At the Government House at 14:00 hrs. on May 16, 2012, Phra Dharmakosajarn, the Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), Mr. Yongyut Wichaidit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ministry as the President of the Committee for directing the organizing of the event; and Mr. Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn, Minister of the Prime Minister Office joined for making a press conference on organizing of the Celebration Buddhajayanti, 2,600 years of the Buddha’s Enlightenment. This activity will be held all over the country during May 29-June 4, 2012. The organizing of the event in this year of 2012 consists of many activities in the whole country as it is counted as the great year of the 85th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the King and the 80th Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen; and the Royal Crown Prince’s 60th Birthday Anniversary, too. 

Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn said that the organizing of the 2,600 years of Buddhajayanti is to recall to the Buddha that will inspires us to realize the principle of 2 causes: 1. Not in solitude for doing good deeds; and 2. Never give up in making effort; hence one should take this opportunity to intend to do the great good deeds so as to follow the footsteps of the Buddha and not being impatient for that. Mr. Yongyut said that he has given the guideline for organizing the activity of “One Province, One Offering to Buddha; One District, One Offering to Buddha; One Local Administrative Organization, One Offering to Buddha” in order to offer to the Buddha this time, too. In view of this, he guided the provinces to join the Provincial Administrative Organization in holding the activities together with temples, educational places and private sectors in the areas; i.e. the project of 199 men joining to ordain altogether. In addition, the Interior Ministry has prepared to arrange the procession of unique vehicles in promoting Buddhism in 4 Regions; and assigned Chiengmai as the Center of Northern Region, Nakornsrithammaraj as the Center of Southern Region, Pathumthani as the Center of the Central Region, and Ubonrachathani as the Center of the Northeast.

The Rector of MCU Joined the World Buddhist Sangha Congregation for World Peace to Celebrate Buddhajayanti in Sri Lanka

On the past May 8, 2012, Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn, the Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), the Committee of the Great Sangha Council together with the Administration team traveled to join the praying ceremony as the celebration of Buddhajayanti, ‘World Buddhist Sangha Congregation for World Peace’ organized at the National Theatre ‘The Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre”, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Sangha and the government of Sri Lanka organized the event for the celebration of 2,600 years of the Buddha’s Enlightenment by having the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch, Sangha Leaders, Buddhist Leaders and Buddhists from many countries of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Sections of Buddhism more than 1,000 monks/laymen. In this activity, Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn was invited to give speech amidst a huge Buddhists drawing very much interest from the audiences.

On the same day, the team of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) paid a visit to the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and exchanged the ideas of Buddhism between Thailand and Sri Lanka which have got good relationship for more than 259 years. In order that, the President of Sri Lanka has confirmed to travel for joining the event of the World Vesak for the Celebration of 2,600 years Buddhajayanti that Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU) is the Host during May 31-June 2, 2012 on behalf of Thai Sangha and Government. After that, Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Dharmakosajarn and the team including the leading Sri Lankan monks paid a visit to the House of the Honorable Thai Ambassador of Colombo, having the Ambassador Mr. Poldej Worachat offered the reception. He mentioned about the organizing of the big coming event next year, the 260th year Anniversary of Siam Royal Family which will be the great opportunity to strengthen relationship between the two countries in every field, especially Buddhism.

Source: www.undv.org