(Reported by Ven. Satyajit)
Members of the International Buddhist College (IBC) gathered together for Theravada and Chinese Chanting, meditating and sharing the noble biography of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927 - 2016) on October 15, 2016 (Saturday) at the auditorium of IBC.
After the chanting and meditation, Venerable Anandajoti Bhikkhu, advisor of IBC and an independent Buddhist scholar, discussed about the Buddhist concept of Cakkavatti Rāja and tenfold virtuous duties of a virtuous ruler that is found in the Buddhist scriptures and examples of such rulers throughout Buddhist history. Venerable mentioned how Emperor Aśoka adopted these tenfold noble virtues to rule his kingdom of ancient India harmoniously without any violence and won the heart of human and nonhuman alike setting up a true example of a Cakkavatti Rāja for the entire humankind.
And the modern world has witnessed another such a true example of a Cakkavatti Rāja in the life of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej while His Majesty was reigning the Kingdom of Thailand for seventy years.
Phra Maha Narong Chaiyatha, IBC PhD candidate and a senior Thai monk, shared his experiences on how His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej shaped every aspects of Thai society and Thailand tremendously. Venerable discussed about the various Royal Development Projects undertaken by His Majesty to uplift the entire nation into a prosperous and happy nation in the world. Among the noteworthy projects, Royal Rain Project, Moisture Retention Dams, Royal Projects, Self Sufficiency Economy Project and Royal Development Study Centers etc are a few to mention.
Venerable said that Self Sufficiency Economy project emphasizes the Middle Path of the Buddha in daily living for people of all genders, ages and walks of life. It encourages people to have a mental state of self sufficiency and live in harmony with nature. The project is being applied at the individual, community and national and international levels. Self sufficiency project is a timely gift and an appropriate response to the heavily luxurious and materialistic consumer world and to the world of critically profit oriented economy based on unhealthy loan system and unfriendly to nature.
Venerable also elaborated His Majesty's extremely noble virtue of filial piety towards His mother which remains as a lasting legacy for the humanity to be followed.
At the end of the session, members dedicated all the merits in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the father of the Thai nation. Further IBC community decided to hold special Abhidhamma chanring and dedication of merits for a month during its evening services in honour of His Majesty.
Finally Venerable Satyajit Barua sincerely thanked everyone for their participation and organizing such a wonderful memorable occasion in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
