Vesak thoughts

VESAK, the most significant day in the Buddhist calendar, falls today. Buddhists all over the world will commemorate the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away (Parinibbana) of the Buddha on this holy day.

This year's Vesak also coincides with the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi anniversary, which is being marked here on a grand scale with full State patronage.

Vesak is a national festival in Sri Lanka. Followers of other religions join their Buddhist brethren in actively organising Vesak events, both material and spiritual.

Buddhists receive Vesak greetings from relatives and friends following other religions. Virtually the whole country is lit up for nearly one week, with Bhakthi Gee recitals, Danselas and Buddhist dramas adding more colour.

The Buddha lived more than 2,500 years ago, but His words of wisdom still hold true today. One can argue that today's world is very different, but the more we study the Buddha's teachings, the more we realise how valid they are in today's context.

Today, money has virtually taken over our lives to the point where we have lost sight of the moral values enunciated by the Buddha.

Everything else, including life itself, is considered secondary.

The Buddha perceived that craving is the root cause of suffering. He taught that the craving for worldly things keeps us in the Samsaric journey. There would be no salvation, no end to suffering until we renounce our bonds with such materialistic entities. That is the key to Nirvana, the Supreme Bliss.

Unfortunately, Sri Lanka's reputation as a Land of the Dhamma (Dharmadeepa) has been tarnished in the recent past with a surge in violent crime including terrorism.

All kinds of vice seem to have penetrated every level of society, with not even young children being spared. The Five Basic Precepts of Buddhism (Pansil) are being violated everywhere.

A society that believes in, and adheres to, religious values can never go wrong. Sri Lanka being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country, religions still play a vital role in day-to-day life. All religions urge their followers to tread a righteous path in life, but how many of us genuinely heed this noble advice?

This Vesak, we should be firmly determined to make a difference. The Viharaya should again become the focal point of the village and the city.

Likewise, Kovils, Mosques and Churches can play a pivotal role to guide their followers on the correct path. Religious leaders should start with the younger generation, unburdened as they are with the demands of unbridled commercialism, to spread the good word in the wider society.

A younger generation imbued with religious and moral values will be far less likely to deviate from a virtuous path.

Schools too should be active partners in this endeavour which could pave the way for a peace-loving future generation.

Peace is the central message of all religions. The Buddha himself was instrumental in resolving several disputes that nearly led to wars in his time. His was a message of love and compassion that overrode greed and hatred.

He exhorted that "hatred does not cease by hatred, but by love alone". These words are even more significant today in a world driven apart by conflict.

Here in Sri Lanka, the long running conflict in the North-East has cost many precious lives. Peace and harmony are sorely needed to heal the wounds festering the Nation. We can rely on Buddha's teachings to guide us in achieving peace in our land.

The Government is making a resolute effort to evolve a negotiated settlement to the conflict in spite of the provocative acts committed by the Tigers. We hope that these efforts succeed in order to ensure a brighter future for the next generation.

Vesak is an ideal opportunity to reflect on not only our inner lives but also on our collective conscience. As the Buddha stated, the key to a honourable life is good thoughts, good words and good actions.

We should strive to lead pious lives in line with these timeless words. If every one strives to lead a good life, the whole population will turn into religious-minded, law-abiding citizens with a will to serve the rest of humanity.