A society where lives could be shaped and maintained according to Lord Buddha’s teaching should be created
Wesak Poya Day, is a day that is important not only to Buddhists in Sri Lanka but Buddhists all over the world as they accept it as the day in which Lord Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment, Nirvana took place, and is commemorated, venerated and honoured as it is linked to the three important occurrences of Lord Buddha’s life.
Lord Buddha’s teachings that help the society to progress include cooperation, working for reconciliation and righteousness. Undoubtedly, most of the virtuous qualities that exist in the Sri Lankan society have been nurtured by His teachings. Sri Lanka was known as ‘Dharmadweepa during the period these teachings and policies were followed and protected by the rulers and the masses.
However, at present in Sri Lanka, despite the day begins and ends with Buddha’s teachings, there is no reduction to the number of crimes. Lord Buddha’s teaching vividly shows that the number of criminal activities escalates and virtuousness and morality degenerate when the country and the people are economically ruined.
The rulers who fictitiously show they protect Lord Buddha’s teaching and follow counsel of the Buddhist clergy, deceive masses and instead of taking steps to develop the economy so that the standard of life of the masses could be raised, pave the way for crime, robbery and immorality. As long as these rulers, who lack foresight, rule the country Sri Lanka would never become a ‘Dharmadweepa’.
In such a situation the duty and the responsibility of all Sri Lankan Buddhists is to distance themselves from all dissoluteness so that the economic, cultural and moral degeneration could be ended. Also, we wish Sri Lankan Buddhists would, on this Wesak Day, resolve to eliminate all obstructions that have been placed against building an environment that would genuinely help in maintaining lives of our people according to Lord Buddha’s teaching and to create a society that would cherish such transformation.
Anura Dissanayaka
Leader,
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
29.04.2018