2021-12-15
(WAki International Media Center 14th December) The Speech of Mr. Teo Choo Guan, President of Waki Relic Musuem on Mahasamaya Sutta Online Chanting Course Completion Ceremony on 26th November 2021.
My heartfelt thanks to Venerable Chao Khun Laow Panyasiri for taking time to teach the students the way to recite the Mahasayama sutta patiently and compassionately via Zoom. In addition, I would like to congratulate all the students, who have learned to recite the Sutta correctly and have completed the course successfully. Despite the fact that the students come from different countries, with different accents, understand different languages, these issues did not hinder our learning. These issues motivated us to learn and recite the Mahasayama Sutta better. Indeed, we were happy to gather and to learn chanting and we felt so at ease every Friday through via Zoom.
In year 2018, I met Chao Khun Laow at the World Peace Awards, Stockholm City Hall, Sweden. The chanting voice of Venerable Chao Khun Laow sank deeply into my heart andI felt so full of joy- the joy of Dharma. So, I visited Venerable Chao Khun Laow in England later in the same year. Meanwhile, Venerable Chao Khun Laow and the British Chanters group visited Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to recite the Mahasayama Sutta for the buddhist devottees in year 2019. This year, I am very pleased and really appreciate that Venerable Chao Khun Laow is able to teach the recitation of the Mahasayama Sutta to Buddhist practitioners and my family members, who are interested to learn via zoom.
The Buddha preached the dharma for 45 years, the Dharma heard by the Arahants had integrated into three baskets of Dhamma, which are Vinaya, Sutra and Ahbiddhamma. The Mahasayama Sutta (The Great Assembly) had recorded in Sutra section ( Digha Nikaya 20) in Theravada Buddhism. Besides, Mahasayama Sutta had also recorded in the Great Tipitaka Buddhist scripture in Mahayana Buddhism. The Mahasayama Sutta had recorded that the Blessed One was dwelling at Kapilavathu, most of the devas from ten world- systems have gathered in order to see the Blessed one and the Bhikkhu Sangha. The Buddha taught the names and the different characteristics of devas. Then, the Mara came as well. The Buddha instructed the Bhikkhu Sangha to remain alert to defeat the army of Mara.
The Arahants, Sanghas and Buddhist devotees have supported to keep and preserve the Buddhist scriptures through many different methods, such as carving them in stone, keeping the Buddhist scriptures books in the Pagodas or temples, drawing the description of Buddha’s teaching in the wall. In addition, reciting, chanting and reading Buddhist scriptures have also played an important role in order to pass on the teaching of the Buddha from generation to generation. Today we have this precious opportunity to gather in zoom to learn and recite the Mahasayama Sutta which makes us understand the different devas from ten world systems and the magnificent scenes during Buddha time. Besides, reciting the Sutta is one of the good ways to practise dhamma, which lead us to calmness and reduce our worry.
Finally, I would like to thank Venerable Chao Khun Laow and all the senior monks from World Buddhist Dhammaduta Association who give us the dhamma talk and witness the completion ceremony. Meanwhile, I would like to thank all the students and Buddhist friends for taking the time to join us in the Mahasayama Sutta Chanting Course Completion Ceremony. Thank you very much.
