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| Thursday, 29 May 2003 |
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The Most Ven. Shoei Takeda thera, Abbot of the Nishi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, Japan visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thera, President of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka to participate in the religious observances during Vesak conducted at the Agrasrawaka Maha Viharaya, Maligakanda. these included a special exposition of the Sacred Relics of Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana. The Most Ven. Shoei Takeda was received by the Board of Management of the Mahabodhi Society led by the senior Vice President of the Society Karu Jayasuriya, Minister of Power and Energy. Addressing the gathering of devotees who participated in the ceremony Most Ven. Shoei Takeda observed that when Buddhism spread to other parts of the world the rituals and traditions assimilated certain features of the indigenous culture and society norms of those countries. Hence some practices of Buddhists in Japan appeared different from those practices in countries like Sri Lanka, which has adhered to the Theravada traditions. However what is significant is that Buddhists of all countries preserve and follow the fundamental principles of the Dhamma as enunciated by the Buddha. The Most Ven. Shoei Takeda responded to an appeal made by the President of the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thera and Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for assistance to rehabilitate the victims of several identified villages in the Southern Province with financial and material aid. The Nishi Honganji Temple of Kyoto, Japan which is one of the oldest buddhist temples in Japan is expected to send a representative to Sri Lanka shortly for a first hand appraisal of the needs of the devastated areas. |
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