(WAki International Media Center 17th March) The speech of Dr. Teo Choo Guan, President of Waki Relic Museum on 16th March 2022.
Good afternoon to Venerable Sayadaw U Sandhobasa and sangha members of Parami temple, Sangha members and all devotees. Today is indeed an auspicious day for Parami Temple, Myanmar and Waki Relic Musuem, Malaysia for the ascension ceremony of the Black Wood Buddha statue, pagodas and the late Venerable Sayadaw U Kittivara Statute.
The pagodas are designed and made by Waki Relic Museum under the consultation and wish of the late Sayadaw U Kittivara. I feel joyful to have the chance to build and donate the statute of the late Sayadaw U Kittivara, who contributed to Buddha sasana and preserved and enshrined the Buddha Relics. The compassion and the loving kindness of the late Sayadaw is always in our heart. The statute of the late Sayadaw is for us to pay tribute and serves as a memorial of his greatest contribution to the Buddhism in this modern era.
Although the late Sayadaw is not with us now, we will follow his footstep and work together to carry on with the mission of the late Sayaaw persistently. In the coming year, we will make one thousand of 75cm height Acrylic Relic Pagoda for enshrined in the temples around the world, and we will build 84,000 of height 38cm Crystal and 3D Relic Pagoda for enshrined in the temples and for the devotees to enshrine at their home to flourish and propogate Buddha Sasana for another two thousand five hundred years.
Since Buddha attained nibbana two thousand five hundred years ago, there have been high respected monks and devotees preserving and perpetuating the Buddha relics from one generation to another generation. Despite of the damages caused by the changes of time or natural disasters to the relics, without the contribution of the monks and Buddhist devotees over the years, we will not be able to have this blessing to pay homage and make offering to the Relics today. As it is said “Seeing the relics as seeing the Buddha”, the relics are the symbolic essence of Buddhism, it also increases our faith in the Dharma and practice the teachings of the Buddha. Therefore, we appreciate and cherish this opportunity to be able to enshrine the relics and practise the dhamma.
Lastly, I would like to thank the late Venerable Sayadaw U Kittivara for his faith in us, his guidance and teachings to us. Thanks to the sangha members for helping and guiding us in unity to follow the footsteps of the late Sayadaw to fulfill his wish to prolong Buddha sasana for another 2500 years of and prorogate Buddhism all around the world. Thank you.
