President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man has sent a message of congratulation to Buddhist dignitaries and followers on the occasion of the UN Day of Vesak 2019 to be held in Vietnam.
The VFF leader highlighted that the UN Day of Vesak is an international cultural and religious festival organised by the UN to honour the deep ethical, cultural and ideological values of the Buddha’s teachings. He said the UN Day of Vesak, with the participation of many Buddhist sects all over the world, offers an opportunity and a friendship bridge for all people to gain better understanding of Buddhism’s values.
In the context of the world facing big challenges posed by terrorism, violence, ethnic and religious conflict, environmental pollution, climate change and poverty, the practice of Buddhist teachings is one of the ways to help society address those problems and multiply good values of human kind for a world of peace and progress, Man said in the message.
“The VFF, as a grouping of political, socio-political and social organisations as well as outstanding individuals from all classes, walks of life, ethnic groups, religions and overseas Vietnamese on a voluntary basis, always respect and uphold the good spiritual and ethical values of religions and the right to freedom of religion and belief in line with the Constitution and the law,” he wrote.
The UN Day of Vesak 2019, to be held in Vietnam under the theme “Buddhist approach to global leadership and shared responsibilities for sustainable cities,” will be an opportunity for Buddhist followers to honour and spread the humane values of Buddhist teachings in society, contributing to realising the millennium goals of the UN, Man said.
He expressed his wish that the fine values of the Buddha’s teachings will be preserved, inherited and spread in various forms, demonstrating the spirit of the UN Day of Vesak.
The VFF leader wished the UN Day of Vesak 2019 a great success.
Up to 1,500 international delegates from 106 countries and territories and the United Nations (UN) will attend the UN Day of Vesak Celebrations 2019 slated for May 12-14 at Tam Chuc Buddhist Culture Centre in the northern province of Ha Nam.
The event is also expected to bring together 1,500 domestic delegates, including Party and State leaders, representatives of ministries, agencies and localities, and monks, nuns and Buddhist followers.
This will be the third time the UN’s commemoration of Vesak is held in Vietnam. Previously, it took place in Hanoi in 2008 and the northern province of Ninh Binh in 2014.
"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the year’s most sacred day to the millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha passed away.
The UN General Assembly internationally recognised the Day of Vesak in 1999 to acknowledge the contributions Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made to humanity.
The UN Day of Vesak was first held in 2001.-VNA
VNA
