By the benevolence of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, may all beings be well and
happy. Having briefly indicated the need for the observance of the principles of the  pañca-sîla
for the well being of society, including all life therein, let us pick one each day for further
elaboration.

Is important for the Buddhists to note that the precept pertaining to respect for all life -
pâ.nâtipâtâ-verama.nî - heads the list. That is where all our morality or basis of good living
begins. In Buddhism this includes all life, of man and bird and beast. It is agreed in principle
that life is dear to all : Sabbesa.m  jîvita.m  piya.m. says the Dhammapada verse no. 130
Statement after statement pours in supporting this position. Every being that has come into
existence loves to continue being so and never likes to have its life process terminated :
jîvitukâmo   and  amaritukâmo . Everybody's right to life is essentially the  Buddhist principle,
shared with the Jains of old, and they both enforced this as the very first one of their code of
good living.

Our needs by way of food, clothing and shelter as we live in this world do not justify the
destruction either by ourselves personally, or with the intermediary of others, of the lives of
any other sentient being. In the world of trade and commerce today, many do the killing for
others. Money and profit wise, it looks extremely attractive. Therefore many are driven to it
professionally, unmindful of any other considerations. Killing for the market, for food and
clothing, is a worldwide capitalist  venture of  the highest grade. Would the socialists raise a
finger against it, the victims being not humans? The exploitation is of the silent dumb
community who cannot lay their claims before the world.
 

Money rules the roost today. Ethics and moral considerations lie far outside the money
market and therefore play much less than even the second fiddle. Even political ideologies are
subordinated to this larger money attraction. Everybody tries to capture world markets in the
so-called less developed countries for their goods. And everybody tries to manufacture
something, wholesome or unwholesome, so that they can get the money for their survival.
 

This is where Buddhism steps in to stipulate as to what are possible forms of trade in a
country. They ban the manufacture and sale of weapons of destruction and firearms.
Forbidden sales include poison as well. This shows the overall concern for the safety and
security of life all round. This total respect for life should be the primary consideration where
one comes forward to speak of peace moves in the world. What good does it do for big men
to initiate peace moves on world platforms and subversively indulge in illicit sale of fire arms
wherever one can trap helpless poor countries, having cleverly manipulated warring situations
within them. This definitely is the order of the day and we know it very well, thanks to the
world media.

This becomes extremely easy where the pride of killing the enemy for national or religious
glory has been popularized as a noble theme, quite often in our misguided society. These
promptings for destruction of life, we witness in the world today, more than ever before, in all
three areas of 1. ethnic supremacy, 2. religious arrogance and 3. political domination. On
paper alone, we speak of fundamental human rights, at national and international levels, but
elsewhere endeavour to wipe out everything that is different to our ways of thinking and
acting. See in our midst  samples of these for yourself.
 

It is not a day too early in Sri Lanka to get sensitized to these menacing new trends showing
themselves up everywhere. Are we, the young and the old, the religious and the less religious,
serious about arresting this decay?  Do we think it is only the other man's business and leave
it alone for him to handle it ? Definitely we are erring in a very serious and disastrous way!

We address these words to everyone. Not only to the Buddhists. We are humans. Let us be
essentially human. We have it on record  "He prayeth best that loveth best  All things both
great and small".  Others  know equally well to chant melodiously the wish or prayer Sabbe
sattâ  bhavantu sukhitattâ . In Sri Lanka, we have enough inspiration on all sides to put this
concept of love seriously into practice.

As an expression of this, why not turn vegetarian for at least one day in the week? This is
Love, much more than in the Valentine way! This is primarily an act of self-discipline, of
testing our own strength within, as man or woman. There are enough things to eat, and lovely
good things at that. Explore the possibility. Love selflessly, and you will be loved in turn
unasked, a great deal more.

Let us turn the Third Millennium as it comes to one of  Save All Life in the world.

May all beings be well and happy. May there be peace on earth  and  goodwill among men.