President’s Vesak Day Message  

[Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 2.30 GMT] 

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

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Last Updated Date: May 01, 2007 - 2.30 GMT