Overview of opening ceremony of the 16th UN Day of Vesak 2019Hanoi (VNA) - More than 1,650 international delegatesfrom 112 countries and territories across the world and over 20,000 Vietnamese Buddhistdignitaries, monks, nuns and followers attended the opening ceremonyof the 16th UN Day of Vesak 2019 on May 12 at Tam Chuc Pagoda in KimBang district of northern Ha Nam province.
Prominent among those at theevent were Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; former National AssemblyChairmen Nguyen Van An and Nguyen Sinh Hung; President of the VietnamFatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man; Myanmar President Win Myint;Indian Vice President and Chairman of the RajyaSabha (Upper House) Venkaiah Naidu; NepalesePrime Minister K P Sharma Oli; Chairman of the National Council(Upper House) of Bhutan Tashi Dorji; and United NationsUnder-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economicand Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida SalsiahAlisjahbana.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Most Venerable Thich TriQuang, First Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha(VBS) conveyed the message of Supreme Patriarch of the VBS Most Venerable ThichPho Tue on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s birthday.
In his message, VBS Supreme Patriarch Most Venerable ThichPho Tue welcomed the presence of all international and local delegates, religiousleaders, Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns to the UN Day of Vesak 2019,saying the event was a precious chance for all people to build up theirreligious faith and uphold the Lord Buddha’s legacy and spiritual values.
He recalled the over 2000-year history of VietnameseBuddhism, saying that Vietnamese Buddhism supported national liberationrevolutions in the past and has laid the spiritual foundation for all aspectsof politics, economics, culture and tradition, thus shaping up the nationalidentity and culture.
The VBS has preserved and upheld the essence of VietnameseBuddhism by making proactive and responsible contributions to the nationaldevelopment. Hosting the 16th UN Day of Vesak showed the VBS’s contributionswhile affirming its role and status in international integration, MostVenerable Thich Pho Tue wrote.
The UN Day of Vesak 2019 aims to contribute to realizing theUN’s Sustainable Development Goals, he wrote, expressing his hope thatdelegates will discuss and reach measures to successfully implement the UN’s SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs).
Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the VBS Executive Council and head of the Vesak 2019 organising committee, speaks at the event (Source: VNA)In his speech, MostVenerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the VBS Executive Council and head of theVesak 2019 organising committee, highlighted the Buddhist philosophy for buildingan equal and peaceful society, without classes, wars and hatred.
“Lord Buddha has paid the path where the combination ofcompassion and knowledge makes up an effective solution to conflicts amongpeople, nations, cultures, and religions,” he said, reiterated that theBuddhist philosophy continues today and sets the beacon for millions of peoplearound the world.
Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon stressed the increasing needfor upholding the core values of Buddhism in the current unsettled society, sayingthe Buddhist values help wake up tolerance, selfishness, forgiveness in people,inspire global peace and cooperation amid conflicts, terrorism, wars,inequality, environmental crises, and challenges imposed during the FourthIndustrial Revolution worldwide.
“In order to solve current conflicts, a global leadership isrequired to ensure equality, minimize conflicts among beliefs, economies,cultures, social classes, territories, and environment,” he said, adding thatBuddhism has the mission to involve in the global leadership, share measuresand act to address challenges for global benefits.
He also called on the global Buddhism to unite and embark onglobal issues, thus inspiring peace and ease pains for all people worldwide.
Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, President of the International Council for Day of Vesak (Source: VNA)Meanwhile, Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, President of theInternational Council for Day of Vesak, expressed his impression on Vietnam’sgreat efforts and dedication towards successful celebrations of the UN Day ofVesak.
“Most of the time, the UN Day of Vesak took place inThailand. Vietnam has twice hosted successful celebrations of the UN Day ofVesak in 2008 and in 2014. That’s why we have entrusted the Vietnam BuddhistSangha and the Government of Vietnam with hosting the 16th UN Day of Vesakcelebration 2019,” he said.
He expressed his belief that Vietnam would successfully hostthe UN Day of Vesak this year thanks to thorough preparations, particularly thebeautiful landscape, which he described as the best place to host such anevent.
Highlighting the theme “Buddhism's Approach to GlobalLeadership and Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies” of the UN Dayof Vesak 2019, Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit said the festival was not only achance for Buddhist followers worldwide to celebrate, but also aims to serve allpeople by advocating sustainable development, addressing global challenges suchas environment pollution, climate change, education, among others.
“We gather here today to talk about global issues and how toaddress them, whether they are conflicts among people, culture, religions, orterritories. In the end, we want to send a message of preserving peace,traditional values and the environment for a better future,” he said.
According to Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, the theme ofthe UN Day of Vesak 2019 reflects the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.The results of forums, seminars and discussion in the framework of the eventwill be included in the Ha Nam Declaration.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech at the opening ceremony (Source: VNA)In his speech, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucwelcomed the presence of international delegates, dignitaries, monks and nuns tothe event, saying the UN Day of Vesak means beyond a religious and cultural festivalto send the long-lasting message of the Lord Buddha on peace, harmony,tolerance and kindness to all people.
He believed the Buddhist philosophy laid a solid foundationfor establishing peace, friendship, cooperation among nations, peoples,religions, while serving as materials to build civilization, ensure peace,prosperity and sustainable development.
“We are all here to honor the Lord Buddha and uphold Buddhistphilosophy to reduce conflicts, sufferings and sorrows, establish peace, friendship,cooperation, and development among nations for the peace and prosperity of allpeople around the world.”
PM Phuc spoke highly of the theme of the UN Day of Vesak2019, saying it showed the responsibility of Buddhism for the presence andfuture of the society.
“The agenda of the celebration reflects the goals of the UN’sAgenda 2030 for sustainability, prosperity, ensuring that no one will be leftbehind, which the Vietnamese Government has committed to realise,” PM Phucsaid.
He underlined Vietnam’s religious diversity, sayingVietnamese Buddhism has a long history, with Buddhist dignitaries, monks andnuns having been standing by the nation through ups and downs. The VietnamBuddhist Sangha has continuously grown and proven its role in the nationaldevelopment.
“Hosting the 16th UN Day of Vesak 2019 once again confirmedVietnam’s focus and respect for cultural, ethics values of religions, includingBuddhism, while showing its policy on international cooperation andintegration,” he reiterated.
This is the third time Vietnam has hosted the UN Vesak celebrations, helping toimprove Vietnamese Buddhism’s role in international integration and affirmVietnam's position and responsibility for UN activities in all fields.-VNA
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