Sri Lanka: Buddhism to promote moral development among foreign tourists

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Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry considers its teaming up with the Economic Development Ministry in a joint endeavour to promote Buddhism throughout the world as a major victory, Prime Minister and Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Minister D M Jayaratne said.

<< Prime Miniser D M Jayaratne handing over a copy of “Why Worry” written by late Dr.Kirille Sri Dhammananda Thera to Lanka Hotel Association Chairman M Shanthkumar. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is also in the picture.

The Prime Minister said this participating in a ceremony at the Kotte Parliamentary Complex to mark the distribution of the book "Why Worry"authored by late Dr. Kirille Sri Dhammananda Thera among hotels in Sri Lanka recently.

The Sri Dhammananda Foundation of Malaysia will provide 15,000 copies of the book for distribution among hotels under the auspices of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa on a concept of the Buddhasasana Ministry.

The Prime Minister said concurrent to the tourism promotion drive launched by the Economic Development Ministry, teachings of Buddhism could be made use of to promote moral and spiritual development among foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka and his Ministry hoped to make maximum use of this opportunity.

He said during his visit to China, he saw the Holy Bible and literature on agriculture kept in hotel rooms for the information of visitors. Such a scheme is not found in Sri Lanka to promote Buddhism and the Economic Development Ministry has stepped into fill this void which is a highly commendable gesture.

The Prime Minister said the book "Why Worry" written by late Ven.Dr. Kirille Sri Dhammananda Thera had many important details,not only for Buddhists, but all people in the world, especially those in the developing world to lead a meaningful life.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said Nature as well as Buddhism could be made an investment to develop and promote tourism. When tourists visiting Sri Lanka feel lonely and confined to hotel rooms, they could easily get over their boredom by reading books of this nature and also understand the essence of Buddhism.

Ven. Kirille Sri Dhammananda Thera, Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Deputy Minister MKADS Gunawardena, Secretary to the Prime Minister S Amarasekera, Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary MKB Dissanayake, Public Trustee Sarath Seneviratne, SLTDA Chairman Bhashwara Senanka other representatives of Hotel Associations were also present.

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Material and Spiritual Development Must Go Hand in Hand - Dalai Lama

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Bodhgaya, India -- To have a happy and peaceful life, the material development and inner-spiritual practice must goo hand in hand, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet on Wednesday told foreign devotees who are attending the 32nd Kalachakra Initiation for world peace at Bodhgaya.

"Everybody has desire to have happy life, and less problem, His Holiness the Dalai Lama told foreign devotees from 63 countries. "The 7 billion people, each and everyone has every right to achieve happy and successful life, less problem, this is our fundamental right," His Holiness added.

"It is difficulty to meet often, as today you are quite big number here, so I would like to say hello to all of you. I already met with brothers and sisters from mainland China, Himalayan regions, and of-course people who newly from Tibet yesterday."

"Tibetan spiritual leader said that the seven billion human beings, mentally, emotionally, and physically, we are same, the simple reason is, the way we born and die, no differences to all, whether easterner or westerner.

His Holiness said that people concerned more about material facility in the past times, because of the physical level; the hunger and decease are immensely effected, more concerned, so we concentrate more on material development and technology as well as education, it is right and important.

Later part of the 20th century, more and more people began to realize the real happiness and sensation, which very much depended on mental level. Obviously those People who have material facilities seem very comfortable life, but, life remained fear and some kind of frustration due to lack of inner spirit, these create anger, hatred and loneliness, also among the rich people such billionaires."

There are two factors in the later part of 20th century, one is more materialized life, instead of solving the problem, sometimes it is increasing and become unhappy. Another is the scientific research work, some top scientists who are really sharp minded now became to realize emotions and mind, I think this is something very important factor for happy life of any individual, family or a community, there is no differences to all; whether rich or poor and educated or uneducated once, unless the peace of mind."

"According to ancient Indian traditions including Buddhism, where there is practice of single pointed mind and penetrating-inside, initially there is more information about emotion and mind," Buddhist explained.

His Holiness expressed that scientists should research more on world of emotion and mind. He pointed-out that these days medical scientists began to take interest; how to develop cam-mind. So, I think it is very important, His Holiness added.

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