On the occasion of Buddha's birthday (April 15th of the lunar calendar), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to congratulate monks, nuns, and Buddhists nationwide. At Vietnam National Temple (Ho Chi Minh City), thousands of monks, nuns, and Buddhists solemnly celebrated Buddha's birthday, Buddhist calendar 2567.
In the message of this year's Buddha's Birthday, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, expressed: "This is an opportunity for all of us to review the history of Buddha Shakyamuni, an opportunity for everyone to contemplate and live according to his true and timeless teachings.
These teachings suggest solutions to build world peace, true happiness for people and sustainable development for society.”
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| The Dharma bathes the Buddha. (Photo: D.H) |
According to the Supreme Patriarch, in the context of humanity having just gone through the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts are still complicated here and there in the world, following the vow of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc, all of us monks, nuns, and Buddhists should together devote ourselves more to the path of practicing Bodhisattva conduct as the Buddha taught in the Sutra of Questions from the Brahma Heaven: "A Bodhisattva is someone who can endure suffering on behalf of all living beings, sacrificing his own happiness for the happiness of all living beings."
Most Venerable Elder Thich Tri Quang said: “I call on monks, nuns, and Buddhists of all walks of life to make more efforts to do good deeds, actively contribute to building the country, creating peace within ourselves to form a lotus platform to offer to the Buddha during this year's Buddha's birthday.”
Also in the Buddha's birthday message, the Supreme Patriarch said that this year's Buddha's birthday, Vietnamese Buddhists also respectfully commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation (1963-2023).
The Venerable Elder shared: “We are proud of a heroic period in the history of our nation, and in it there is the mark of the noble vow of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc on the path of serving the Dharma and the nation. His flame of compassion and his immortal heart have the power to illuminate and awaken the conscience of people, dissolving all hatred.
That flame has shown every living person that they must overcome all narrow-minded selfishness and all extreme ideas. He is a shining symbol of the spirit of Compassion, Wisdom, and Courage of the Bodhisattva in the world and the worldly spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism.
Meanwhile, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, commented that today, humanity is living in a world with many unpredictable changes and challenges. It is born from the root of the crisis of greed and loss of trust in each other, which has caused so much suffering for people and their fellow human beings.
The Venerable said: “More than ever, the invaluable teachings of love, sharing, compassion, non-violence, and the path to liberation from suffering for all sentient beings of Buddha Shakyamuni are truly the compass leading to solutions to difficult human problems.”
Through that, the Venerable expressed his wish that all Vietnamese monks, nuns, laypeople, and Buddhists in the country as well as abroad, diligently study and practice, make efforts in cultivating Precepts-Concentration-Wisdom. Uphold the Dharma of upholding the precepts and implementing the motto: Discipline-Responsibility-Solidarity-Development to dignify the Church.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon at Quan Su Pagoda on the morning of June 2. (Photo: D.H) |
Venerable Thich Thien Nhon advised: “This year, all levels of our Buddhist Sangha must accomplish many Buddhist activities to express our gratitude and vow to follow the great achievements and careers of the Zen Masters and National Masters of Vietnamese Buddhism in history.
These are the 1,005th anniversary of the passing away of National Master Van Hanh, the 715th anniversary of the Nirvana of King - Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong and the 60th anniversary of the day Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc sacrificed himself for the cause of national independence and unification. These are the priceless legacies of Vietnamese Buddhism that history has deeply remembered and left for posterity forever.
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