'Tamil
Buddhist’ is fore-runner of ‘Sinhala
Buddhist’ : The former should lead — Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne - From Gopal Ethiraj -
Chennai (01.06.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Chennai, India :
There is a great interest now being shown to Tamil-learning in Sri
Lanka as never before. Besides, there being a Tamil-speaking President
(Mahinda Rajapaksha), the chief of Mahabodhi Society there has also
started encouraging Tamil-teaching to young Buddhist monks, who used to
learn Pali and Sanskrit before.
Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, said this in
his key note address at the 2554th Vesak (Vaishakha Purnim) celebrations
at the Mahabodhi Society here in Chennai on Sunday. ............................>>
Ven. (Prof). Dhammavihari Thera - by E. P. Wickremasekera (31.05.2010 - The
Island, SL)
xIn commemoration of three months after the
passing away of Ven. Dhammavihari Thera, and to confer merit, a Dhamma
sermon was delivered by the Ven. Koswatte Ariyawimala Thera, an erudite
pupil of the monk, in the evening of 15h May, 2010 and an alms giving to
twenty five senior monks was held on the following day at the Narada
Centre, Sarana road where the Ven. Thera resided. These events were
organized by the dayaka sabha of the Sasana Sevika Society and the
Sasana Sevaka Society of the Narada Centre under the guidance of Ven.
Talalle Chandakitti Thera, in fulfillment of the duty of remembrance and
gratitude to the late Ven. Monk who rendered a lofty, selfless service
to the Buddha Sasana, both as an internationally renowned academic and
as a monk, and to the many devotees who sought his advice not only on
matters relating to the Dhamma but also on problems of daily life. ..............................>>
Jaffna
Vesak Zone attracts thousands (31.05.2010 -
news.lk)
A massive crowd of tens and thousands flocked to
witness the Jaffna Vesak Zone on its first day on May 27.
People in Jaffna (Yalpanam) as well as visitors from various parts of
the country to the peninsula irrespective of their ethnicity and
religion walked along the illuminated roads in the Vesak Zone admiring
hundreds of Vesak lanterns and other decorations showing up after and
absence of nearly 30 years. All these decorations of magnificent designs
were prepared by the members of the Army serving in Jaffna. Among a
record crowd of about 150,000 on its first day, the majority were
youngsters who have never seen a celebration of this nature. ............................>>
An
analysis of the buddhist
concept of this moment -
A way to the future - by Dr Janaka
Goonetilleke (16.05.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Buddhism
in a nut shell can be expressed as This Moment, This Moment, This
Moment. In a world that is always in flux the only reality is only at
this moment, The basis to the Buddhist philosophy of impermanence. This
is also expressed as the Law of Insecurity.
In a world that is changing there is no security. A concept much in
agreement with Einstein’s theory of relativity. This of course is very
different from the western philosophy of objectivism. At this moment of
time when western concepts are blindly followed this article is only
meant to titillate that Asian mind to further analyse our own native
rich philosophies be it Indic or Confucian. ................................>>
Floods
wreak havoc in Somawathiya (10.05.2010 - Daily
Mirror, SL)
• Two killed, 20 injured •
Airforce says thousands stranded
Two persons were killed, 20 injured and thousands were stranded at the
forest area surrounding the Sacred Somawathiya temple area as a result
of floods due to heavy showers that had been lashing from Saturday
evening and over 3,000 vehicles were stuck.
Among the dead was 73-year-old W. M. Podiappuhamy who had slipped while
trying to get into a vehicle.
A body of another woman is reported to be still lying in the area as the
heavy rains which continued till yesterday evening prevented the
removal of it. ................................>>
Anagarika
Dharmapala, illustrious son of Sri Lanka - by Walter Wijenayake (29.04.2010 - The
Island, SL)
An illustrious son of Sri Lanka, a patriot, a
fearless defender of Buddhism and Sinhala culture at a time when they
were despised as a result of foreign domination, since 1505 by the
Portuguese, the Dutch and subsequently by the British under the
influence of Catholicism/Christianity, Anagarika Dharmapala breathed his
last on April 29, 1933, exactly 77 years ago today.
He was born on September 17, 1864 to the family of Mudliyar Don Carolis
Hewavitharana of Hiththetiya in Matara and Mallika Dharmagunawardena of
Matara. They named their son Don David. So he was Don David
Hewavitharana. .................................>>
Bliss of Nagadeepa - by Rupa
Banduwardene (20.04.2010 - Daily News, SL)
Nagadeepa
is a place of historic and cultural significance to Buddhists in Sri
Lanka. It reveals the most important and interesting facts about the
sacred visits of the Buddha long before the introduction of his doctrine
to the island.
These invaluable sacred visits are the noblest blessings in the
pre-Mahinda era, which led to the preservation of the rich Buddhist
heritage to this day. The earliest available documentary sources
Deepavamsa and Mahavamsa give an elaborate account of the above
mentioned visits of the Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha. ................................>>
Buddha''s
''middle path'' still relevant : President Pratibha Patil of India (18.04.2010 - PTI)
Mumbai, Apr 18 (PTI)
: Noting that non-violence can lead to world peace, President Pratibha
Patil today said relevance of the "middle path" propagated by Gautam
Buddha is felt in the present turbulent times also where terrorism is
creating havoc globally. Addressing the ''Mahadhama conference''
organised by Bikhu Sanggha''s United Bhuddhist Mission, Mumbai, Patil
said only non-violence can lead to world peace.
..........................>>
Mistakes in books on Buddhism to be minimized (11.03.2010 -
news.lk)
President Rajapaksa has issued instructions to
the relevant authorities to adopt a streamlined strategy to minimize
faults in the publication of books related to Buddhism.
The President made this statement speaking during a meeting with the
Working Committee of the All Ceylon Sasana-Rakshaka Balamandalaya. The
Maha Sangha stressed the need to bring to a halt the publication of
books and other documents which distort the Dhamma. ..........................>>
