International Workers' Day the Significance of Vesak
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Dæhæna - Monthly e-Newsletter May 2021 Volume 16 Issue 5 Volume 1, Issue 1 Radio 4EB Sri Lankan Group Web Address: https://4ebsrilankan.wordpress.com/ Contact: [email protected] The Significance of Vesak International Workers’ Day The Lumbini park was abundant with Sal trees in full bloom. Flowers International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in most coun- that have fallen from trees formed a soft carpet on the ground. On the tries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers full moon day in the month of Vesak, Queen Maha Maya, who was and the working classes, that is promoted by the international labour pregnant, was on a journey through the Sal grove to see her parents. movement and occurs every year on 1 May. On her way, she gave birth to a prince in the Sal grove. This was about 2644 years ago. The prince was named Siddhartha Gautama. He lived While it may belong to a tradition of spring in a palace with every luxury at his command. festivals, the date was chosen in 1889 for political reasons by the Marxist Interna- At a young age, he was confronted tional Socialist Congress, which met in with the reality of life and the suf- Paris and established the Second Interna- fering of humankind. Siddhartha, tional as a successor to the earlier Interna- at the age of 29 years, gave up his tional Workingmen's Association. They wealth and position as a prince to adopted a resolution for a "great international demonstration" in sup- seek enlightenment as a spiritual port of working-class demands for the eight-hour day. The date had ascetic. His goal was to find a path been chosen by the American Federation of Labour to continue an out of this universal suffering of all earlier campaign for the eight-hour day in the United States, which had beings. After 6 years of strenuous culminated in the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 searching, Siddhartha attained May 1886. May Day subsequently became an annual event. Enlightenment on the full moon day of Vesak. He found the goal of Nibbana. He became the Buddha, The first of May is a national, public holiday in many countries across “The Enlightened One”. the world, in most cases as "International Workers' Day" or a similar name. Some countries celebrate a Labour Day on other dates signifi- He preached the path to others for 45 years. He taught that wisdom, cant to them, such as the United States and Canada, which celebrate kindness, patience, generosity, and compassion were important Labour Day on the first Monday of September. virtues. Courtesy: https://en.wikipedia.org/ The heart of the teachings of the Buddha is contained in the teachings of the Four Noble Truths, namely, Inside this issue: The noble truth of suffering or Dukkha The noble truth of the cause of suffering, Samudaya Ramadan, Esmin Gonsalkorala: Appreciation, News Digest: 2 The noble truth of the cessation of suffering, Nirhodha April 2021 The noble truth of the path, which leads to the cessation of all Mother’s Day, Teesha Manage Dives into Success, App of sufferings, Magga the Month 3 Buddha’s teaching is based on cause and effect. Buddha taught that Where they are now.... 4 desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering. The inability to fulfill Book Review: A Road Travelled Far, ANZAC Day Celebra- all desires ends with suffering. The way to extinguish desire will lead to 5 the cessation of suffering. tions At the age of 80, He passed away රසකතා: TITANIC 槔මාරයා 6 (Parinibbana) once again on the full moon day of Vesak at a place ම뗔ǔ엒 දහම් උල්පත, How Siyambalawa got its Name 7 called Kusinara. The full moon day Forest Lake Temple: Office Bearers 2021, Poem: Spread the of Vesak is important for Bud- Word, Obituary 8 dhists all over the world for three significant events – Buddha’s birth, New Year Celebrations 9 His Enlightenment, and His Richmond Mahinda Annual Cricket Match, Sri Lanka Sports Parinibbana. Moreover, the signifi- 10 cance of Vesak lies with the Buddhahood and his universal message to Association Sports Carnival, Brisbane Events humankind. Brisbane Events 11-12 Gold Coast Buddhist Centre Brisbane Events Calendar, Program Schedule 13 Volume 16 Issue 4 Page 2 2 Ramadan Esmin Gonsalkorala – 20th Death Anniversary: Appre- Muslims around the world are currently observing Ramadan, the ciation. holiest month in the Islamic calendar. This year, the ‘month’ is be- On 29 May this year, it is 20 years since Esmin Gonsalkorala passed tween 13 April and 12 May. As every year, fasting involves abstaining away. Sri Lankan community in Queensland fondly remember Esmin from food and drink from dawn to dusk, and focusing on improving for her dedicated service to the Sri Lankan community. our relationship with Allah (God) through fasting, worship and char- ity. Fasting is a test of mental and She was the President