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.
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