The Buddha’s teachings have shown correct path - President
“It is with immense fervour and devotion that we celebrate, with full state patronage, the Thrice Blessed festival of Vesak this year, which also marks the 2600th Sammasambuddhatva Jayanthi,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a Vesak message.
The message: “Through 2600 years the teachings of the Buddha have shown the correct path of livelihood to mankind. The comfort and consolation these provided to humans remain immeasurable. Today, our motherland is honoured throughout the world for preserving the teachings of the Buddha in their pristine purity through two millennia and more.
“In achieving a lasting and sustainable peace in our land and help us move to our goals of development, we have sought to follow the teachings of the Sakyamuni Sammasambuddha that showed the path to free us from the four evil dispositions of desire, hatred, fear and ignorance.
“Accordingly, the policies of our government give the foremost place to the Buddha Dhamma. Akkodhena jine kodham - asaadhum saadhunaa jine
Jine kadariyam daanena - saccena alikavaadinam
“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 in facing up to all challenges.
“The teachings of the Buddha help us to bring to the world the means of resolving all disputes that arise from unbridled desire. Thus it behoves upon us to give to the world the path to peace and consolation from these great teachings of the Sammasambuddhatva or Great Enlightenment of the Buddha, 2600 years ago.
“On this Vesak festival it should be our determination to take refuge in the teachings of the Buddha, and through the proper observation of the teachings of Buddhism make this 2600 Sammasambuddhatva Jayanthi meaningful to all people.
“May the Noble Triple Gem Bless you!”
Sambuddhatva Jayanthi celebrated in a free environment - PM
The sacred Vesak Poya Day commemorating the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi is a very important and historic day for all Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said in a Vesak message.
The message: “It is because we have been able to celebrate the historic Vesak Poya Day in a country and social environment which upholds Buddha’s teaching, Bahujana Hithaya Bahujana Sukhaya of treating all with equality in keeping with Buddhism.
“If there has been a teacher who taught his followers to treat all religions, beliefs and people in equal measure eschewing differences as to race, community caste or physical or social considerations, it was the Samma Sambuddha. If there is a Buddhist country with a leader of state who strives to imbibe that noble Buddha’s teaching in society, it is none other than this tiny island Sri Lanka.
“As such all Sri Lankans have now gained the opportunity to celebrate the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi with deep devotion in a free environment as a nation which achieved freedom after a 30 year murderous war.
“Murderer Prabhakaran as well as terrorist leader Osama bin Laden have departed before the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi making Buddha’s teaching that those who resort to arms will perish by arms, “ a reality.
”I believe that the unfounded charges levelled against the country will melt away like a ‘dew drop amidst sun’s rays’. It is only a mind that is positioned in Samma Sathi which can transform that belief into reality. People with such thoughts are called Buddhists. The responsibility of propagating and maintaining the Buddha dhamma in its purity for an aeon is cast on the learned Maha Sangha.
”The type of role entrusted to the Maha Sangha in this task was described by the Buddha in his teaching thus:-
Pramadavoo Yameku Thunpitakaya Igena,
Boho Bana Kiyathath
Thama eya nopilipadee nam,
Nosalakai nam,
Ohu, Anunge Harakun rakina,
Gopalleku meni
Mahana dame palayata
Himi karayeku nowe.
”If a person who is late studies the Tripitakaya and delivers religious discourses without observing the tenets himself, he is like a shepherd looking after another persons cattle and not entitled to the benefits of monkhood.”This proves that the Dhamma cannot be protected by the mere ordination of children as samanera bhikkhus.
At this moment we are celebrating the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi, we should understand the need to live according to Buddhism. Disciplining the mind, soul and word is itself sufficient for a person to call himself a true Buddhist.
May the people all over the world enjoy peace and tranquility.”
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