of the Sinhala physical will and teaches us com- Association of Queensland (SAQ) passion and to care for the less from 1996 - 1997 and an active privileged. Fasting reminds us of member for many years. She was the oneness and omnipresence of involved in writing the constitution God and is a special task between and was pivotal in forming the Him and us. Ramadan is also a Sinhala Association of Queensland. time of extra prayers, worship and She was also an enthusiastic pre- charity. senter and programmer at Radio For Muslims in Australia, Ramadan 2021 is cautiously returning to 4EB Sri Lankan Group. normal with communal activities of prayer, charity and sharing of Kumudini Vithanage had this dedi- meals at the close of the fast known as ‘iftar’. This is in stark contrast cation to Esmin in the to 2020 where strict restrictions did not allow this. Many other coun- “Dakma” (දැක්ම) publication on the tries around the world are still gripped by the pandemic and will Silver Jubilee celebrations of SAQ. spend Ramadan with varying levels of freedom. “Esmin Gonsalkorala served her community well. Twenty five years Muslims regularly practice the discharge of ‘zakat’, a compulsory ago when the Sinhala community was a fledgling minority community, charity and one of the five pillars of Islam during this month. Mus- Esmin chose to serve her people through existing institutions, the lims are urged not to forget the poor, homeless and less fortunate Sinhala Association of Queensland and Radio 4EB Sri Lankan Group. during these challenging times. Let us all pray this Ramadan for an A committed community member, Esmin remained a key figure of end to the pandemic and the restoration of peace and well-being to both SAQ and 4EB, on many occasions holding office, in spite of an all. unforgiving health condition to which she finally succumbed. The Omar Issadeen courage she exhibited in the face of adversity, determined to fulfil her role as mother to her three young children was inspiring.” Omar Issadeen is a civil engineer at GHD and regular attendee at his local Mosque in Kuraby. Monthly News Digest: April 2021 01 Fmr. Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev. Rayappu Joseph passes away http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Fmr-Mannar- Bishop-Rt-Rev-Rayappu-Joseph-passes-away/108-209054 02 Five-member Cricket Management Committee appointed http://www.adaderana.lk/news/72776/five-member- cricket-management-committee-appointed 03 Sri Lanka vs Windies: Series drawn as Karunaratne steps up http://www.adaderana.lk/sports/8630/sri-lanka-vs- windies-series-drawn-as-karunaratne-steps-up 03 Can you hold foreign currency in hand? – Notice from Central http://bizenglish.adaderana.lk/can-you-hold-foreign- Bank currency-in-hand-notice-from-central-bank/ 08 Attorney General authorises ban on 11 Islamic Organizations http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/front_page/AG- authorises-ban-on-11-Islamic-Organizations/238-209607 09 Mayor of Jaffna under arrest http://www.adaderana.lk/news/72925/mayor-of-jaffna- under-arrest 09 Jaffna Mayor released on bail http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Jaffna-Mayor- released-on-bail/108-209740 09 Pramodya to head new cricket selection committee http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Pramodya-to- head-new-cricket-selection-committee/108-209652 10 Mohan Samaranayake new Government Information Dept. DG http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Mohan- Samaranayake-new-Government-Information-Dept- DG/108-209734 11 Ministerial Comm. on Easter PCoI, Nat Security SOC reports: No https://www.themorning.lk/ministerial-comm-on-easter- ban on Bodu Bala Sena pcoi-nat-security-soc-reports-no-ban-on-bodu-bala-sena/ 11 Sri Lanka Air Force swimmer sets new Asian record swimming http://www.adaderana.lk/news/72975/slaf-swimmer-sets- across Palk Strait new-asian-record-swimming-across-palk-strait 19 Dilhara Lokuhettige gets eight-year ban for corruption https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-bans-former-sri- lanka-allrounder-dilhara-lokuhettige-for-eight-years-for- corruption-1259773 25 Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 1st Test ends in a draw http://www.adaderana.lk/sports/8648/sri-lanka-vs- bangladesh-1st-test-ends-in-a-draw 26 All state and private functions banned for two weeks https://www.themorning.lk/all-state-and-private-functions- banned-for-two-weeks/ 27 Cabinet approves to ban burqa, niqab http://www.dailymirror.lk/top_story/Cabinet-approves-to- ban-burqa-niqab/155-210704 28 Nuwan Zoysa handed six-year ban under ICC Anti-Corruption http://www.adaderana.lk/news/73390/nuwan-zoysa- Code handed-six-year-ban-under-icc-anti-corruption-code Volume 16 Issue 5 Page 3 Mothers’ Day: You mean the world to me ‘AMMA’ Teesha Manage dives into success! 3 Another year has come by where we celebrate Mother’s Day in the Teesha Manage who migrated to month of May.