Mao Chi Channa

I and my classmates of Medium Rank Civil Service Servants “Chaktomok Room” of Royal School of Administration, academic year 2009-2010, took some money and other sponsorship such as rice, cookers, plates, mosquito net, blanket, some fast food like noodles, dried fishes, and fish source,   to help a disable woman at Preak Rusey village, Preak Rusey commune, Takmao town, Kandal province.

Lokyay Ten, 72 years old is living with a son who can earn a small money to support the family and she can do nothing because of old age and to be very sick.

“Doing Good, Avoid Evil, Purify the Mind” is the advice of the Buddha. In practical everyday term, this means to do Dana “Charity”, Sila “morality” and Bhavana “Meditation”.

• Dana is to practice generosity helping other. We can do Dana in different ways, by sharing knowledge or the Buddha’s teaching to people want to understand it, called Dhamma Dana. We can do also Dana by donating something like food, money to poor or disable people, called Amisa Dana. and other Dana, like give hope to less fortune. Sometime your smile can be a Dana, because it can help other happy.
• Sila is to cultivate morality by observing the precepts, like five precepts that We must
  • avoid from killing any living beings
  • avoid from taking what is not given.
  • avoid from sexual misconduct.
  • avoid from lying and false speech
  • avoid from the drinking alcohol and using drugs
• Bhavana means the practice of mind cultivation or simply meditation . Meditation can be said to purify the mind. It can help calm the mind peacefully.

Popularity: 11% [?]

A Summit of High Level Religious Leaders on the Response to HIV took place in The Netherlands from 22 to 23 March. The meeting explored opportunities for religious leaders to promote universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in their communities and speak out against stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV. It brought together some 40 Baha’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders together with the Executive Directors of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the AIDS Ambassadors of The Netherlands and Sweden, leaders and representatives of networks of people living with HIV and other organizations active in the response to HIV.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “As I travel the world, I see increasing evidence of social injustice. Growing economic disparities, inequality and social injustice stalk the earth. The greatest impact is felt by the poorest segments of society, on women and girls and on the marginalized. Social injustice only serves to increase the vulnerability of the vulnerable and push them farther out of reach of HIV services. I sincerely hope that this meeting will produce a call for action to make these services available and virtually eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV. Nothing would be more noble than a world with no more babies born with HIV.”

During the Summit, participants addressed the realities of how stigma and discrimination are perpetuated both in religious communities and society at large. They identified best practices to strengthen the voice and action of religious leaders and bring about collaboration among different faiths and with other sectors involved in the response to HIV.

“The leaders gathered at this summit have the ability to inspire and empower change – within their own communities, across countries, and throughout wider communities,” said Rev. Dr. Richard Fee, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency, Presbyterian Church in Canada. “In the midst of what appears to be ‘AIDS fatigue” they have the potential to galvanize efforts against a disease that continues to spread, driven by silence, fear, violence and injustice.”

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, religious communities, mosques, temples, churches, hospitals and clinics have reached out to provide support to those living with and affected by HIV. Strengthening their leadership can greatly influence the lives of many people, and leaders speaking out responsibly about AIDS can make a powerful impact at both community and international level.

“Participants affirmed in their concluding statement the “renewed sense of urgency” to prioritize and strengthen the response to HIV. Such response includes “holistic prevention” in addition to reaching universal access to treatment, care and support. The statement called for the “Universal respect for the human rights of all people living with and affected by and at risk of HIV infection” and the “respect for the dignity of every human being”. Leaders also called for “a massive social mobilization” to support services for women to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child.

In addition, religious leaders drafted and personally signed a pledge to commit themselves to strengthened efforts to respond to HIV. The pledge includes “deepening meaningful engagement with people living with HIV” and “acting decisively to protect human rights within my faith community; through collaboration among other religious leaders of different faiths; and by influencing local, national, regional and global decision-making processes on HIV.”

