(Reported by Venerable Narong, edited by Danny Taylor)
On behalf of our Organisation, the International Buddhist College IBC; Professor Kapila and his team participated in celebrating the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit; who has been lovingly adopted as the Mother of the Thai Nation. The celebration took place at Wat yang Thong (Buddhist temple), Thung Moo sub district, Sadao district, Songkhla province.
There were 36 organizations from various sectors of society. This function was hosted by the local government leader of Thung Moo sub district and the abbot of Yang Thong temple. We proudly shared The Mother’s Day celebrations with local communities. Prof. Kapila, Mr. Khoo Ban, and Ms. Kong Lian Lian were representatives from IBC chosen to make offerings on stage at this auspicious ceremony.
The official opening commenced with the Mayor of Thung Moo sub district's speech formally acknowledging Mother’s Day and elaborating on Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s contributions, her various projects and activities which have enhanced the welfare of Thai society as a whole and with thanks and gratitude to all other participants.
The Finale of the evening was performed by all participants with the lighting of candles and the singing of the national anthem.
Performances from groups of students from three local schools, included dancing and singing a song alluding to the value of Mothers Milk. This performance was offered as a blessing to her Majesty the Queen in celebration of this special occasion. The original version was composed in the Thai language, a renowned song in Thai society. “เพลง ค่าน้ำนม” "the Value of Mothers Milk"
However it has been translated into English as follows-:
Mothers are tremendous benefactors for all of us. Mothers care from the moment we are born. Mothers keep singing lullabies for babies and hold them close. From when we are young until today, mothers always care for us. She grows tired and old with the depth of love for her baby. Our growth today stems from nothing more than mother’s milk. Wise thought will show that Mother’s milk cannot be compared with anything. Mother, I miss the Value of Your Milk that feeds me. It was mixed with blood in your heart and became milk for her baby, such value brings much appreciation. It is comparable to the sky and heavier than the earth. No matter you will ordain, or complete your study for her, nothing can compare to the one drop of her milk. Nothing can indemnify it.
Therefore, in Buddhist Scriptures: The Filial Piety Sutra (www.buddhanet.net) mentioned that Buddha speaks about the Deep Kindness of parents and the difficulty in repaying it. The Buddha told Ananda; there are ten types of kindness bestowed by the mother on her child:
The first is the kindness of providing protection and care while the child is in the womb. The second is the kindness of bearing suffering during birth. The third is the kindness of forgetting all pain once the child has been born. The fourth is the kindness of eating the bitter herself and saving the sweet for the child. The fifth is the kindness of moving the child to a dry place and lying in the wet herself. The sixth is the kindness of suckling the child at her breast, nourishing and bringing up the child. The seventh is the kindness of washing away the unclean. The eighth is the kindness of always thinking of the child wherever it may travel. The ninth is the kindness of deep care and devotion. The tenth is the kindness of ultimate pity and sympathy.