Foundation stone laying ceremony for Sanchi
University of Buddhist and Indic Studies:
'Journey to Sanchi, primarily an act of gratitude on behalf of
Lankans'
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday his journey to Sanchi, is
primarily an act of gratitude on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka.
"I am here as a pilgrim, in veneration of Sacred Sanchi, saluting and
celebrating the glorious past of this region," he said at the ceremony
to lay the foundation stone for the Sanchi University of Buddhist and
Indic Studies at Madhya Pradesh, India.
The President said over 2,300 years ago, it was from this Sacred land
in Sanchi that Emperor Asoka sent his son and daughter, Arahat Mahinda
and Theri Sanghamitta, to Sri Lanka.
"They arrived in Sri Lanka, in peace and friendship. They brought
with them, the message of the Great Teacher, Gautama Buddha - a message
of compassion, non-violence, equanimity, tolerance and understanding,"
he said.
The President added: " They were received by my ancestors in Sri
Lanka with deep reverence. Theri Sanghamitta brought to Sri Lanka, a
sapling of the pipal tree in Bodhgaya, under which Prince Siddhartha
attained Enlightenment as Gautama Buddha, the 2,600th anniversary of
which we celebrate this year. This Sacred Tree, accepted as the oldest
historically recorded tree in the world, which remains in Anuradhapura
in my country, to this day, has been worshipped since the 3rd Century
BC. Today I have brought back a sapling of the same tree to be planted
in this sacred land for veneration by those who visit Sanchi.
"In the second week after Enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven days
in meditation in gratitude to the Bodhi Tree that gave him shelter in
his search for the truth of samsara.
"The deep sense of respect for nature among Buddhists in my country,
has its roots in this great act of gratitude of the Buddha. It also has
an important message in today's need for protection of the environment
and sustainable development.
"My journey to Sanchi today, is primarily an act of gratitude on
behalf of the people of my country; I am here as a pilgrim, in
veneration of sacred Sanchi, saluting and celebrating the glorious past
of this region."
President Rajapaksa thanked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri
Shivraj Singh Chouhan for inviting him to the sacred land and giving him
the honour of participating in the foundation laying ceremony of the 'Sanchi
University of Buddhist and Indic Studies'.
"By this, you not only honour me but also the people of my country
who value the historical bond between Sanchi and Sri Lanka," he said.
"As you may know, an ever-increasing number of Sri Lankans, at
present over 150,000, who visit this sacred region every year, receive
the welcoming hospitality of the government and people of Madhya
Pradesh, a state that is hailed as one of the most tranquil in India,"
President Rajapaksa said.
The President said: " Your great Emperor Asoka, following the
teachings of tolerance and understanding of the Buddha, honoured and
supported all other religions in his empire. He declared that one should
not honour only one's own religion and condemn the religions of others,
but one should honour the faiths of others, as well.
"I think this message of tolerance and understanding is of great
relevance today, as we see the tragic results of enmity and hatred
towards other faiths leading to violence and destruction, and great loss
to societies. This message of tolerance is of equal importance in the
East and West alike.
"We must recall that the greatest son of modern India - Mahatma
Gandhi - who gave spiritual strength to the freedom movement, was moved
by the great values of non-violence, peace and compassion which remain
among the core values of our region. I believe it is our duty as well to
spread this message further and deeper, both in our own lands and the
larger world that is trapped in material-based progress.
"On this occasion, we must also pay tribute to other great sons of
our region for their contribution to the revival of Buddhist and Indic
thought, values, and practice both in India and beyond. Anagarika
Dharmapala, the well-known Sri Lankan Buddhist sage spent a life-time in
India, working on rehabilitation of ancient Buddhist sites of worship.
Next year, 2013, will be the 120th anniversary of his memorable address
at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, on Buddhism. Anagarika
Dharmapala was joined by Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament who
spoke equally eloquently, on Hinduism.
"We must also honour the memory of Dr B R Ambedkar for his profound
contribution to the revival of Buddhist thought in this Land of the
Buddha; and for his efforts to incorporate Buddhist and Indic values in
the modern day governance systems of India.
"This University seeks to follow a unique path in higher education in
the pattern of classical Indian Universities, such as Takshila, Nalanda,
Vallabhi and Vikramshila. I believe it will focus on the study, research
and spread of knowledge of Buddhist thought, in all its rich and varied
dimensions.
"It is more than a coincidence that this happy and auspicious
occasion is graced by two Heads of government of two nations in South
Asia: Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
"Both our countries have benefitted from the spark of civilisation
that came with the dawn of Buddhist practice in our nations. I am very
pleased that the Prime Minister of our brotherly nation, Jigme Yoser
Thinley is with me today to share the joy of this occasion.
"Today's conventional education that we have largely inherited from
our colonial past often restricts development of the human mind and
ignores the relationship between the mind and matters of life. Not only,
does it focus on personal gain and ambition, but also gives rise to
ruthless competition, and wasteful consumption. It fails to help
individuals discover true and lasting values and to build a complete
person capable of dealing successfully with life as a whole.
"It is our long held tradition that a complete education must involve
the awakening of the self and the cultivation of self-knowledge and
wisdom and help fashion one's life for the greater good of humankind.
"This university will revive Buddhist and Indic studies based on the
ancient concepts of teaching, self-enquiry, and traditional knowledge.
It will fulfill a much needed role in our region which is today troubled
by the ill-effects of commercialisation, urbanisation, de-forestation,
and intense competition. We believe it will seek ways and means to
revive the traditional concepts of social responsibility.
"Undoubtedly, there is a need to go back to the roots of our
civilisations and search for the wisdom that prevailed in our ancient
world. The Buddhist and Indic value systems that paved the way to modern
concepts of human rights and fundamental freedoms need to be revived.
"In this context, it is our hope that the wisdom that will in time
come from the work of the 'University of Buddhist and Indic Studies'
becomes a beacon of light for our region as we battle against:
intolerance and hatred; separatism and ethnic prejudice; terrorism and
violence; and social inequality and exclusion.
" Before I conclude, it is important to recall that we in Sri Lanka
have always considered India as a friendly land and people. As in the
past, our people still refer to India as Dambadiva and Jambudveepa and
still undertake pilgrimages to Dambadiva. The federal structure and the
emergence of states has not erased our vision of India as a single land
of friendship with the great bonds of history. Our traditional education
also owes much to the early Indian and larger Indic traditions. I
believe this tradition of embracing all of India in friendship will
continue to enrich our relations.
" The government and people of Sri Lanka and I will continue to
contribute towards the success of this university.
"I am confident that this university will grow from strength to
strength and that men and women who will graduate from it will be
inspired by the Buddha's words, displayed on the pillar that we unveiled
this afternoon: "One who is virtuous and wise shines forth like a
blazing fire." I wish you all, the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem:
Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha." |