Let us follow the Buddha's path - President
Those who live virtuous lives will not see the faults of the past and
grieve in the present. Let us resolve during this Vesak Day to follow
the wholesome path of the Buddha with determination and relentless
efforts to build a virtuous nation, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
President Rajapaksa issuing a message for Vesak said: "Vesak Full
Moon Day which marks the birth of Prince Siddhartha, His Enlightenment
and Parinibbana is the noblest religious event for all Buddhists. We can
spend this day meaningfully by engaging in Buddhist rituals and
practice.
We who observe the five precepts do not approve killing, bloodshed
and torture. It brings joy to celebrate this Vesak after closing the
sorrowful chapter of thirty years of bloodshed and destruction of life.
It is fortunate that Buddhists now enjoy the freedom and a secure
atmosphere necessary for that purpose. We must enter a spiritual and
virtuous way of life in order to sustain that joy.
A path of love (metta), compassion (karuna), sympathetic joy (muditha)
and equanimity (upekha) should be followed. Ours should be a nation
which is not shortsighted but farsighted and committed to achieve
consolation through patience as taught by Buddha.
If delays in the pat obstructed our path to Nibbana, we should learn
to avoid such delay.
Yo cha pubbe pamajjithva - paccha so nappamajjathi
So imang lokang pabhasethi - abha muththova chandima
- Dhammapada
"If one was heedless in the beginning but is not so afterwards, he
will illuminate this world as the moon emerges through the cloud," thus
Buddha taught.
May the Triple Gem bless you!
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