Sunday Times 2
Vesak celebrated at UN Headquarters in New York
View(s):Vesak was celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 10 in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution 54/115 recognising Vesak internationally as the most significant day for the Buddhists all over the world.
Ambassador Perera chairing the solemn event to mark Vesak at the United Nations General Assembly Hall. Tahiland’s Permanent Representative Virachai Plasai (L) and General Assembly Vice President and Nepal’s Permanent Representative Durga Prasad Bhattarai (R) are also in the picture.
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, along with the Permanent Mission of Thailand, and the Missions of the states that co-sponsored the resolution in 2000, took the lead in organising this year’s Vesak at the United Nations.
The celebrations began in the morning at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, with a mid-day dana offered to 53 Buddhist monks representing Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia and Japan.
Sri Lanka’s United Nations Ambassador Rohan Perera, his Thai counterpart Ambassador Virachai Plasai, and Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Cambodia, and Laos along with senior diplomats from Buddhist countries attended the ceremony and offered dana to the Maha Sangha. A large number of lay persons, including the staff of the co-organisng Permanent Missions were also present. The Ven. Hungampola Sirirathana Thera, Chief Incumbent of New Jersey Buddhist Vihara, and the Ven. Heenbunne Kondanna Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Staten Island Buddhist Vihara in New York, conducted the religious ceremony.
Proclamations issued by New York State Governor of Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Vesak were read out by their representatives at the Dana ceremony.
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi delivering the sermon
A solemn event, co-chaired by Mr. Perera and Mr. Plasai, was held in the evening at the United Nations General Assembly hall.
A large number of Buddhist monks representing many countries took part in the event. The General Assembly Vice President, Ambassador Durga Prasad Bhattarai of Nepal, Permanent Representatives of member states, senior diplomats, senior UN officials, staff of the Permanent Missions and the UN Secretariat, and Buddhists from various countries attended this solemn event.
The renowned American Buddhist monk, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, delivered a scholarly sermon, which was well received by those who were present.
As an interlude, a group of Sri Lankan students from the Tri-State area performed a musical recital of the famous song with a Buddhist theme Danno Budunge.
Permanent Representatives of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar and Viet Nam addressed the General Assembly event reflecting on the significance of Vesak. Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Russia spoke at either Chargé d’Affaires or Deputy Permanent Representative level. Each statement was accompanied by a slide show of photographs depicting how Vesak is celebrated in their respective countries.
Addressing the General Assembly, Ambassador Perera observed that the message of peace and compassion, taught by the Lord Buddha, is valid and relevant in the present day world, more than ever as the Buddha’s teachings provide an ideal framework to view and analyse the reality of the world, and to find solutions to problems by looking at that reality with a right view.
Stressing the importance of right view or Samma Ditti, he added that in dealings at the United Nations, and in politics among nations in the present day, right view is a must. Ambassador Perera concluded that if countries are to apply the Buddha’s teachings on the right view to their dealings, root causes of mutual distrust, hatred, and tensions could be eliminated, saving millions of lives and easing human suffering.
A group of Sri Lankan students from the Tri-State area performing a musical recital of the song Danno Budunge
A section of the Maha Sangha who took part at the United Nations General Assembly event.