KUCHING, May 25: Kuching South City Commission (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng is urging the Buddhist community to band together and use Buddha’s way to face the Covid-19 pandemic in Sarawak.
Wee emphasised that Wesak Day, which is celebrated tomorrow (May 26), is a good time for people to reflect and put into practice the core values and teachings of Buddha especially on moderation to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I found that the Buddha teachings to be relevant and apt as the world including Sarawak is living through difficult times because of the pandemic.
“This is perhaps the best time for us to reflect on the spiritual side of our life and if not, the core principle of Madhyama Pratipada, or known as the ‘Middle Way’ — a spiritual path that lays emphasis on moderation, and endeavours always to steer a middle course in the face of conflicting extremes and obstacles,” he said in a statement today.
For the past many months, Wee stressed, the State government and MBKS has been looking at the middle way to ease the people’s predicaments and to curtail the spread of Covid-19 while trying to preserve and sustain everyone’s livelihoods in these trying and difficult times.
“It is therefore imperative, for all of us to band together and to stand together and observe all that is necessary to overcome this pandemic, the ‘Buddha’s Way’,” he added.
As tomorrow is a meaningful day for Buddhists who will celebrate the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, he thus urged the Buddhist community in Sarawak to embrace the three Jewels, namely the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, and to practise Buddha’s very first teaching of the four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Paths and then to attain the eventual Nirvana – the ultimate spiritual goal of every Buddhist.
“Together, we shall, no matter how, overcome the pandemic which has surged with moderate and effective measures and not resorting to conflicting one.
“We will duly follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and stay home or stay put whenever possible.
“May the brilliance of light resemble that of the Buddha’s immeasurable aura, granting us peace, tranquility, and hope.
“Happy Wesak Day to all who sincerely observe this day. Stay safe, stay alert, stay healthy and stay a distance.” — DayakDaily
