Tripitakabhivandana Week commences in US

• Events held at Washington and Maryland Buddhist temples

In keeping with President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to declare the Tripitakabhivandana Week from 16-23 March to mark the declaration of the Theravada Tripitaka as a national and world heritage, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC, under the patronage of four Buddhist temples in Washington DC and Maryland, organised a series of religious events from 16-24 March. The Tripitakabhivandana Week commenced with Maryland Buddhist Temple and Washington Buddhist Vihara hosting two events on 16 and 17 March respectively. 

At the launch of the Tripitakabhivandana Week on 16 March, the Chief Priest of the Maryland Buddhist Temple, Venerable Katugastota Uparatana Thero expressed immense pleasure for the honour and privilege of hosting the maiden event of this historic national endeavour at the Maryland Buddhist Temple. Speaking on the occasion, the venerable monk extended his profound gratitude to President Maithripala Sirisena for declaring the Tripitakabhivandana Week and the great honour thereby bestowed on the Tripitaka. 

Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the significance of the Tripitaka for the preservation for posterity of Buddhist teachings and the relevance of Buddha’s timeless message for future generations. Joined by the temple devotees, the resident monks chanted seth pirith to invoke blessings on the President of Sri Lanka and the whole country and hailed his meritorious deeds for the spiritual upliftment of Buddhists. Ven. Nedagamuwe Pragnaloka Thero conducted a Dhamma sermon on the indulgence of people in worldly pursuits and the importance of spiritual mindedness for overall well-being and happiness. 

Speaking on the occasion, Chargé d’Affaires, Sarath Dissanayake appreciated the directives and guidance given by the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in celebrating a historic milestone in Sri Lanka’s Buddhist calendar and expressed his deep gratitude to the venerable monks for sharing spiritual insights and wisdom on the relevance Buddhist teachings for a simple and contented life. The day’s proceedings came to a close with the offering of Pirikara to the priests and serving of snacks and sweetmeats to devotees.  

The Washington Buddhist Vihara, which is the oldest Theravada Buddhist Temple in the US, hosted the second event of the Tripitakabhivandana Week on 17 March, with a Buddhist sermon conducted by the Chief Priest, Ven. Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero on the significance of the Tripitakabhivandana Week followed by a comprehensive spiritual briefing on the historical context of writing the Tripitaka, its preservation to date and the contribution of the Tripitaka for the propagation of Buddhist teachings and values. The venerable monk also spoke of the essence of the Buddha’s noble message for self-emancipation or salvation of mankind and thanked the foreign devotees in the audience for their interest and support to promote the Buddhist way of living among the likeminded. The monks conducted a Bodhi Pooja and invoked blessings on President Sirisena and the country and welcomed his noble endeavour to declare the Tripitakabhivandana Week to symbolise the proclamation of the Tripitaka as a National Heritage in January 2019. 

Speaking on the occasion, Chargé d’Affaires, Sarath Dissanayake appreciated the blessings of the Maha Sangha for organising a special religious activity in celebration of the Tripitakabhivandana Week at the Washington Buddhist Vihara and spreading Buddha’s teachings and creating awareness of the sacred scripts of the Tripitaka among both local and foreign devotees. He briefed those in the audience and sought their support on the campaign launched by Sri Lanka to inscribe Tripitaka as a world heritage in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, given its spiritual, philosophical, doctrinal and cultural significance for the Buddhists and humankind as a whole. 

The arrangements at the Washington Buddhist Vihara and the Maryland Buddhist Temple were coordinated by the Embassy under the guidance and blessings of the Maha Sangha with the active support and collaboration of the members of the respective dayaka sabha. 

The Tripitakabhivandana Week in the US will conclude with two more religious events at the Nisala Arana Buddhist Monastery and the Mahamewnawa Meditation Centre in Maryland on 23 and 24 March respectively.