LANKAN MAHA SANGHA WISHES PRODUCTIVE LONG LIFE TO PM MODI
The Sri Lankan Buddhist community in general and the Maha Sangha together with its Mahanayake and Anunayake Theros who are dedicated to upholding the noble Buddhist concepts, cultures, and traditions have very good reasons to consider September 17th, every year as an important day in Indo-Lanka Buddhist relations, for it is the birthday of the sate manly and saintly leader of India, Sri Narendra Modi. His unwavering commitment to fostering Buddhist interests, and values in our two countries and the world over makes it an even more significant day to celebrate.
Over the years of his leadership of the land of the Buddha, he has clearly and articulately demonstrated his commitment to the lofty cause of promoting Buddhism, even bypassing the usual “good neighbourliness” and the concept of regional politics; visiting Sri Lanka to participate in Buddhist celebrations; reciting verses from the Dhamma Padha during speeches initiating measures to the most Buddhist religious tourism; laying foundation stones of Buddhist religious and cultural centers; regularly attending the Buddha Purnima day celebration in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha; and extending maximum possible assistance for preserving Buddhist heritage in India as well as Sri Lanka.
The guardian chief prelate of the Sri Lankan Maha Sangha has great admiration and love for him. Three of them – the erudite scholarly Most Venerable Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayke Thero, Most Venerable Kithalagama Hemasara Anunayake Thero, and Most Venerable Madampagama Assiji Anunayake Thero – have conveyed messages to that great leader and Champion of Buddhism, their heartful congratulations and blessings of the Triple Gem and greetings for many more years of long and productive life with the realization of all his global aspirations of prosperity and goodwill.
The Most Venerable Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thero has mentioned in his message of greetings that “The Buddha was Born in a Hindu family and Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi is also a Hindu.” It is appropriate to recall the words of Swami Vivekananda, the great spiritual leader of Hinduism which said “The Budhha is the greatest of all saints who mother India gave to the world over the millennia and Buddhism is not a destruction of Hinduism”. Saint Bodhi Dharma who founded Sem Buddhism, a tributary of Buddhism, was a Hindu prince from the southern port of India. We may also recall that the main architect of the Indian constitution, Dr. B.R Ambedkar, a Hindu, was disillusioned over the cast vested discrimination against and embraced Buddhism with his over 300,000 followers.
The Most Venerable Kithalagama Hemasara Anunayake Thero, in his message of greetings has expressed his great admiration of Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi saying, “When we see him speaking in the media (TV) we are very impressed and happy. He speaks of the Budhha Dhamma very understandingly. At the end of his speech at an airport inauguration, he recited verses from the Dhamma Padha”.
Most Venerable Madampagama Assiji Anunayake Thero has stated in his message that the thirteen thousand members of the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha of which he is the deputy Secretary General joined in wishing the Indian Prime Minister blessings of the Triple Gem on the occasion of his Birthday. The Most Venerable Anunayake Thero also stated that he was very much attracted on the occasion of laying the foundation stone for an International Buddhist Cultural Centre in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha.
From the time of emperor Dharmashoka in the 3rd Century BC, the Buddhist faith has been brought to Sri Lankans through the vehicle of Buddhism. All aspects of religious, cultural, artistic, and spiritual life in Sri Lanka. Indian saints, gods, and demons assent adverts for Buddhism have changed the mental landscapes of Sri Lankans. Thousands of erudite religious leaders and monks have gone across Palk street and also come to Sri Lanka from India on missions of Buddhist religious, education, research, promotion of friendly ties, and scholarly pursuits.
After emperor Dharmashoka, his divine children Arahant Mahinda, Bhikku Sangamitta and Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi stands out as a leader who stand by Sri Lanka as a Pillar of hope and strength in all aspects of neighbourly relations, Buddhism, economic revival and development.
May the Blessing of the Maha Sangha and The Triple Gem, and greetings of the people be within for the realisation of all his global and regional humanitarian aspirations, long and healthy productive life.
17.09.2022
