The
greatest homage we could pay to Arahat Mahinda who laid
the foundation for spiritual and intellectual development
of our people is to create a peaceful environment for
them to live without violence, said President Mahinda
Rajapaksa in a message on the occasion of the Poson
festival.
The message:
"The arrival of
Arahat Mahinda in Mihintale, Anuradhapura from India
in 236 B.E. marked the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
It is a historic occasion, which opened vistas of a
new culture.
"The spiritual development that accompanied the
conversion of King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism is ingrained
in the hearts and minds of the Buddhist people.
"Our ancestors who gave pride of place to the culture
of “the tank, the stupa and the temple”
not only laboured to make our land self-sufficient but
also defended it at the cost of their lives.
"It is the cultural heritage we derived from the
advent of Arahat Mahinda that made it possible to build
great tanks, built enormous stupas and achieve prosperity.
It is a pleasure to note that a grateful public is commemorating
this historic event.
"The greatest homage we could pay to Arahat Mahinda
who laid the foundation for spiritual and intellectual
development of our people is to create a peaceful environment
for them to live without violence.
"King Devanampiyatissa who gave up deer hunting
for pleasure after listening to Arahat Mahinda showed
us the value of life.
"Similarly, Emperor Asoka was the first among kings
to realize that peace is the sole relief, elixir and
solace to all living beings. That is why he chose the
conquering of the dhamma over conquering lands.
“All fear punishment and similarly death.
Nobody should be harmed
taking one’s self as an example”.
"On this Poson eve I appeal to all to unite irrespective
of racial, religious, caste and party differences to
create in this land well defended by our ancestors,
an environment where all could live peacefully without
fear.
"I wish all Sri Lankans a happy Poson".
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