Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi Visits the Birthplace of
Buddha
Buddhistdoor International Sagar Mani Shiwakoti
2014-06-24
Aung
San Suu Kyi received a warm welcome at the Dharmakirti Vihara at
Naghal, Kathmandu when she visited on June 16, 2014. Students and
teachers of the local Prabhat Secondary School stood in a queue to
welcome the Nobel Peace laureate and world famous democratic leader
of Myanmar, was making a visit to her old home. She had spent nine
month satthe Vihara forty years ago in1974.
The enthusiastic crowd, who seemed so eager to be in her presence,
showered her with bouquets of flowers and silk shawls. Deputy Prime
Minister Prakash Man Singh escorted Suu Kyi to Dharmakirti Vihara,
also known as the Shreegha Vihara.
Suu Kyi spent about two hours at the Vihara with guruma Dhammawati
under whose guidance she had spent nine months taking lessons on
Buddhism forty years ago and in turn Aung San Suu Kyi had taught
her English language and run English classes for other students.
She spent her time learning about Buddhism and teaching English to
others, said the general secretary of Shree Gha Vihar Development
Committee Guhya Ratna Shakya. She was a good, compassionate
teacher. Guruma Dhammawati herself also, however, has spent 14
years in Myanmar for her studies.
Guruma Dhammawati, officials of the Shreegha Development Committee,
and social workers congratulated Suu Kyi, who said that she
remembered the bygone days at the Vihara vividly. After the formal
program, Suu Kyi spent some intimate moments with guruma
Dhammawati, who offered her blessings to Aung San Suu Kyi and
prayed for her eternal happiness.
I am very much influenced by the sacrifice, dedication and wisdom
of lord Buddha, Suu Kyi said. My struggle began when I was in
Nepal. I'll always remember Nepal and my beloved guruma and shall
come back when time permits. She also said that Nepal was a
pilgrimage site for all Buddhists and peace lovers of the
world.
Suu Kyi visited Lumbini on June 15. At Lumbini she said that if we
are able to discard our lust for weapons and follow the path of
Buddha, peace will prevail in the world and the foundations of
democracy will eventually be strong. She said that her happiness
knew no bounds as she at last could visit Lumbini after so many
visits to Nepal. She visited and worshipped at the Myanmar Temple
in Lumbini.
Acharya Karma Syangbo Lama , the vice chair of the Lumbin
Development Trust and Bal Krishna Panthi, the Chief District
Officer of Rupandehi District, gave Suu Kyi the latest information
on Lumbini and recent developments.
The advocate of democracy for Myanmar and the world, Suu Kyi, came
to Nepal at the invitation of BP Memorial Trust to mark centenary
birth celebrations for the late Prime Minister BP Koirala. She
delivered a speech on ‘Relevance of Social Democracy in the
Contemporary World’ on June 14. During her stay in Nepal, Suu Kyi
met the President, Prime Minister and the heads of different
political parties of Nepal.
Aung San Suu Kyi had visited Nepal in 1960 when her mother was the
then Burmese ambassador to Nepal and a few times after that in
1974, with her husband. She has written 'Let's Visit Nepal', a book
to promote Nepal in the international arena. The Nobel peace
laureate and leader of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy
returned to Myanmar on June 16, concluding her brief visit to the
country.