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Those with a sound knowledge of Dhamma know the path to Nirvana
January 28 was Duruthu Poya
Let us discuss whether a person who develops the path to Nirvana can do it all at once or gradually. Those who have a sound knowledge of Dhamma know the path to Nirvana. We need to slow down when walking on this path. Moving faster may cause more mistakes. If that happens, the distance we will have to go will be longer.
Go slow and be mindful. We call it mindfulness. About what? Have I been mindful? Have I conducted mindfulness? Have I lost my mind by trying to conduct mindfulness? Am I aware that I have lost mindfulness? Am I aware of having mindfulness and not having mindfulness? What is the mindfulness that exists and that do not exist? The mindfulness that exists is the mindfulness that you conduct. If you perform an act, do it mindfully. Be aware that you do it. If you are performing an act without being aware, just be aware that you are doing it without being aware.
You need to analyze it both ways. Apart from these two methods, is there any other way that you can conduct your mindfulness? They are the only ways. You can conduct your mindfulness either with awareness or without awareness. Apart from these two methods, nothing will work. But we all have heard only about the first method. That is to conduct mindfulness by force. I know a way to conduct mindfulness effortlessly.
All those who are enlightened knows it. All those who are enlightened are in that effortless mindfulness. That is why they do not feel exhausted.
If your vehicle is out of fuel, the tank needs to be filled up. Similarly, I will not ask you to walk continuously on this path. I ask you to stop for a while and take a rest. This resting time is the fuel to your next step in the journey. While resting we need to adjust our drawbacks. When we stop to have tea during a journey, what will the ladies do if their hair is disheveled? They will comb it again. We need to correct the drawbacks in our journey.
If I am asked what the easiest thing in the world is, my answer would be attaining Nibbana. But you have been taught that it’s the most difficult thing to achieve. You were told in such a way because the correct path is unknown. If the correct path is known, it would be the easier to attain Nibbana. But you need to understand very carefully.
There is a Sutra called Musika which many may not have heard of. Now, I am going to tell how to do, without ‘doing’. If we are to do something, there will always be a result. Even for not doing something, there will be a result. But when you do without ‘doing’, there would not be a result at all. So, then that’s the correct path.
– Ven. Sri Samanthabadra Thera
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
