the
need for dialogue among faiths, beliefs and ideologies. By so doing we
are not only expanding our individual spheres of comprehension, our
levels of knowledge and overall outlook on life, but also making a
worthy contribution to the realm of oneness, to the concept of peace and
to the notion of harmony.
I am very pleased to be here this morning at UNESCO on behalf of the
President of Sri Lanka, House of Parliament and the people of Sri Lanka
and to join this commemoration of Vesak, which is not only an
International Day of observance declared by the United Nations, but is
also the most important day for Buddhists all over the world.
Each year, the Day of Vesak gives us an opportunity to reiterate our
determination to lead noble lives, develop one’s mind, practice
loving-kindness and bring peace and harmony to humanity.
The decision this year to reflect upon the contributions of religious
teachings towards re conciliation comes as people throughout the world
desire calmness, serenity and above all peace. It repeat PEACE not just
in their countries and societies but more importantly in their
lives.Reverend Sirs, excellencies, Sri Lanka wishes to take a step
forward. A step inspired by the Supreme Buddha, His teachings and His
life.
These teachings encourage us to achieve the greatest of all
conquests, that being the conquest of self, in a bid to rid our lives of
the harms of passion, hatred and ignorance. The gift of Dhamma excels
all other gifts.
The Buddha’s teaching is all about understanding-suffering, its
origin, its cessation and the path to its cessation.
When people ask ‘What do you have to do to become a Buddhist?’ we say
that we take refuge in the Buddha, in the Dhamma, the Sangha and to take
refuge we recite a Pali stanza:
Buddhang saranang gacchami (I go to the Buddha for refuge)
Dhammang saranang gacchami (I go to the Dhamma for refuge)
Sanghang saranang gacchami (I go to the Sangha for refuge)When our
lives are gripped by such negativity, the damage is endless and the
price we pay is immeasurable. Reconciling through education, knowledge,
wisdom and understanding is the step we take this year.
A step, we believe which will bring our people closer together,
create an unbreakable bond and unify us, irrespective of our individual
faiths, all of which teach goodness, peace and compassion.
Our fervent hope and wish this year is that the message of inter
faith dialogue and the essence it brings to bear is a bridge towards
reconciliation and narrows the divide that exists owing to ignorance,
intolerance and hatred.United we can stand.
United, we can face fresh challenges, United we can ensure the
prevalence of peace, kindness, consideration and respect and above all
be an example.With us this morning are extremely eminent religious
dignitaries and personalities, who have through their own lives made a
difference. They have led by example, by virtue and by their deeds. We
are honoured to welcome them here and thank them for finding time to be
present at this symposium organised by the permanent delegation of Sri
Lanka.We look forward to their interventions and those that would take
place throughout the next 48 hours, whereby we move forward with the
hope and conviction that the step we take today, along a road which is
long and tough, would be a step in the right direction.
A step towards a determined undertaking to understand our own faiths
and beliefs and those of people around us and thereby, mirrors
reflecting the goodness, truth and wisdom we gain.
We Supreme Buddha was once quoted as having said that “however many
holy words one reads or however many you speak, what good will they do
if you do not act upon them?”
Likewise, let our commitment be not just to listening, but to giving
life to such teachings in our daily actions, in our dealings with others
and in our outlook on life.Then and only then, would we have achieved
and led better, meaningful and useful lives.
May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem be upon you! |