Calls For Mass Merit-making To Mark Visakabucha

[george]

Govt calls for mass merit-making to mark Visakabucha

BANGKOK: -- The government is to mark one of the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar this year with an appeal to the nation’s Buddhists to present a show of reconciliation and unity.

The move was announced following talks this morning between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and veteran politician Chamlong Srimuang, who heads a leading ethics and development centre, the head of the Bureau of National Buddhism, and a number of monks and nuns.

Celebrations this year for Visakabucha, which marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death, are particularly important as Thailand is acting as host for global Buddhist events.

Emerging from the hour-long talks, Mr. Thaksin said that Mr. Chamlong had asked the government to invite all Buddhists and monks of all Buddhist denominations to celebrate the event in the hope of creating a national groundswell of dharma.

Mr. Chamlong hopes that celebrants will make a resolution to give up vices for at least three years, in order to cleanse their spirits.

The prime minister, who yesterday presided over a day of mass inter-faith prayers for national unity, said that the Visakabucha Day celebrations would fulfil a similar role.

The organization for the celebrations will be overseen by the Director of the Bureau of National Buddhism. Mae Chi Sansanee Sathirasut, a prominent nun who will supervise the publicity for the event, told reporters today that the celebrations would help Thais work together to ensure self-reliance and the elimination of suffering.

Participants will be invited to pray that they may put an end to their wrongdoing and, instead, do good works.

--TNA 2005-04-11

[Pattaya_Fox]

Govt calls for mass merit-making to mark Visakabucha 

BANGKOK: -- The government is to mark one of the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar this year with an appeal to the nation’s Buddhists to present a show of reconciliation and unity.

Mr. Chamlong hopes that celebrants will make a resolution to give up vices for at least three years, in order to cleanse their spirits.

--TNA 2005-04-11

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Three years....now that`s what I call willpower

[Golf]

Most Thais are Buddhists only in their house registrations. They are NOT buddhists at heart anymore. Sad but true, they are still going to temples, making merits and all that, but there are more drinking, killing every single day.

Golf