STATEMENT

BY H.E. AMBASSADOR BUI THE GIANG,

DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF VIETNAM,

AT VESAK DAY 2009 CELEBRATIONS AT U.N. HEADQUARTERS

New York, 15 May 2008

 

Venerable Monks,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to H.E. Ambassador Park In-kook and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea for hosting this auspicious event, enabling us to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha. I specifically appreciate the presence of H.E. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon which testifies to the importance the United Nations attaches to Buddhism, its philosophy and relevance to the work and lofty objectives of our Organization.

Venerable Monks,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This month last year when the official United Nations Vesak Day was celebrated in Viet Nam and when we at the same time celebrated the Vesak Day here in New York, the world was engulfed in an endemic global food crisis, with some 200 million people - mainly in developing countries - falling victim to it. Thanks to the synergetic efforts of the entire international community, the world has now recovered to an important extent from the most critical moment of the crisis, although greater and more enduring efforts are still much needed to sustain the fragile achievements that we have gained, and moreover, to accomplish the poverty reduction goal set for 2015 by the United Nations.

This May when the official United Nations Vesak day celebrations were concluded just a few days ago in Bangkok, Thailand, and when we are celebrating the Vesak Day here in New York, the world is being even deeper in another Deluge-like crisis - the financial and economic crisis - that hits virtually every corner of the globe and every member of this human community, developed and developing countries alike. This crisis, plus the old and new wars and conflicts still raging in all five continents, has driven many hundreds of millions of people into destitute living conditions. Let alone the continued alarming deterioration of the ecological environment which has led to the ominous climate change, especially global warming. Ladies and gentlemen, the bell is tolling for this human race.

It is in this context that the celebration of Vesak Day is all the more opportune and meaningful. It reminds us of the Enlightened One’s tenets more than two millenniums ago on peace, harmony, compassion, non-violence, tolerance, and no-self. It motivates us not only to study again these tenets, educate ourselves in their spirit, but also to subdue our instinctive selfish interests and act accordingly, in a united, determined and responsible way. The implementation of this, of course, is an immensely challenging journey that calls for committed engagement of each and every member of the international community. In this journey, together with followers of other religions and non-religious people, Buddhists play a very important role. And in this journey, I can assure you of the readiness and devotion of the Vietnamese Buddhists and people to work with all other people the world over. Together, let’s translate Lord Buddha’s teachings into reality – to practise good deeds in order to attain Nirvanar right here, on earth.

May the Triple Gem bless all sentient beings in this journey.

I thank you.