| The
great Vesak Festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment
and passing away of the Samma Sambuddha is being celebrated
this year too under full state patronage replete with
devotion and piety.
I am convinced that
true development should be both material and spiritual.
The objective in implementing our policies is to establish
a society that practices pancha seela and shuns the
four evil dispositions. It is such a virtuous society
that is anticipated by implementing the matata thitha
concept, related to the pancha seela.
“Sarancha
saarato gnatva – asaarancha asaarato
Te saaran adhigachchanti – sammaasankappagochara” |
|
|
“What is essential they regard as essential,
what is unessential they regard as unessential –
they who entertain (such) right thoughts realize the
essence.” – Dhammapada
During this Vesak season the observance of Buddhist
principles should lead to disseminating compassion towards
humanity. According to our state policy which respects
the Dhamma, there is no category in the world called
enemies, which we know to be characteristic of the defilement
in man’s consciousness. We could overcome this
by practicing metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha. That
is the best way to seek refuge in the Buddha.
May the Triple Gem bless you
all!
Mahinda Rajapaksa
May 01, 2007
|
