National
President to participate in Mumbai Pagoda’s ‘The Gratitude Day’
Mumbai, Jan 9 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind will take part in the Global Vipassana Foundation’s ‘The Gratitude Day’ at the Global Vipassana Pagoda, which comprises the world’s largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars at Borivali here on January 14.
The Pagoda was constructed by legendary Vipassana proponent and teacher, (the now late) Guru S.N. Goenka, and inaugurated in February 2009 by then President Pratibha Patil.
‘The Gratitude Day’ marks the 46th death anniversary of Goenka’s teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, the first Accountant-General of Burma and a leading authority on Vipassana meditation, in whose memory the Pagoda was built on the banks of Arabian Sea, near the picturesque fishing village of Gorai.
It is also the second death anniversary of Goenka’s wife, Mata Elaichi Devi Goenka, who played a paramount role along with her husband in establishing the Vipassana meditation technique in India and teaching it.
On this occasion, Kovind will lay the foundation stone for the GVF’s second Vipassana Meditation Centre, Dhammalaya 2, near the Pagoda.
The first Dhammalaya is functioning in Kolhapur, Maharashtra since October 1995, according to the present GVF Chairman Nayan Shah.
Besides the President, Maharashtra Governor C. V. Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries will also be present.
Prior to the foundation stone laying ceremony, an Anapana Meditation, or the observation of the natural breath coming in and going out will be held for the gathering.
The GVF Pagoda construction started in 1997 and finally completed in 2009, comprising of the main dome and three sub-domes.
At the centre is the world’s largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars, 29 metres tall, while the total height of the building is 96.12 metres, or twice the height of previously largest hollow stone monument in the world, the Gol Gumbaz Dome in Bijapur.
This dome in the Pagoda enshrines bone relics of Lord Gautama Buddha, sourced from Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, and donated to the GVF by the Mahabodhi Society of India and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
The other two domes, along with an auxiliary dome adjoining the second dome, sit atop the first main dome.
The main dome’s external diameter is 97.46 metres and the internal diameter is 85.15 metres, and the interior serves as a massive meditation hall spread over 6,000 sq. metres, with a capacity of over 8000 people who can simultaneously meditate.
Guru Goenka – who passed away in 2013 at the age of 89 – had conducted an inaugural daylong meditation course at the Pagoda on December 21, 2008, before its formal inauguration two months later.
The Vipassana meditation, as taught by Goenka, is now taught and practiced in over 160 centres in 60 countries worldwide.
The aim of the Pagoda complex is to express gratitude to Lord Buddha for dispensing a universal teaching for the eradication of sufferings, reveal the truth about his life and his teachings, and offer free Vipassana meditation courses to the people.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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