2007 -- H 6195 ======= LC02661 ======= STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2007 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N EXPRESSING PROFOUND SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF SAMDECH PREAH MAHA GHOSANANDA Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Lewiss, Williams, and Almeida Date Introduced: March 22, 2007 Referred To: House read and passed 1 WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that this House has learned of the passing of 2 Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda, a revered Cambodian Buddhist monk, and a six time Nobel 3 Peace Prize nominee; and 4 WHEREAS, Born in the Takeo Province of Cambodia, Maha Ghosananda served as a 5 lifelong monk in the Theravada tradition. He was considered the father of Cambodian Buddhism, 6 with millions of young men training as novice monks under his tutelage. In the 1990’s, he 7 organized walks for peace, which continue in Cambodia to this day; and 8 WHEREAS, In the aftermath of years of savage war and the genocide of more than a 9 million people in Cambodia, Maha Ghosananda advocated for human-rights and non-violent 10 conflict resolution. His altruistic devotion to peace and bringing comfort to his community earned 11 him six Nobel Peace Prize nominations. He was also awarded the Rafto Peace Prize in Norway, 12 and the Niwano Peace Prize in Japan; and 13 WHEREAS, Seeking refuge in the early 1980’s, Maha Ghosananda emigrated from his 14 embattled homeland, resettling in the West End of Providence. On and off over the years he lived 15 at the Khmer Buddhist Society Temple of Rhode Island, serving as a leader for Buddhists around 16 New England; and 17 WHEREAS, Maha Ghosananda’s name means “Great Joyful Proclaimer”, which was 18 perhaps a prophecy for his life. There is no doubt that this kind and gentle soul left the world a 19 far better place because of his life’s work. His efforts toward peace uplifted and enriched the 1 lives of all who knew him, and his empathy and compassion for human suffering was boundless 2 and an inspiration to us all; now, therefore be it 3 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and 4 Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies on the passing of Samdech 5 Preah Maha Ghosananda. He will forever be remembered for his compassion, and his eternal 6 struggle to bring comfort to millions of Cambodians; and be it further 7 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to 8 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Khmer Buddhist Society Temple of Rhode 9 Island, and Pich Chhoeun. ======= LC02661 ======= 2 .