Buddhism and the mission of accompanying peace building
(Baonghean) - Over four thousand years of building and defending the country, our people have had to endure painful losses from wars. During that process, Vietnamese Buddhism has witnessed those pains and has always accompanied the nation, making efforts to prevent wars and joining hands to build a peaceful and happy life.
Towards a happy life
War is something that all those who love a peaceful life never want. Because it has caused suffering, death and misfortune to many innocent people. Human history has recorded many fierce wars that many countries have experienced. Preventing war so that humanity can live in peace is not only the job of thinkers and international leaders but also of all social organizations, religions and peace lovers.
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| Many Buddhist activities aim at building a peaceful world. |
To solve the problem at its root, Buddhism guides people to strive to study and practice to raise awareness and practice compassion - joy - equanimity to attain enlightenment, realize themselves, and know how to act for society.
The world Buddhism strives for is a world of solidarity, friendship, and attachment between people, a world of love and respect for each other, helping each other to progress, and moving towards happiness.
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| Buddhists in Nghe An practice walking meditation. Photo: Duc Anh |
Building a peaceful world for development
That is the reason why the United Nations recognizes the Buddha's Three-Day Day (birthday, enlightenment, and nirvana on the full moon day of May, equivalent to the full moon day of April in the lunar calendar - VESAK) as the World Cultural and Religious Festival. It is to honor the Buddha, affirming that the Buddha's teachings are consistent with the United Nations' guidelines, consistent with the development trend of progressive humanity, joining hands to build a world of peace - friendship - mutual development.
However, humanity has never been at peace, the world is still facing territorial, ethnic and religious conflicts every day and every hour. Many nations continue to suffer the pain and loss caused by war. Children die because of war and its consequences such as hunger, destroyed hospitals and infrastructure, lack of medical care and sanitation, lack of access to aid. In addition, they also face the risk of being killed or disabled, recruited by armed groups, kidnapped or becoming victims of sexual violence.
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| Venerable Thich Dinh Tue presided over the ceremony to welcome the Buddha statue at Duc Hau Pagoda - Vinh City. Photo: Duc Anh |
One of the solutions is to promote the peaceful and friendly ideology of Buddhism, educate and guide people to act for peace and happiness, taking that as the common goal to strive for a civilized society. Only by building a peaceful and happy world can we hope that people will stop being angry and greedy. The source of war will no longer be there to act.
Continuing the tradition of engaging in the world, accompanying the nation of Vietnamese Buddhism in the history of building and defending the Fatherland, demonstrating responsibility to the international community, after hosting the United Nations Vesak Festival (VESAK) twice in 2008 and 2014, this year, our Party and State have approved the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to continue hosting the VESAK Festival 2019 with the theme: "Buddhism's approach to global leadership and shared responsibility for sustainable societies". Many forums revolving around this theme will be held such as: "Responsible leadership for sustainable societies"; "Buddhism's approach to harmonious families"; "Buddhism's approach to education"; "Buddhism and the 4.0 Industrial Revolution".
In particular, the content of Buddhism's approach to responsible consumption will receive sharing from religious dignitaries, researchers, and scholars at home and abroad about the importance and influence of responsible Buddhist activities towards development among communities...
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| Vietnam hosts the 2019 Vesak Festival for the third time. Photo: ngaynay.vn |
About 1,650 international delegates from 112 countries and territories have registered to attend the 2019 VESAK Festival in Vietnam. Among them are many Buddhist monks, patriarchs, religious leaders, and researchers. Ms. Armida Salsiah - Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and leaders of many countries such as the President of Myanmar, Prime Minister of Nepal... are expected to attend this event. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is expected to attend and speak at the opening ceremony, Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu will be the main speaker of the Festival. About 20,000 people, including representatives of Vietnamese Buddhist Associations abroad, outstanding overseas Vietnamese Buddhists, Buddhist compatriots, and people nationwide, will attend this special religious event.
VESAK 2019 is an important foreign affairs event, contributing to enhancing the role and position of Vietnamese Buddhism in the process of international integration; affirming the historical tradition and humanistic values of Buddhism. The ceremony is an opportunity for Buddhist leaders to meet, exchange experiences, and spread the Buddha's message to humanity about peace, harmony, progress and development.
