He was addressing a gathering of more than 200 Buddhist monks and members of the Mahabodhi Society gathered at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, India on Saturday evening as they welcomed their new president.
The members have come together for their 113th annual general meeting on September 25.
Mahabodhi Society of India is a south Asian Buddhist society founded in 1891 by the Sri Lankan Buddhist leader, Anagarika Dharmapala. The organisation’s self-stated initial efforts were for the resuscitation of Buddhism in India, and restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara.
Lyonchhoen said that he accepted the offer as the president of the society for the next three years, because he believes that the Mahabodhi Society has and can further strengthen its capacity to serve human society in pursuing happiness.
“In my three years, we’ll be able to work together with a purpose in mind and it will be my endeavour to raise interest towards the Mahabodhi Society, increase the number of members and to further consolidate the support the Mahabodhi Society has received from all sections of society,” the prime minister said.
The home minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji, ambassador of Bhutan to India maj. gen. V Namgyel, tsugla lopen Samten Dorji and drabi lopen Sangay Dorji of the zhung dratshang, members of the choedey lhentshog, Sri Lankan ambassador to Bhutan, who is also the high commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Prasad Kariyawasam, and chief sanghanayaka of Sri Lanka, venerable Agga Ratnapala, were also present at the annual meeting.
The outgoing president of the Society, who is from Sri Lanka, Prasana Jayasuriya, said that the 113th annual meeting was a historic occasion for the society, as such a meeting was being held in Bodhgaya for the first time, instead of being held at its headquarter in Kolkata. “The prime minister of Bhutan has also given his consent to take over the presidency, which is a privilege for the society,” he said.
The governing body of the Mahabodhi society has 75 members, who elect the president. Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley was called upon to undertake the duties of the president on August 24, 2009 during the secretary general of the society, venerable Dr Rewatha Thera’s visit to Bhutan.
Lyonchhoen, during the three-hour annual general meeting, congratulated the secretary general venerable Dr Rewatha Thera and outgoing president Prasana Jayasurya for their dedicated service to the society and to dharma.
Lyonchhoen also paid tribute to the founder of the Mahabodhi society, Anagarika Dharmapala. “It’s because of him and those, who supported his vision that today we find in India the birthplace of Lord Buddha, where the most holy of shrines have been restored and whereby, we as Buddhist are able to pay homage to Buddha and dharma - the way of life,” he said. “We as Buddhists are indeed grateful that the provisions of bodhisattva has been realised by the endeavours of this Mahabodhi Society, and by the support and patronage of the Indian government, government of Bihar and local governments in the districts, where these important places are located.”
[Courtesy:Kuensel]
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