Ordination of children greatest merit - Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha
Thera
Priyanka KURUGALA
The Buddhasasana was for generations protected by monks. The
ordination of children is one of the greatest merit for the continuation
of the Buddha Sasana, said Most Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera.
The Ven Thera was speaking at the religious ordination of 25 young
males at the Rajamaha Vihara, Kotte.
The Sri Kalyani Samasri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, Kotte organized
this ceremony to commemorate the 2600th Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi
Ceremony.
The ordination ceremony was conducted by the Most Ven Bellana
Gnanawimala Thera.
Ven Sobitha Thera said the nation, language and literature were
protected by monks.
We need a large number of monks to protect and sustain the Buddha
Sasana. However, now it is very difficult to find even a single monk to
ordain. According to the country's tradition, parents gave one of their
sons to the country and the other was bequeathed to the Sasana. It is
the sons of the country which liberated the country from terrorism, the
Thera said.
"Presently the country is short of sons. Parents of the country are
used to have only two children for a family. Due to this reason there is
a shortage of young men entering the Sasana.
A number of temples in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces are
deserted today.
There are an insufficient number of monks to fill this vacuum. There
are only a few monks even in Colombo temples.
"The greatest honour to the Buddha is offering a child to the Sasana.
One day these young monks will illuminate their villages, Ven Sobhitha
Thera said.
The Ven Bellanvila Wimalaratana thera said that this is a very
important merit that make entire generation attain Nibbana. Buddha
Sasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister K A D S Gunawardena said
under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D M
Jayaratna has commenced a number of programs to commemorate the 2,600th
Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi.
Rajamaha Vihara Kotte Chief Incumbent Most Ven Aluthnuwara Anuruddha
Thera and Most Ven Iththepane Dhammalankara Thera, also participated at
this event. |