Vesak 2019: Evidence of a peaceful and friendly Vietnam

Representative of the United Nations Vesak Organization read the Ha Nam-Vesak 2019 Declaration.

Venerable Brahmapundit shared that the hospitality of the Government, Buddhist Sangha and people of Vietnam helped delegates attending the Great Ceremony have wonderful memories and experiences.

The ceremony was honored with the presence of political leaders of countries such as Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of Myanmar, Prime Minister of Nepal, Vice President-President of the Senate of India, President of the Senate of Bhutan, leaders of the Sangha Churches, and Buddhist sects from all continents, affirming that the teachings of dependent origination, harmony and balance on the middle path of Buddhism are increasingly asserting their value.

Over the past few days, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists from home and abroad have come to attend the Great Festival. Along with the participation of the Government, ministries, branches, and local authorities, hundreds of volunteers have been mobilized to participate in the reception and logistics preparations, contributing to the success of the Great Festival.

In his message to the United Nations Day of Vesak this year, the United Nations Secretary-General emphasized that by celebrating Vesak, we together create a source of inspiration to renew our commitment to building a world of peace and dignity for all.

In his speech at the opening session, the UN Deputy Secretary-General and Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific stated the commitment to the values ​​that the United Nations is striving for in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the contribution of the United Nations Vesak Organizing Committee (ICDV).

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vice President of the 2019 United Nations Vesak International Organizing Committee, said that the 2019 Vesak International Scientific Conference crystallized the wisdom and inspiration of more than 1,650 international delegates from 112 countries and territories, along with more than 3,000 monks, nuns, and Buddhists of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, which was summarized in the 2019 Ha Nam Declaration, which will be a commitment of the world Buddhist community to contribute to building peace for humanity.

The theme “Buddhist Approach to Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies” speaks to the great stature and significance of the Vesak Festival commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and Nirvana, along with the affirmation of the core values ​​of peace and wisdom in the Buddha’s teachings, which, more than ever, need to be disseminated in today’s society to build sustainable development and true peace for humanity.

According to Most Venerable Thich Nhat Tu, Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Secretary General of the National Organizing Committee for the 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak, we are facing challenges in the world, from armed conflicts, environmental degradation to changes in family and social relationships, mental illnesses and social and economic inequalities.

These challenges urge us to cooperate and demonstrate responsibility to solve global problems on the basis of shared responsibility.

In that context, the Buddhist perspective on global leadership and social governance for a sustainable future plays a key role not only in solving world problems but also in leading the world on the right path, bringing benefits to humanity.

In addition to the main theme, within the framework of the Great Festival, 5 thematic workshops took place on (i) Mindful leadership for sustainable peace; (ii) Buddhist approach to harmonious family, health care and sustainable society; (iii) Buddhist approach to global moral education; (iv) Buddhism and the 4.0 industrial revolution; (v) Buddhist approach to responsible consumption and sustainable development.

Nearly 400 papers by international scholars and 110 papers in Vietnamese were sent to the conference and were discussed enthusiastically by scholars in the sessions, focusing on analyzing Buddhist teachings, guiding people towards peace, avoiding conflicts, and working together towards a better society and a more sustainable world.

Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien read the Ha Nam-Vesak 2019 Declaration.

The ceremony issued the 2019 Ha Nam Declaration, raising messages on peace, sustainable society, and other related issues based on the Buddha's teachings on compassion and wisdom; and shared commitments for a sustainable society.

In this Declaration, the delegates made a commitment to take on an increasingly active role locally and globally; to share a stronger responsibility with society to support, build, maintain and develop sustainable societies in the context of increasingly deep and complex social, political, economic and cultural crises; to give life to the concept of “Engaged Buddhism” by moving towards global activities and participating more actively in international organizations.

To promote the concept of shared responsibility, the delegates resolved to extend the idea of ​​compassion, good deeds and support to help those outside the Buddhist community without any discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion and gender.

Delegates also stressed the need to cooperate with international agencies to achieve the ultimate goal of Buddhism which is to transform suffering; to propagate the five Buddhist precepts and to promote the active participation of local communities to translate them into concrete goals as the basis of shared responsibility for better living conditions worldwide.

To jointly create sustainable societies, delegates expressed their determination to create compatibility between communities by recognizing the Buddha's teachings' ability to promote the development of human potential in sustainability; to revitalize the integration of the three Buddhist pillars of development including environmental protection, economic development and social justice.

Panoramic view of Tam Chuc Pagoda (Kim Bang district, Ha Nam province)

Delivering a message of mindful leadership for sustainable peace, the Declaration emphasizes a dialogue and non-violent approach to peacebuilding, going against the old paradigm of “the strong oppressing the weak”; and promotes the concepts of compassion and wisdom, as the foundation for avoiding and resolving disputes or conflicts.

Closing a successful United Nations Vesak Day, as shared by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh at the closing session, “We hope for a bright future for humanity and social instabilities such as war, ethnic, religious conflicts, human suffering, the gap between rich and poor, hunger and climate change... will be gradually pushed back. The good thoughts of the United Nations Vesak Day will continue to reap profound and enormous benefits, so that the Buddha's message of peace and love will always shine."

Vesak 2019 was a great success.

The 2019 Vesak Festival not only brings to international friends the image of a peaceful and friendly Vietnam that always wants to be friends with other countries, but is also a vivid demonstration of the Government's commitments to implementing the United Nations Millennium Goals; especially the picture of religious freedom in Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh affirmed that Vietnam has consistently implemented a policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of religious belief, the right to follow or not to follow any religion, and the right to practice normal religious activities in accordance with the law. Religions in Vietnam have always been closely associated with and accompanied the nation, and have made many contributions to the cause of national construction and defense, actively participating in solving issues in social life such as charity, education, and health.

"Vietnam will continue to try harder, make more efforts, and have better policies to constantly improve and enhance people's lives, especially the poor, those in remote areas, and ethnic minorities, gradually achieving social equality and building a democratic, fair, and civilized Vietnam," according to the Deputy Prime Minister./.

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