| by Janaka Alahapperuma
( September 22, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) President Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone for the construction
of the International University of Buddhist and Indic Studies in the ancient Buddhist
city of Sanchi in the presence of dignitaries from Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand,
Japan, Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal and India.
Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigmy Thinlay graced the occasion as a special
guest. Chief Minister of India’s Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan and
Cultural Affairs Minister of Madhya Pradesh Lakshmi Kanth Sharma were among
those present. President of the Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society and Chief Sanghanayake
of Japan as well as the Chief Incumbent of the Sanchi Buddhist Temple,
Venerable Baanagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero was also present.
In the meantime, before the laying of the foundation stone for the Buddhist
University, dignitaries paid homage to the Holy Relics of Arahath Seriyuth
Mugalan, the chief disciples of Lord Buddha. The President also joined in an observation tour of the Sanchi Stupa
precincts after participating in religious observances. President Rajapaksa
together with Bhutan's Prime Minister Jigme Yoser Thinley planted a sapling of
the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Mahamevna Uyana, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
which is believed to be a sapling of the original Bodhi tree in Boddhagaya under which
Buddha attained enlightenment 2600 years ago. It was specially brought from Sri
Lanka to plant near the Sanchi Stupa
Addressing the ceremony, President Rajapaksa said that his journey to
Sanchi, is primarily an act of gratitude on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka. Thanking
for the historic opportunity to lay the foundation stone, the President said
the Buddha's message of tolerance and understanding is of great relevance today,
as the "tragic results of enmity and hatred towards other faiths leading
to violence and destruction, and great loss to societies" are seen. "It
is of equal importance in the East and West alike," said the President
adding that undoubtedly there is a need to go back to the roots of
civilizations and search for the wisdom that prevailed in the ancient world.
"The Buddhist and Indic value systems that paved the way to modern
concepts of human rights and fundamental freedoms need to be revived," the
President noted.
He expressed the hope that the University of Buddhist and Indic Studies will
grow strong and the graduates of the University will be inspired by the
Buddha's teachings.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi as the
greatest son of modern India, he said people on both sides of the country
have duty to spread the message of non-violence, peace and compassion to the
world which is "trapped in material-based progress".
The President pointed out profound contribution by Dr B.R. Ambedkar for the revival
of Buddhist thought in India and his efforts to incorporate Buddhist and Indic
values in the modern day governance systems of the country.
"The Government and people of Sri Lanka and I will continue to
contribute towards the success of this University," he finally assured.
As a special feature, a
group of artists of Police band played national anthems of three nations- Sri
Lanka, Bhutan and India at the end of the programme. Artists also presented
various colourful folk dances by Goud and Korku tribal dancers. Scores of Buddhists and villagers from nearby
areas have put colourful flags and other decorative items along the roads
leading to Sanchi from Bhopal and other areas. President
Rajapaksa also visited the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka at Sanchi before
leaving for Delhi via Bhopal.
Governor of Madhya Pradesh Ram Naresh Yadav, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Ashok K. Kantha and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi Prasad Kariyawasam also participated in the ceremony.
Elaborate security arrangements are put in place for the President’s visit in view of the protest by pro Tamil Tiger groups. Borders of Sanchi town have been sealed as part of the security measure. However Police have arrested with the mediation of the Indian Central Government a group of nearly 1000 LTTE loyalists for attempting to sabotage the President’s Indian visit.
Reports emanating from India said that 700 persons along with MDMK Party Leader of India Y. Gopal Swamy alias Vaiko were apprehended on Friday morning when they attempted to forcibly enter the Sanchi City.
Buddhist studies and research will be carried out at this University which
is being established in the Sanchi City where places of Buddhist worship
prevailed since third century BC. In addition to the conduct of Buddhist
research and the provision of Post Degree in the field of Buddhist education,
teaching in relation to the Buddha Dhamma on archaeology and Arts will also be
undertaken at this University. It will also have a Buddhist Library of
international standard.
Plans are underway for the construction of a conference hall and a sports complex to bring about a renaissance in the Sanchi area. Sri Lanka will contribute to the architecture of the Project.
Here is the full text of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address at Sanchi.
Venerable Bhikkus and
Religious dignitaries
Hon. Shri Ram Naresh Yadav,
Governor of Madhya Pradesh
H.E. Jigme Yoser Thinley, Prime
Minister of Bhutan
Hon. Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh
Honoured Guests, and
Dear People of Madhya Pradesh,
I bring to you, the warm greetings of your brothers and sisters in Sri
Lanka.
Dear Friends,
Over 2300 years ago, it was from this sacred land in
Sanchi that your Great Emperor, Asoka sent his son and daughter, Arahat Mahinda
and Theri Sanghamitta, to my country. They arrived in Sri Lanka, in peace and
friendship. They brought with them, the Message of the Great Teacher, Gautama
Buddha – a Message of compassion, non-violence, equanimity, tolerance and
understanding.
They were received by my ancestors in Sri Lanka with deep reverence. Theri
Sanghamitta brought to Sri Lanka, a sapling of the pipal tree in Bodhgaya,
under which Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment as Gautama Buddha, the Two
thousand six hundredth anniversary of which we celebrate this year. This sacred
tree, accepted as the oldest historically recorded tree in the world, which
remains in Anuradhapura in my country, to this day, has been worshipped since
the 3rd Century BC. Today I have brought back a sapling of the same tree to be
planted in this sacred land for veneration by those who visit Sanchi.
