Hanoi (VNA) – The celebrations of Vesak 2008 in Hanoi reflects the Vietnamese government’s respect for the UN recognition of Vesak as a day of world religious culture and the importance of the moral standards of religions, including Buddhism, President Nguyen Minh Triet said at the opening ceremony of the festival on May 14.
The leader said he hoped Vesak 2008 would provide an opportunity for promotion of understanding and unity to encourage everyone to join together in building a good society, preventing conflicts, mediating wars, eliminating poverty, hunger and miseries and bringing happiness.
While noting Vietnam as a multi-religious nation, the leader said since Buddhism came to Vietnam more than 2,000 years ago it has been warmly welcomed in the country and has developed in every period of the country’s history.
He said history recognised contributions by great Buddhist monks in supporting national development, security and defence in all development stages of the country.
Vietnamese Buddhism resonates through both religious and daily life, true to its motto “religion entering the life,” President Triet said. Buddhism encourages monks, nuns and followers nationwide to observe the law and fulfil citizen duties, which contributes to national and community unity.
Vietnamese Buddhism has a tradition of patriotism and has always maintained close ties with the nation, President Triet commented.
President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Most Venerable Thich Tri Tinh, affirmed Vesak 2008 in Vietnam reflects the special attention of the international community to the Vietnamese Government and the VBS in developing the Buddhist spirit and creating and strengthening friendly relations in the house of Buddhism right across the five continents.
Vesak celebrations vary between different nations and sects, but all nations and sects have joined together for the Vietnam celebrations, thus showing the significant spirit of unity, peace and friendship of the festival, the Most Venerable said.
In a message sent to the opening ceremony, the Patriarch of the Sangha Council of the VBS, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue said Vesak 2008 in Vietnam is a great honour to Vietnam and Vietnamese Buddhism. It is a chance for the nation to join the world Buddhist community in developing the thought and morality of the Lord Buddha, he stressed.
Chairman of the International Organising Committee (IOC), Prof. Le Manh That, affirmed the social significance of Buddhism, saying that the UN Day of Vesak was an opportunity for Buddhist believers to gather to show their belief in a good future for human beings, peace, friendship and contentment.
The grand celebrations of the United Nations Day of Vesak will run in Hanoi from May 14-16, complimented by several other Vesak activities held in other provinces.-Enditem
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