Monday, December 7, 2015

COMMEMORATION OF ARAHAT SANGAMITTA THERANI

Students of the Yasodhara Dhamma School of the Sri Lankarama Mahavihara in Brisbane Sing the Sangamitta Veneration Song (2015)

Sangamittha Commemoration Song at the Sri Lankarama Mahaviharaya

THE SANGAMITTA DAY - SRILANKARAMA MAHAVIHARAYA


THE SRILANKARAMA MAHAVIHARAYA IN BRISBANE, COMMEMORATED THE SANGAMITTA DAY












































 



https://youtu.be/i0oGEf-crNU

























The Yasodhara Dhamma and Sinhala School Students, Teachers Parents and Devotees of the Sri Lankarama Mahaviharaya in Brisbane, Commemorated the event of the Sangamitta Theroni’s Arrival to Sri Lanka. The Ceremony was conducted by the Resident monks of the Sri Lankarama Mahaviharaya, Ven. Pilimathalawe Samahitha Thero, Ven Ihalagonagama Nanda Thero, Ven. Aluthgamgoda Gnanaweera Thro and Ven. Dhamma Samadhi. The ceremony was concluded by taking the precepts, attending to Buddhawandana and Loving-Kindness Meditation, conducted by Ven. Samahitha Thero. The organisation of the entire program was well supported by Ven. Nanda Thero. 

The Students of the Yasodhara School sang the Sangamitta Veneration Songs in both Sinhala and English. A senior student of the School gave a talk about the significance of the Sangamitta Day. A beautiful perahara (pageant) was performed in order to pay our gratitude and respect to the Most Venerable Arahat Theroni who sacrificed her Noble life to the people of Sri Lanka. This commitment is well remembered by our Sri Lankan families and each year the devotees of the Sri Lankaramaya  celebrates this very special day with heartfelt gratitude.

This year, we were able to bring to mind the significance of the lives of the Great Female Arahat Theris of the past. We therefore venerated these Enlightened Nuns with much gratitude for their services they paid to brighten the Buddha’s Dispensation.

We are constantly remembered about the wholesome skills and deeds that were introduced and taught to us by our Chief Incumbent, of the Sri Lankaramaya, Most Ven. Wattegama Dhammawasa Nayaka Maha Thero. The Venerable  Sir not only showed us the way, but took the undertaking of shipping these Statues of the Arahat Mihindu and Sangamitta’s to Australia. This is not an easy task. Our young people can now understand the ancient Buddhist history, rather than learning it from the Buddhist texts.


We make this opportunity to pay our gratitude and respect to Most Ven. Sir for all his commitments paid to uplift the spiritual lives of our families. May you live in peace with good health and courage and speed up your attainments to Nibbana!

May all those who were present, and not present, the Venerable Monks, Coordinators, Teachers and Students of the Yasodhara Dhamma and Sinhala Schools, Speakers, Singers, those who decorated the boat, brought flowers, who brought all other offerings and all devotees who supported this wholesome deed be well received the happiness by these merits! 

GRATITUDE BENEFITS 

In our day to day lives, paying gratitude becomes one of the most powerful keys to happiness and abundance in our lives. Emotional release in this gratitude practice is the most powerful force for positive change in our life. Our life is challenged by stress, tensions, and anxieties, and when you connect instantly with the qualities of gratitude such as thankfulness, benevolence, giving, kindness and appreciation, instantly you feel better. 

You can profit by shifting your attention from the dark side of your life to ease and abundance. Expressing gratitude reduces troubles and promotes goodness. Gratitude always grows in a wholesome state of mind.Liking things, appreciating what’s good increases self-esteem and reduces fears. It builds hope and joy.

For instance, when you are hungry, you feel week. As soon as you eat you feel stronger more alert and alive. Nourishing yourself with gratitude does the same thing. It builds up your entire body, mind and spirit.The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now. And more grateful you are towards you and others the more you get in return and help you to build up happiness and joy.

In Praise of Gratitude, from the Harvard Mental Health Letter, States: 

 “Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships, regardless of the inherent or current level of some one’s gratitude, it’s a quality that individuals can successfully cultivate further. 

Cultivating gratitude is the smart and easy way to enrich your life.”