Dr Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, in her closing remarks said, “Our work together proves that interventions can be successful and sustainable if change is inclusive, if it emerges from within the faith and cultures of the people themselves, if people of all age groups living with (or without) HIV are secure in their sense of belonging and are fully engaged, and all partners are equally valued and respected.”

The co-chairs of the event were His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of the Art of Living Foundation; Rabbi David Rosen, Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee; Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary of the World YWCA; and the Right Rev. Gunnar Stålsett, Bishop Emeritus of the Church of Norway.

The Summit was organized by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and Cordaid, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNAIDS, International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV or AIDS (INERELA+), the World AIDS Campaign and the European Council of Religious Leaders (Religions for Peace).

Popularity: 13% [?]

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

About 3,000 Buddhist monks from 14 different countries and Cambodian laymen and women, government officials, parliamentarians and senators have attended the 4th Trail of Civilization and Performance 2010 at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap on April 28-30, 2010 in Cambodia. The 14 countries included Cambodia, Lao, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, China, Japan and Korea.

The huge event was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in collaboration with the Ministry of Cults and Religions, aiming to promote the Buddhism field in Asian region and the world as well as to attract national and international tourists to visit ancient temples in Siem Reap province.

H.E. Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Interior, said that it marked the first time and an historical event for the Kingdom of Cambodia has hosted the 4th Trail of Civilization of Civilization and Performance in accordance with the celebration of the Visaka Bochea Day 2554 Festival which was the full moon day of sixth lunar month at the Phnom Preah Reach Troap in Udong district, Kandal province on April 28th.

The Buddhism was born in Sovannaphumi since the third Buddhist Era (3rd B.E) or the first century of Christian Era but Buddhism and other religions died for the period of 3 years 8 months and 20 days during the Khmer Democratic or Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia. The Buddhism and other religions were re-born on the 7th of January 1979, along with all Cambodian people after the country was liberated by the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) from the Khmer Rouge’s terror regime.

After the liberation day on the 7th of January 1979, there was only a Buddhist monk in Cambodia but so far, there are 4393 pagodas with 54,764 Buddhist monks.

“I strongly believe that this event will make the tourists in the region and the world to help understand clearly about Cambodia, and attracting them to visit Angkor Wat Temple where it’s the world heritage and the human property. It is also to strengthen and expand the bond of friendship, cooperation and solidarity on culture, religion and tourisms among all countries in ASEAN member countries and in region,” he said at the Civilization Mark and View at Chaktomuk Conference Hall on April 27th.

H.E. Thong Khon, Minister for the Ministry of Tourism, said at the same time that the “Trail of Civilization and Performance” was initiated by Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonbo in 2006 to show the culture and civilization of many centuries ago connected with the Buddhism.

The Minister continued to say that this cultural event is also aimed to develop and promote the Buddhism and good cooperation between Buddhism and other religions in order that they can be a bridge for establishing or bringing the peace, development and the prosperity for all people in the world. The event also aimed at promoting national and international visitors to visit cultural and religious attractions in the region and in the world.

Relating to the 4th Trail of Civilization and Performance 2010 at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap province, he said that the event included Tourism and Cultural Expert Meeting; Business Forum; Official Opening and Closing Ceremony of the 4th Trail of Civilization and performance 201; Candle lighting; Visaka Bochea Celebration; Royal audience and courtesy call to His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Performance of the Scene of the Buddha when he was born, achieved enlightenment, and when he was passed away; Cultural and Traditional Performances; Planting Trees; and Launches of Flying Lanterns and Fireworks./

Resource: http://reaksmeyinaction-reaksmeykongkea.blogspot.com/2010/05/cambodia-celebrated-4th-trail-of.html

Popularity: 9% [?]

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

About 10,000 people including 480 Buddhist monks, laypeople and other people from government officials, parliamentarians and senators have gathered and celebrated Visaka Bochea Day Festival which is the full moon day of sixth lunar month at the Phnom Preah Reach Troap-Udong in Ponhear Loeu district in Kandal province on 28 April, 2010.

