By IANS, New Delhi : President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Tuesday extended his greetings to the nation on the eve of the Buddha Purnima festival, saying it should be an occasion to turn to Buddha’s message of non-violence.
“Lord Buddha’s teachings of non-violence, love and comparison are of eternal significance in the present time,” Kalam said in his message. Buddha Purnima is the full moon day commemorating Lord Buddha’s enlightenment.
“Let us turn to the Tathagata’s (Buddha) message of ahimsa (non-violence) and karuna (kindness) and follow the noble eight-fold path of restoring peace, harmony and unity amongst the people,” the president urged.
According to Lord Buddha’s teachings, the eight-fold path consists of balanced understanding, balanced thoughts, balanced speech, balanced action, balanced livelihood, balanced effort, balanced mindfulness, balanced concentration to attain nirvana, the ineffable ultimate in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion.