Programme : WBU BUDDHIST SUNDAY FORUM 
Topic : A Sacred Tooth and its magic
Date & Time : October 3th, 2553 (2010), 12:00 – 13.30 P.M.
Speaker : Prof. J.B. Disanayaka Ambasador of Srilanka
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About the Topic and speaker : A SACRED TOOTH AND ITS MAGIC
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth, Dalada Maligava, in Kandy, Sri Lanka is one of most outstanding shrines of the Buddhist world. Its uniqueness comes from many sources; it is the only Buddhist temple that is located in a palace, Maligava, the residence of the king. It is the only Sri Lankan Buddhist temple that is under high security.In it is enshrined one of the most precious relics of the Buddha, his tooth relic, which is charged with magic and political power.
Its magic comes from its power to cause rain, and its political power gives its possessor the right to rule the country. This talk will tell the story of this Sacred Relic and the rites and rituals associated with it and the monks and officials who perform them.It brings into sharper focus many aspects that pass almost unnoticed at this Temple.
This is one of the main centres of pilgrimage of the Thai Buddhists. They visit this Temple in July, which marks the end of the summer, to witness the grand procession that is held in Kandy to cause rain so that Buddhist monks can begin their Rain-Retreat. The hundreds of elephants that march in the procession symbolize rain-clouds.
The speaker is at present the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. He is also Professor Emeritus of the University of Colombo where he taught for 45 years. He writes on linguistics, history and culture. His book titled ‘Lanka: the Land of Kings’ was specially written when he was asked to come to the Kingdom of Thailand as ambassador.
Location :
Meeting Room, the World Buddhist University, 3rd floor, WFB Headquarters Bldg., in Benjasiri Park, Sukhumvit 24, Bangkok, Time : 12.00-13.30 pm. All are welcome to join the programme free of charge. For more information, please call 02-258-0369 to -0373, fax 02-258-0372, or see http://www.worldbuddhistuniversity.com
The WBU shares the same building with the WFB (World Fellowship of Buddhists), and can be found by our maps below. It is on the third floor. The WBU is open most office hours, and the building can be entered from the rear of the building from the Soi. The front gate that faces the park is generally locked, but there is access to walk through to the rear.
click maps for larger view
