The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Thailand celebrated Vesak on 19 May 2019 with a ‘Bodhi Puja’ to venerate the Sri Maha Bodhi Sapling enshrined at Wat Vajirathammaram Temple in Ayutthya Province. This sacred Bodhi Sapling was gifted to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena following the Royal coronation, to bestow blessings on His Reign and the Thai people.
The event was jointly organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy and Sri Lanka Association in Thailand and honoured by the participation of both Sri Lankan and Thai Buddhist monks.
Deputy Governor of Ayutthaya Province, Nuchanart Pradeepthiranan, Deputy Director General of Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Srinourn Lapakittaro together with the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Office of Buddhism of Thailand participated at this occasion representing the Thai Government.
Enriching the age old relationship between the two countries built on the deep roots of the shared timeless philosophy and values espoused by the Buddha, the Sri Lankan and Thai monks jointly conducted the ‘Bodhi Puja’ and blessed the devotees while chanting Pirith. In his sermon, Venerable Walmoruwe Piyarathana Thero, Assistant Professor of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University explained that Lord Buddha offered gratitude to the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya under which he attained enlightenment following which the practice of venerating the Buddha through a ‘Bodhi Puja’ has been adopted. Venerable Piyarathana thero further observed that in keeping with this concept, the tradition of the conduct of a ‘Bodhi Puja’ has been a popular ritual to pay homage to the Buddha in Sri Lanka. He added that through this event it is demonstrated that Thailand is also making an effort to adopt the same practice and similarly Sri Lanka too can adhere to the good practices of Thailand. He further said that this occasion is well poised with both material homage (Amisa Puja) and homage through practice (Prathipaththi Puja), which enriches our lives by understanding the Buddha’s teaching and lead to further spiritual awareness to support our journey towards the ultimate of nirvana.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Kshenuka Senewiratne recalled that Theravada Buddhism was introduced to Thailand from Sri Lanka, which is known as Lankawamsa in Thailand, and that subsequently the King of then Siam sought to re-establish the higher ordination tradition, as during the colonial period, the foundation of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist monkhood had eroded. This, she said, culminated in the birth of the Siam Nikaya of Sri Lanka.
In the context of the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Senewiratne referred to the ability of harmonious co-existence of the Sri Lankan people, which she said must be secured and not be affected by acts of violence. The Ambassador observed that there was no spontaneity in the recent reprisal attacks as they began over a fortnight after the Easter Sunday bombings, demonstrating that it were interested parties who regrettably sought to prey on using the vulnerable times, to gain misplaced agendas.
In this context, she emphasized the importance of advising Sri Lankans not to become pawns of such persons, and the issues be left to be dealt with through legal means and the course of natural justice.
The event also served as an opportunity to bestow merit to those who succumbed their lives in the recent bomb attacks in Sri Lanka and pray for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.
The temple precinct was decorated with beautiful Vesak lanterns created by the Sri Lankan students from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. In keeping with the unique tradition of giving alms, a ‘dhansala’ offering ice cream and drinks was also held during the event.
