Everyone should cultivate the reading habit to be intelligent - Malwatta Maha Nayake Thera

Kuliyapitiya Group correspondent

One needs nutritious food for the physical growth, at the same time reading valuable books is essential for mental growth. So everyone should cultivate the reading habit to be intelligent, the Maha Nayake of the Malwatta Chapter of The Shyamopali Maha Nikaya the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Maha Nayaka said.

He was delivering an anusasana at the religious ceremony held to mark the opening of the Dhathu Mandiraya, Pothgula and Seema Malakaya at Kumbukgahamulla Sri Bodhirukkharamaya. Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela Bandara also participated in this ceremony.

The Maha Nayake Thera added that it was our temples that inaugurated libraries first. They were known as "pothgul". The Buddhists honoured the books in them even worshipping them, but did not read them. The books are there not to be honoured or worshipped calling them "poth wahansela", but to read and mould the character and enrich the knowledge. A library is a mine of knowledge.

Most of the valuable books that were found in temple "pothgulas" in the past are not to be seen in them now, but they are found in the libraries in European countries. Those who are ignorant of the value of those books, but consider money is everything had sold them to the foreigners as if selling one's own heritage. However reading is a part of the life of Europeans.

The pothgula opened in this temple is a treasure of knowledge. Everyone in the village should make use of that to enrich the knowledge. Not only the schoolchildren but also the elders can use the library in their leisure hours.

The Chief Sanghanayaka of Katugampola Hathpaththu and Viharadhipathi Gonulla Sri Pushparama Ven. Mellawa Seelawansa Nayaka Thera said that young Bhikkus were highly enthusiastic in working for the Sasana and the village through the temple.

If the Dayakas are reluctant to extend their support to the Bhikkhus the latter would be frustrated and disgusted. However young the Viharadhipathi of this temple, the Dayakas seem to be extending their fullest support and cooperation to him. So he is able to perform a valuable service for the Sasana and the villagers through the temple.