A sapling from Sri Lanka's Maha Bodhi Tree, which is sacred to Buddhists, was planted in Taiwan yesterday in the hope that it will bringing blessings to the nation.
Vice President Annette Lu (
During the planting ceremony, Lu made a supplication to the Buddhists, expressing the wish that Taiwan can meet the challenges that natural disasters such as avian flu or other kinds of diseases might bring.
Lu also praised Ling Jiou Mountain Monastery for its international rescue missions whenever disaster strikes.
"This is a historical moment not only for Ling Jiou Mountain Monastery but for all of Taiwan," said venerable master Sobhita Thero, who is also a parliamentarian from Sri Lanka.
"With the planting of this sacred Bo tree sapling, Buddhism will become firmly rooted on this island, bringing with it its shower of blessings for all its people," Thero said.
The mother fig tree is said to have been planted in 288BC and grows at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. Legend has it that it grew from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment some 2,500 years ago.
In related news, Lu also attended the "2005 National Maha Sanghika Dana" held in Taoyuan County for the eighth year in a row.
"We are now experiencing an age without favorable weather as a result of global warming. It is also expected that epidemics of diseases such as avian flu might pose a serious threat to Taiwan later this year or early next year," Lu told the faithful.
Lu, flying by helicopter to inspect northern Taiwan on Saturday, said that a large part of mountainous areas has been devastated. She called on the religious, who often build monasteries in mountainous areas, to pay attention to soil and water conservation.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS