Mettavalokanaya_Buddhist_Magazine_December_2018.

Most Venerable Aggamaha
Pandita Kotugoeda Dhammavasa
Uttareethara Maha Nayaka Thero
Supreme Patriarch of the Sri
Lanka Amarapura Mahanikaye,
Saddharmakirti Sri Tripitaka
Visharada, Pravacana Kirti Sri
Sāsana Shobhana, Sri Sumangala
Vidyavatansaka
The world is diverse and
most often, it is vicious, in all
outward appearance. Also the
people hold different views and
perceptions which sometimes
turn wild to give rise to negative
outcomes. There is also a
variance in climatic conditions
from the geological viewpoint.
So is the vast difference seen
in terms of cultural and social
backgrounds? In the like manner,
people are also different in terms
of good or bad actions, behaviors
and conduct. In a world like this
different leaders are born and
being elected by the people
by choice of theirs. But, unless
this reality of diversity among
mankind is well acknowledged
by the leaders, our cherished
dream to create a peaceful world
would become a mere futile
attempt. Therefore, creating
a morally disciplined society
should be the first move on our
path to the world peace. To meet
this end every nation, countries,
communities should play a lead
role prudently in inculcating good
virtues and discipline in every
minds of the younger generation
Message of the Buddhism for
World Leaders....
across the globe, regardless of
racial, cultural, geographical or
demographical limitations.
It is worthy of mentioning
that since long period of time,
our parents and adults have
brought up their children on a
ground of good association under
learned and disciplined elders
and teachers to enable them
to cultivate themselves in good
moral conduct, both in verbal,
physical and also in spiritual
development. Even in our country,
Sri Lanka many books, chronicles
and ancient literature such
as Amawathura, Guththilaya,
Budugunalankaraya, Pansiya
Panas Jataka and Pujawaliya, in
its textual essence of life stories,
presented the Buddhist viewpoint
on matters relating to discipline
and good morals and urged
elders to instil feelings of lovingkindness,
mercy, righteousness,
charity and so on, so as to help
them cultivate good habits as a
disciplined person in the society.
This is to create a society where
there is no conflict or tension
among individuals or groups
and the disciplined people are
empowered themselves naturally
to face any challenge that will
arise. Accordingly, a disciplined
person help create conducive
environment to make others
disciplined and so do the entire
society revolutionize on the
virtuous grounds in the spirit of
morality and uprightness.
Secondly, the real peace
dawns when we behave
ourselves for the good of others
without casting aspersions,
harsh words or hatred on others
as these behaviors most often
give rise to conflicts of various
forms, which, once launched,
is enormously difficult to
unravel. Therefore, the first aid
to treat this malicious behavior
is no other thing than being
disciplined. This, in no uncertain
terms, lays the groundwork for
peaceful coexistence and unity,
without discriminating others in
terms of religious, racial, ethnic
or linguistic grounds given the
fact that it makes everything
simple. In line of this thinking,
the Lord Buddha as well as the
great leaders of other religions
has precisely advocated how the
leaders of any nation in the world
should act in promoting moral
values and discipline of the people
of particular nation. This clearly
shows that we should behave
and adapt ourselves upholding
moral and disciplinary values to
the highest level possible at all
times according to the teachings
of our noble religions when we
interact with other people.
This makes the ideal platform
for peace and again peace gains
prosperity for all. Neither does
the disciplined society engage
in any activity inimical to others
nor do they resort to fuel others
to get same things done under
any circumstances. When
there is no fear about the loss
of their property, loved ones,
or feeling of being robbed of
their valuables, then it creates
conducive environment to
look after their means of living
consciously as there is no such
problems coming out of the
fear to live. In modern world,
massive expenditure is incurred
by state and private organizations
to protect their property and
other valuables from various
fraudulent acts, both by human
and other means of internet
crimes. Therefore the ultimate
purpose of moral discipline is
not to avoid vicious actions and
their negative consequences
but to help us to eliminate the
anger, grasping attachment and
ignorance that prevent us from
being Buddhists. To the extent
that moral discipline helps you
overcome your negative patterns
of acting and thinking, troubling
and agitating thoughts will
disappear and no longer disturb
you in either your daily life or
interacting with others. When you
are always able to block acting on
non-virtuous desires, effectively
gather virtuous dhammas and
extensively benefit others, you
will have mastered the perfection
“Spiritual
development
for brighter
future”….
of moral discipline and made
significant progress on the path
to real peace.
This guarantees the security
of every human being and as a
result, it eventually brings about
real prosperity in a country.
Therefore if any nation aspires to
be self-sufficient and prosperity,
it is important to guide their
people on the path of good moral
values and discipline. Historical
evidence confirmed that rulers
in the ancient times have
acknowledged the above fact
well and steered the countries to
the climax of prosperity.
However, in later period
divisions among the communities
locally and internationally have
grown to a large extent in the
ever increasing political, religious
and social landscapes. One such
type arises from the conflict of
ideologies, political or religious,
when people fight each other
for petty ends, losing sight of
the basic humanity that binds us
all together as a single human
family. We must remember that
the different religions, ideologies,
and political systems of the world
are meant for human beings to
achieve happiness. All this calls
for a new approach to global
problems by all leaders of the
nations in pursuit of genuine
thinking prudently by promoting
the moral values and discipline
at all times according to Buddhist
purview.
Dhammapada, the
ancient Buddhist scripture,
says “Nahivėrėna vēranī
sammanthīdha kudhachanam”
which means “hatred cannot
be ceased by hatred, but by
compassion (Karuna). “A sense of
preference and superiority of one
race and religion over another
goes against the fundamental
tenets of Buddhism and brings
hatred, discrimination and
violence. We reject the misuse
of religions to divide our people.
In our shared commitment to
peace and development with
dignity for all communities and
their people, let us together face
the challenges and move forward
on our journey together to build
peace in our respective nations,
within the region, and across the
world.
The Lord Buddha, the
Blessed One, advised the first
team of His missioners to
propagate the sublime Dhamma
in the following words, “Go forth,
O Bhikkhus, for the good of the
many, for the happiness of the
many, out of compassion for the
world, for the good, benefit, and
happiness of gods and men…Let
not two go by one way. Preach, O
Bhikkhus, the Dhamma, excellent
in the beginning, excellent in
the middle, excellent in the end,
both in the spirit and in the letter.
Proclaim the holy life, altogether
perfect and pure”. Going by this
Buddha’s timeless words to be
perfect, the monks all over the
world have relentlessly pursued
this difficult task very successfully
at the risk of their lives. This
caused for the sublime doctrine
of the Lord Buddha to be in the
pristine condition continuously in
the world even to-date.
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