The occasion of Vesak Day should serve to unite us in our common desire to create tolerant, respectful and peaceful societies, Pakistan said at a function commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, organised by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN.
“Today is a good day to reach out to other religions, faiths, beliefs and cultures. Today is a good day to cement our bonds for one humanity,” Permanent Representative of Pakistan, Masood Khan told delegates from around the world marking Vesak Day at the United Nations in New York.
The function, organised by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, had the support of the missions of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, the Lao Democratic People’s Republic, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
Other speakers also underlined the need for unity, while highlighting the spiritual leader’s teaching for compassion and solidarity with those less fortunate.
They also focused on Buddha’s message of peace and tolerance, with the Pakistani envoy calling for resolving conflicts and disputes justly; and addressing the root causes of strife and hostilities.
Masood Khan complimented his Sri Lankan counterpart Palitha Kohona on the well-organised event in ECOSOC Chamber where diplomats stressed the need to learn from the spiritual leader’s sense of compassion.
In a message on the occasion, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the teachings of Buddhism can offer significant insights on how to face today’s most pressing challenges. Now more than ever, we need the spirit of non-violence to help inspire peace and quell conflict,” Ban said.
“This year’s observance, falling at a time of widespread strife and misery, is an occasion to examine how Buddhist teachings can inform our response to prevailing challenges.”
Ban noted that confronting troubling problems is a big part of Buddhism as the Buddha himself – when he was a young prince – left the safety of his palace to discover the four sufferings of birth, sickness old age and death.
“While such painful realities cannot be avoided, Buddhism offers insights into how to cope with them. Its history is replete with inspiring examples of the transformative power of Buddhist philosophy,” he said.
The secretary-general offered his best wishes to Buddhists and expressed his sincere hope that “we may all draw on spiritual ideals to strengthen our resolve to improve our world.”
By its resolution 54/115 of 1999, the General Assembly recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity.
In his speech, Ambassador Masood Khan said Pakistan has a special association with Vesak. “The land of Pakistan – Taxila, Pashawar, Mardan, Swat, Lahore, to name a few cities – has been a cradle of Buddhist civilisation for centuries,” he told delegates from around the world.
Masood said “Our land has nurtured the fusion of Greco-Buddhist civilisation which we call Ghandhara civilisation. Stupas and monasteries still adorn our landscape.
“From our land, Buddhism travelled to Central Asia, China and East Asia. Asia and all other continents have imbibed rich Buddhist culture and art.
“Pakistan has been a home for many civilisations and religions: for Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam. “Islam teaches peace, love and kindness. Islam enjoins tolerance and harmony. Islam respects other faiths and religions.
“Today is a good day to reach out to other religions, faiths, beliefs and cultures. Today is a good day to cement our bonds for one humanity.
“As we celebrate this Vesak Day, we are conscious that we are living in troubled times. People are being killed in the name of religion. People are being killed because they are practising a particular religion. Sociopaths are trying to masquerade their senseless crimes and killings as religious ideology,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s The Nation.
