THE Buddhist Lent has already ended. Most of the Buddhist people in Myanmar have enjoyed the Thadingyut lighting festival during the three days starting from the eve of the full moon of Thadingyut, the full moon of Thadingyut and the day after full moon day.
It is traditional festivities of Myanmar Buddhist people. They annually enjoy the lighting festivals in multicoloured fireworks as well as releasing of hot-air balloons into the sky. Moreover, well-wishers serve the visitors with traditional light foods or snacks during the period. They serve the guests whether they are friends or not with meals.
Any other Buddhists spend their spare time at the religious edifices for taking Sabbaths or insight meditation or performing meritorious deeds. Some are travelling to significant and magnificent religious edifices and monuments as a study tour and the leisureliness. During the period, these venues are crowded with Buddhists.
Whatever it may be, they unexpectedly join the crowds and visit public places. Currently, such moves are very dangerous for all. COVID-19 does not commit discrimination against living beings. The pandemic is waiting for persons with weakness of immunity at any time and anywhere. Only when people take care of dangerous diseases, can they try hard to be free from the impacts.
As such, the Buddhist people need to take care of the dangers of diseases in society. It is because they have to enjoy more and more festivities in the open season, at least one month for Tasaungdine lighting festival attractive to the travellers as well as local people. All the festivities are always crowded with visitors for their leisureliness.
Hence, they have to wear the COVID-19 protective equipment before joining the crowds. Hence, not only the Buddhist devotees but other people need to pay special attention to their movements whether or not to join more and more public crowds or religious ceremonies. Only when they abide by the disciplines and restrictions for COVID-19 released by the Ministry of Health, will they cut the subsequences of the third wave occurrence successfully.
Everybody needs to clearly analyze their movements which may lever up the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and flourish of Buddhism. They all need to opt for the middle path in line with the preaching of the Lord Buddha to avoid edges of the path leading to the goal without harming anyone.
GLNM
