Thank Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea
My wife and I have a great pleasure to be here with our Buddhist parishioners in the celebration of the 67th birthday anniversary for Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea Buo Kri, Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya, and the inauguration of various achievements in the pagoda of Svay Po Pe.
My wife and I, as well as all of my colleagues, would like to express our thanks for Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri for accepting proposal to celebrate this meaningful event here in the pagoda of Svay Po Pe. I would like to thank the organizing commission of the event that has been going on a few days already.
I have attentively listened to the report of HE Kep Chuktema, Mayor of Phnom Penh, and read the pamphlet here about background and actions of Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri.
Tasks Carried Out by Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea
It is our knowledge that Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri has been in his monkhood in his whole life without disruption. He started his monkhood since the period of Samgkum Reast Niyum. When the war broke out in the country, and later fell under Pol Pot’s regime, he fled to France.
There in France, in absence of Khmer Buddhist pagoda, Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri has led active participation for the construction of a pagoda in France, which, if I am not mistaken, is becoming known to the first Buddhist pagoda in Europe. It has proven to us that Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri keeps a relentless faith in Buddha and Buddhism.
Aside from effort that results in building a pagoda in France, Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri has been the one to ordain our respected HM the King, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni. While being ordained, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni was not yet King and now Samdech has been our Majesty for six years already.
Some Memories on Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea
I also have a memory about few things of Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri before he returned to Cambodia in 1991. In the course of negotiation for political settlement to the Cambodian problem by all Cambodian political factions, I could recall that prior to starting the first meeting at Pataya (Thailand on the Cambodian issue), within the framework of the Supreme National Council (SNC), Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri has chanted blessings for all members of the SNC to have a successful discussion. I was so moved with a good memory that wherever we are there will always be Buddha and Sangha.
I still have two more memories with me about Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri. What has carved in deeply as my first memory was in 1992, when Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri offered all contributions from the Dhamma talk to Prime Minister Hun Sen to make good use, after the Dhamma talk that he gave at the Vihear Suor temple in the Royal Palce. I gave them to the Unalom pagoda.
Also in vivid memory was when Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri assured with his signature on a letter that I asked Samdech Kong Sam Ol to intercede on my behalf to seek support for the election (of then His Royal Highness Norodom Sihamoni as) HM the King in the meeting of the Throne Council, which is composed of nine people, on October 14, 2004. I was then on my way back from the Asia-Europe Summit in Hanoi. We were under time pressure because the Constitution stipulates that a new King must be present within a week after the throne is left vacant.
Events have proved that with Samdech Chea Sim, Samdech Krom Preah Norodom Ranaridh, Samdech Preah Maha Sangha Raja Tep Vong, Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri, and I, have had the privilege to elect King twice, in 1993 and 2004, in our country. It is indeed a history and a memory that I have with Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri.
Buddhism and Buddhist Monks Come to Life
Just now, my wife and I have cut the ribbon to inaugurate 161 Buddhist pagoda of Dhammayuttika Nikaya in the whole country. As of present, in Cambodia, we have for the two assemblages of Buddhism, Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya, some 4,468 pagodas. There are 57,361 Maha Nikaya Buddhist monks and 2,500 Dhammayuttika Nikaya monks.
The Svay Po Pe pagoda was established in 1867, or 144 years already. This pagoda has in fact been fortunate that in the time of war between 1970 and 1975, it suffers no damages. Under the Pol Pot’s regime, all Buddhist pagodas, Maha Nikaya or Dhammayuttika Nikaya, were all subjected to destruction. It was lucky that Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri had fled the country or he would have been disrobed or even lose his life too. Pol Pot’s regime, according to booklets written about class and class struggle in Cambodia in the 1960s, and to be more so when they were in power, categorized monks as parasites in society.
No Distinction from Mahanikaya to Dhammayuttika Nikaya
After January 7, 1979, every religion, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, has come to life again in Cambodia. People practice religion according to their beliefs. Buddhism for instance has made tremendous progress. In light of this, the Governments and National Fronts then and now have made no distinction between Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya at all. My wife and I, as well as our officials, are here in witnessing that there is no distinction between the two Nikayas/sects.
In request for assistance through a letter by Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri to me, I have noticed that there are needs for Buddhist University of Preah Sihamoni Raja, which bears HM the King’s name and where there are so many students, a Buddhist library of Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri, and a students’ accommodation.
I have the duty to thank and express my sincere appreciation to the whole Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buddhism (in Cambodia) for giving me, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, your relentless support for the premier candidacy for terms to come.
Contributions for Dhammayuttika Nikaya Needs and Development
My wife and I have discussed and decided to help finish the construction of the Buddhist University (of Dhammayuttika Nikaya) which has been projected to cost some 488,917 USD, and which has been about 15% in construction. As some 72,000 USD has been spent for the 15% construction, my wife and I would cover the rest 416,917 USD. In this amount, some 98,115 USD and 3.2 million Riel have been contributed by various officials here. So I will add the remaining balance of 318,402 USD.
Along with this, I would like, through Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri, to make a contribution of two million Riel for each of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buddhist pagoda. I would like to take this opportune moment to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to their Majesties Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, Samdech Preah Reachea Akka Mohesei Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, and HM the King for granting always their wealth, messages as well as permission for my wife and I, and all of our colleagues here to organize this ceremony for Samdech Preah Abhiserei Sokunthea and Maha Sangha Raja of Dhammayuttika Nikaya Buo Kri./.