The celebration of Visaka Bochea Day 2554 was organized by the Ministry of Cults and Religion and the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals (NCONIF), and presided over by Samdech Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly to respect the Buddha Lord who passed away 2554 years ago.

Samdech Heng Samrin said that Visaka Bochea Day is the most important traditional ceremony in the Buddhism in Cambodia. It is a ceremony that Cambodian people in the country always celebrate in the monasteries every year with pleased minds on full moon day of Visaka month for the Buddha’s Memorial Day.

“Every year, Cambodia is very happy to celebrate Visaka Bochea Day to respect and remember our Buddha Lord’s enlightenment and passing away in the world. This year’s celebration has been well organized and progress and there are so many people who have participated in the event,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during an interview at the celebration at Phnom Preah Reach Troap in Udong district, Kampong Speu on April 28.

Due to the full peace, political stability, development and the progress, all religions especially Buddhism now has been developing in Cambodia, and the Buddhism has taken such a deep root in the hearts of culture and tradition in Khmer people, he said, adding that for this year’s celebration, the Royal Government also accepted the duty as a house owner in the role of Buddhism country among other countries in the world in order to celebrate the ceremony of the “4th Trail of Civilization” on the full moon day of Visaka Bochea on the 28th of April at Bayon Temple in Siem Reap province.

Samdech Preah Sangkareah Bou Kry, Leader of the Dhamayut Buddhist sect in Camnbodia, said that that Visaka Bochea Day is very important for all Buddhist followers in the world. It has also officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) as the World Heritage Day on December 13, 2009. Samdech added that Visaka Bochea is celebrated in order to remember three important events in which when Buddha was born into the world, when the Buddha attained enlightenment, and he passed away.

“Today, Buddhism is already 2554 years old, having become a very large part of the heritage in Asia, still strongly stands and being venerated by hundred thousands people in the world, especially Khmer citizens,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly on April 27 in Phnom Penh.

Samdech stated that Visaka Bochea Day, all Khmer people including the King, leaders of the Royal Government, Buddhist monks in all ranks and all Buddhist lay devotees with happy faces and beautiful clothes, the hands holding various worshiped things such as followers, joss sticks and perfumes to worship the Buddha whose relics enshrined in a stupa erected on the mountain of Preah Reach Trop or Attharassa in the area of Udong Mountain, Ponhea Loeu district in Kandal province.

Regarding to the history of Visaka Bochea Festival, he said that this traditional ceremony has been practiced by Khmer people from generation to generation since Buddhism was brought to the land of Sovannaphumi by the two elder Buddhist monks known as Sonatthera and Uttharathera.

Cambodia chronicles mentions that the Buddha’s relic was brought to Cambodia since 1957 by former King Norodom Sihanouk. The former King Norodom Sihanouk obtained the Buddha’s relic from India and the relic was initially enshrined in Phnom Penh, former stupa located in front of the Railway Station in Phnom Penh today.

After the construction of new stupa was begun on the mountain of Preah Reach Trop in Udong in 1996, on the full moon day, month of Migasira, 2546 B.E or on the 19th December 2002, the King Norodom Sihanouk, the two leaders of Buddhist Sects, Buddhist monks, and government officials in all ranks with a congratulation of many people marched and brought the sacred relics from Phnom Penh to enshrine in the stupa where it has been completely built at the mountain of Preah Reach Trop or Udong.

According to Samdech Preah Sangkareach Bou Kry, the profound meanings of Buddha’s teachings including the consequence of practices in Dharma, it makes wholesomeness that is a good state rooted in minds through the theory of Kamma and pointed out the way for practice which is referred to the Eightfold Noble Path and leading those who insert an effort, possibly attain peacefulness throughout the mental, verbal, and physical practice until the peace, mutual tolerance from even a small family up to the whole society and the world.

Resource : http://reaksmeyinaction-reaksmeykongkea.blogspot.com/2010/05/cambodia-celebrated-visaka-bochea-day.html

Popularity: 8% [?]