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The United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations 2008 have
wrapped up but its echoes seem to exist forever. Above all rituals and
belief, the Vesak celebrations 2008 have brought to people a strong belief
in a future world, a world of peace, contentment and immense
benevolence.
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Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha,
Thich Pho Tue and the dignitaries
of the Patronage Council and
Executive Council of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha attend the United
Nations Day of Vesak celebrations 2008.
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Vietnamese
Buddhists warmly welcome Buddhists from all parts of the world to
the UNDV celebrations 2008.
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Early in the morning of May 14, 2008, tens of
thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists waited for the opening ceremony of
the great event.
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Vietnamese volunteers from universities
in
Hanoi
guide and help the
international delegates who attend the
celebrations.
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Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet
gives
the opening speech at the UNDV
celebrations
2008.
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Over 3,000 domestic and international
Buddhist delegates attend the opening
ceremony of the Vesak
celebrations 2008.
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Buddhist flag, 21.32m long, 18m wide
and
60kg in weight, flies over the yard of the
My Dinh National
Convention Centre.
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Flags and decorative lanterns at the gate of
Vu Thach Pagoda on Ba Trieu Street ( Hanoi )
on the days of Vesak celebrations
2008.
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Monk Terasawwa Junsei
from Japan beats
the drum to pray for a peaceful world at
the candle-lighting
ceremony held on
the night of May 16,
2008.
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The My Dinh National Convention Centre
in Hanoi
is brilliant with
20,000 candles at the
ceremony to pray for a peaceful world,
prosperous countries and contentment
of people on the night
of May 16, 2008.
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Releasing the birds at the My Dinh National
Convention Centre during the opening ceremony of the UNDV
celebrations.
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The exhibition “Early
Summer Lotus”
displaying 54 works by 12 Vietnamese
Buddhist
painters show the images reflecting Buddhist philosophy, at the My
Dinh National Convention Centre.
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“Lantern Dance” performance, one of the
items full of Vietnam ’s Buddhist culture, at
the
opening ceremony of the Vesak
celebrations
2008.
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Performing the Buddhist-themed symphony “Khai
giac” (Begin the Enlightenment) at
the
closing ceremony of the Vesak
celebrations
on May 16, 2008.
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In its history of over 2,000 years of formation and
development, Vietnamese Buddhism witnessed many great events, but
Vietnam hosting the Vesak Day
from May 14-17, 2008 was an incomparable event in the history of
Vietnamese Buddhism. It was the first time Vietnam Buddhism had an
opportunity to organize such a great event of international
stature.
Over three million Buddhist monks and
nuns and millions of Buddhists at home together with nearly 3,000
delegates representing many Buddhist ancestries and sects from 600
delegations of 74 countries and territories all over the world had an
opportunity to attend the animated festivals to commemorate the
2552nd Year of the Birth,
Enlightenment and Passing Away of the Buddha Gautama in Vietnam, a
peaceful and hospitable country.
Buddhism
in the world in general and Vietnamese Buddhism in particular has been
considered as a peace-loving religion that converts people’s hearts by
altruism and tolerance. That’s why the United Nations has recognised the
Vesak celebrations as a cultural and religious festival of the
world.
This year, Vietnam has been honoured to
host the 5th Vesak celebrations. It is an honour and pride of
the Vietnamese people, showing that international friends have seen
Vietnam
’s growth and stability
in all areas, including culture, religion, economics and politics. This
time, the Vietnamese Government, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and innumerable
Vietnamese Buddhists at home and abroad collaborated to organise an
imposing and meaningful celebration. Many activities, such as Buddhist
scientific seminars, Buddhist training courses, exhibitions, artistic
performances, flower vehicle parade, lantern and animal release and
candle-lighting ceremony to pray for peace in the world and for the
natural disaster victims in China and Myanmar were held not only in Hanoi
but also in almost all cities and provinces throughout the
country.
It should
be mentioned that the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations were
organised in the context that the world is experiencing many great
changes. Cyclones, diseases, wars and conflicts are taking place every day
and every hour, decimating thousands of innocent people in the world.
That’s why it can be easily seen that dozens of congratulatory messages
sent to the Vesak celebrations 2008 have a common desire, i.e., wishing
the world peace and contentment and people less avoidable
sufferings.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the
United Nation Day of Vesak celebrations 2008, Vietnamese President Nguyen
Minh Triet called on people to cooperate to build a better society, a
“Nirvana in this real world”. In his message to the UNDV celebrations, UN
General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said: “This year, the observance of Vesak
falls at a time of profound and painful loss. Cyclone Nargis has
devastated
Myanmar
, leaving untold
suffering in its wake – tens of thousands have died; many more have lost
their families, homes and livelihoods. In the shadow of this enormous
tragedy, the Buddha’s message of peace, compassion and love for all living
beings bring added urgency”. Much should be mentioned about the Vesak
celebrations 2008, but the messages of the Vietnamese President and the
United Nations General Secretary partly reflect the major spirit of the
celebrations.
It may be
said that never before had the international spirit of Buddhist unity been
well reflected as at the UNDV celebrations 2008. All people, regardless of
sects, countries and ranks, prayed for a peaceful world and a bright
future.
The UNDV
celebrations 2008 have been successful. This success is partly attributed
to the contributions of nearly 60 million Vietnamese Buddhists who have
made the Vesak celebrations 2008 become a meeting place of Buddhists all
over the world.
Storynbsp;by Thanh Hoa - Photo by
Trong
Chinh
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