Princess marks visakha bucha with dharma wheel awards

His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhacharya, president of the executive committee for the Supreme Patriarch, presided over a Buddhist ceremony at Bangkok's Wat Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara. Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch acted as lay person chairman.

Somdet Phra Buddhacharya said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had acknowledged that he should use dhamma principles to solve Thailand's problems, as the country was the centre of global Buddhism - a role model for countries that have citizens with different religions.

Teera said he would take the opportunity of Visakha Bucha Day to invite Thai juveniles to stop committing vices and to practise dhamma principles. He also urged  Thais to do good things, not to be negligent and tohelp make harmony by applying Buddhist principles. This would lead Thais to live in peace as there has been a schism within the nation and the Thai people have been in distress for a long time.

 Religious Affairs Department directorgeneral Sod Daengied said that in addition to setting up activities for Buddhists such as offering food to monks, the department also organised a Buddhismchanting activity for people yesterday at Wat Srakesa Rajavaramahavihara.