Good morning • First, may I extend my loving-kindness to • All highly-respected Venerable monks • All Buddhist brothers and sisters around the world • All strata of world people, • and particularly to the people of the Union of Myanmar with a wish that you all be free from the Three Catastrophes of ‘ Diseases, Weapons and Famine.’ According to the Buddha, “Greed, Anger and Ignorance” are the root-causes of the said three catastrophes. So, I wish all people of the Myanmar manage to control these three root-causes in order that they would lead happy lives daily. Today is the 2610th Birthday Anniversary of the Buddha, also known as the Buddha’s Day. Today, which is the Threefold Sacred day, is the most significant and auspicious day for the Buddhist World since Prince Siddhattha Gotama was born, attained Supreme Enlightenment and passed into final demise on this very fullmoon day of Kason, known as "Vesaka Punnima" , better known as “Vesakha” in the Buddhist world. I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity of expressing my special thanks to the Buddhist Associations around the world for organizing this great occasion in honour of the Buddha. As a matter of fact, Buddha and his Dhamma were born in India. It is just a matter of pride and honour for Asians since not only the Buddha, but also the Founders of other religions were born in Asia. I think it is not hyperbolic if I say Asia is the Noble Continent. It has been over 2564 years since the Buddha perished. However, the Dhamma torch He lit, which originated in India, has spread to all parts of the globe, and is still flourishing. I would, here, like to stress that it is the duty of all Buddhists for the Dhamma light the Buddha lit not to fade away, not to extinguish but to be shining brighter than before instead. Here, I would like to quote a piece of the Buddha’s teachings which said: Due to greed, hatred, anger and delusion in the hearts of humans, • the whole world is trembling and shaking • the whole world is smoky • the whole world is internally burning • the whole world is totally ablaze with flames • the whole world is needy So, I would like to strongly urge that with systematic and sustainable practice of the Buddha’s teachings, • Let’s change the unstable world to a stable one • Let’s purify the world by removing the smokes of defilements • Let’s put out the internal and external burnings of the whole world • Let’s fulfill the needs of the people With this earnest appeal, I conclude my Buddha’s Day message. May the sublime Dhamma prevail in its pristine purity in every corner of the world. Thank you. Sitagu Sayadaw Dr Nañissara Vice-Sangha Raja of Shwekyin Nikaya Buddhist Order Abhidhajamaharatthaguru, Abhidhajaaggamahasaddhammajotika Ph.D., D.Litt., Founder of Sitagu International Buddhist Missionary Association, Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies, Patron of Sitagu Ayudana and Sekkhu Dhana Hospitals, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Theravada Dhamma Society of America Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar