PAYING HOMAGE TO THE UN DAY OF VESAK (UNDV), 
THE BUDDHA DAY
[We humbly prostrate before You, Buddha Sakyamuni, 
the One and Only Holy Teacher of all sentient beings in Heaven and Earth.]
Tran Truc-Lam, M.D.

Vesak Day, the full moon day of the fourth lunar month, is the most important annual event for the Buddhists worldwide. It commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Final Nirvana of the Buddha. It is also called ‘Lễ Tam Hợp’ in Vietnamese. 

In December 1999, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution making the Day of Vesak (UNDV) celebration an annual event every May. The first one was held at the UN headquarters in New York in 2000, and since 2004, it had been organized solemnly at the Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University in Bangkok under the auspices of the Thailand Royal Family and Buddhist Sangha. 

This year, the 5th international celebration or the 2552th in Buddhist calendar, will be hosted by Vietnam, and organized by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in collaboration with the International Organizing Committee (UNDV-IOC) and the generous support from the GVN, a member of the UN, from May 13 to 17, 2008 in Hanoi.

The 2008 UNDV theme titled “Buddhism for an equitable, democratic and advanced society” is expected to bring together hundreds of Buddhist dignitaries, renowned scholars and Buddhists representing 70 countries from all over the world, and of course from every corner of Vietnam. So far, more than 30 IOC members from over 20 countries including the USA, Australia, Italy, Russia, Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and India have been very busy working together on plans for the celebrations which will cover four main aspects: Spiritual, Academic, Cultural and Religious. 

Professor Le Manh That, Chairman of the UNDV International Organizing Committee (UNDV-OIC), had disclosed that the festivities also include a Fifth International Buddhist Conference which will be taken place at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Conference Centre (NCC) with the topics as “Contributions of Buddhists to the construction of a just, democratic and civilized society” and a forum focusing on “the Buddhist network of Electronic Cultural Atlas Initiative”. The event also includes additionally sidelines seminars, exhibitions, folk performances and tours of the local scenic Buddhist sites.

Mr. Nguyen The Doanh, Head of the Vietnam Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, is also head of the National Coordinating Committee for the Organization of the UNDV, said at a press briefing on November 28, that the partnership and cooperation from State would assure the UNDV festival a big success. 

Through the OIC press release, it is also known that the event schedules would be remarkably grandiose with the participation among other dignitaries, of the world-famous expatriate Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who will give a keynote speech following another distinguished Buddhist scholar and master from the USA, Venerable Dr. Bhikkhu Bodhi’s opening address. Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen will also speak on Buddhist perspective on economics and welfare development. The UNVD ceremonies will be commenced by the President of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet and closed by a special speech delivered by the Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, who also will host a dinner for the 150 distinguished Buddhist leaders and scholars afterward. 

During this occasion, Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh will also conduct a special Retreat and Conference on Engaged Buddhism during his time in Hanoi instead of his well known biennial June Retreat in 2008 at the Plum Village.

It is a great honor and also a challenge for the Vietnamese people, government and Buddhist Shanga alike to earn such an entrusting task, the first time ever from an international body to organize this important UNVD event. It makes the Vietnam image shining on the globe, shredding for ever the vestige of war-torn and gloomy pictures of the past. It gives Vietnam new confidence and pride in front of the world that it is a national will overcoming any difficulties and challenges; and that Vietnamese Buddhists are able to contribute peace, morality, harmony and prosperity, to a civil and modern society. It is also a good opportunity to show the world the popular Buddhist culture in every aspect of Vietnam life, and the amazingly stable and prosperous progresses in Vietnam during last decade. 

The meaning of Vesak lies with the Buddha’s universal peace message to humankind. It has become a festival for rejoicing and goodwill to all – and a moment to reflect on our spiritual development and gratitude towards everyone. 

Vietnamese Buddhists around the world and particularly the VBS should spare no effort in the preparation of the event. Together we will make the UNVD event a great success and a lifetime memory. 

Tran Truc-Lam, M.D.
 

03-04-2008 12:23:46