In the second week after enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven days in
meditation in gratitude to the Bodhi Tree that gave him shelter in his search
for the truth of samsara. The deep sense of respect for nature among Buddhists
in my country has its roots in this great act of gratitude of the Buddha. It
also has an important message in today’s need for protection of the environment
and sustainable development.
Dear Friends,
My journey to Sanchi today, is primarily an act of
gratitude on behalf of the people of my country; I am here as a pilgrim, in
veneration of sacred Sanchi, saluting and celebrating the glorious past of this
region.
Honourable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
I thank you for inviting me to this sacred land and giving me the honour of
participating in the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the ‘Sanchi University of
Buddhist and Indic Studies’. By this, you not only honour me but also the
people of my country who value the historical bond between Sanchi and Sri
Lanka.
As you may know, an ever-increasing number of Sri Lankans, at present over
150,000, who visit this sacred region every year, receive the welcoming
hospitality of the Government and people of Madhya Pradesh, a state that is
hailed as one of the most tranquil in India.
Dear Friends,
Your great Emperor Asoka, following the teachings of
tolerance and understanding of the Buddha, honoured and supported all other
religions in his empire. He declared that one should not honour only one’s own
religion and condemn the religions of others, but one should honour the faiths
of others, as well.
I think this message of tolerance and understanding is of great relevance
today, as we see the tragic results of enmity and hatred towards other faiths
leading to violence and destruction, and great loss to societies. This message
of tolerance is of equal importance in the East and West alike.
We must recall that the greatest son of modern India – Mahatma Gandhi –, who
gave spiritual strength to the freedom movement, was moved by the great values
of non-violence, peace and compassion which remain among the core values of our
region. I believe it is our duty as well to spread this message further and
deeper, both in our own lands and the larger world that is trapped in
material-based progress.
Dear Friends,
On this occasion we must also pay tribute to other
great sons of our region for their contribution to the revival of Buddhist and
Indic thought, values, and practice both in India and beyond. Anagarika
Dharmapala, the well-known Sri Lankan Buddhist sage spent a life-time in India,
working on rehabilitation of ancient Buddhist sites of worship. Next year,
2013, will be the 120th Anniversary of his memorable address at the World
Parliament of Religions in Chicago, on Buddhism. Anagarika Dharmapala was
joined by Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament who spoke equally
eloquently, on Hinduism.
We must also honour the memory of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for his profound
contribution to the revival of Buddhist thought in this Land of the Buddha; and
for his efforts to incorporate Buddhist and Indic values in the modern day
governance systems of India.
Dear Friends,
This University seeks to follow a unique path in
higher education in the pattern of classical Indian Universities, such as
Takshila, Nalanda, Vallabhi and Vikramshila. I believe it will focus on the
study, research and spread of knowledge of Buddhist thought, in all its rich
and varied dimensions.
It is more than a coincidence that this happy and auspicious occasion is
graced by two heads of Government of two nations in South Asia: Bhutan and Sri
Lanka. Both our countries have benefitted from the spark of civilization that
came with the dawn of Buddhist practice in our nations. I am very pleased that
the Prime Minister of our brotherly nation, Hon. Jigme Yoser Thinley is with me
today to share the joy of this occasion.
Dear Friends,
Today’s conventional education that we have largely
inherited from our colonial past often restricts development of the human mind
and ignores the relationship between the mind and matters of life. Not only,
does it focus on personal gain and ambition, but also gives rise to ruthless
competition, and wasteful consumption. It fails to help individuals discover
true and lasting values and to build a complete person capable of dealing
successfully with life as a whole.
Dear Friends,
It is our long held tradition that a complete
education must involve the awakening of the self and the cultivation of
self-knowledge and wisdom and help fashion one’s life for the greater good of
humankind.
Dear Friends,
This University will revive Buddhist and Indic
studies based on the ancient concepts of teaching, self-enquiry, and
traditional knowledge. It will fulfil a much needed role in our region which is
today troubled by the ill-effects of commercialisation, urbanisation,
de-forestation, and intense competition. We believe it will seek ways and means
to revive the traditional concepts of social responsibility.
Dear Friends,
Undoubtedly, there is a need to go back to the roots
of our civilizations and search for the wisdom that prevailed in our ancient
world. The Buddhist and Indic value systems that paved the way to modern
concepts of human rights and fundamental freedoms need to be revived.
In this context, it is our hope that the wisdom that will in time come from
the work of the ‘University of Buddhist and Indic Studies’ becomes a beacon of
light for our region as we battle against: intolerance and hatred; separatism
and ethnic prejudice; terrorism and violence; and social inequality and
exclusion.
Honourable Chief Minister,
Before I conclude, it is important to recall that we
in Sri Lanka have always considered India as a friendly land and people. As in
the past, our people still refer to India as Dambadiva and Jambudveepa and
still undertake pilgrimages to Dambadiva. The federal structure and the
emergence of states has not erased our vision of India as a single land of
friendship with the great bonds of history. Our traditional education also owes
much to the early Indian and larger Indic traditions. I believe this tradition
of embracing all of India in friendship will continue to enrich our relations.
The Government and people of Sri Lanka and I will continue to contribute
towards the success of this University. I am confident that this University
will grow from strength to strength and that men and women who will graduate
from it will be inspired by the Buddha’s words, displayed on the pillar that we
unveiled this afternoon:
“One who is virtuous and wise shines forth like a blazing fire.”
I wish you all, the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem: Buddha, Dhamma
and Sangha.
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by: Nalin Hewapathirana/ Chandana Perera
 President Mahinda Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone fo...){kind=link}