Bahujana Hitaya, Bahujana Sukhaya and Sangha Day Celebrations in Nagaloka
To commemorate the day when Buddha exhorted his disciples to spread the Dhamma in all the directions for welfare and happiness of the many, and the day when the Sangha left the rainy season retreat celebrations were organised on Karthik Full Moon Day on 6th November, 2014 in Nagaloka. The chief guests for the program were Ven. Revata, Chief Sangha Nayaka, Sri Lanka Siam Nikaya, and ex- Secretary of Mahabodhi Society of India, Dhammachari Devamitra, and Dhammacharini Vijaya from Triratna Boudha Mahasangha (TBM). Dhammachiri Lokamitra presided over the function.
In his introductory speech, Dhammachari Lokamitra explained the audience on importance of Sangha Day. The Buddha on this day asked his disciple to spread the Dhamma for welfare and happiness of the many. In the Theravada tradition this day is celebrated by sewing and donating robes to monks, on the one hand and on the other by the monks confessing any mistakes they have made to other monks. In TBM, the day is celebrated by recalling the importance of spiritual friendship and confession. At Nagaloka we have added to that by recalling the Buddha’s most famous exhortation of Bahujana Hitaya, Bahujana Sukhaya – go out for the welfare and happiness of as many people as possible, a spirit symbolised in the form of the Walking Buddha.
On this occasion, Dhammachari Devamitra explored about image of Walking Buddha of Nagaloka that Buddha is smiling but he is in urgency of reaching out to many people for spreading Dhamma. Dhammcharini Vijaya and Ven. Revata also enlightened the audience on the importance of the Day.
Dhammachari Vivekratna presented on NTI’s role in effective spread of Dhamma and Dhammachari Maitreyanath compared for the program.