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ข่าว : วิทยาลัยพระธรรมทูต
รายงาน: พระมหาสมาน ชาตวิริโย ดร.
ข่าวภาษาอังกฤษ : พระสิริวรรณะ สิริวณฺโณ
ภาพ : วิทยาลัยพระธรรมทูต
วันที่ 13 พ.ค. 2560/2017 เวลาเช้า ณ ประเทศศรีลังกา ได้มีการจัดงานฉลองวันวิสาขบูชา มีการอ่านสาสน์จากผู้นำพุทธศาสนานานาชาติ ซึ่งผู้แทนจากไทย นำโดยพระพรหมบัณฑิต อธิการบดี อ่านสาสน์ในวันวิสาขบูชา โดยมีผู้นำชาวพุทธจากนานาชาติ ร่วมในพิธี มีผู้แทนจากมหาวิทยาลัยมหาจุฬาลงกรณราชวิทยาลัย ประเทศไทย พร้อมด้วยผู้บริหาร คณาจารย์ เจ้าหน้าที่ มจร ร่วมในพิธี
ในการนี้ มีพระโสภณวชิราภรณ์ (ไสว โชติโก) รองอธิการบดีฝ่ายกิจการต่างประเทศ รักษาการผู้อำนวยการวิทยาลัยพระธรรมทูต พร้อมด้วยพระแสงเฮือง นรินฺโท ผู้อำนวยการกองวิเทศสัมพันธ์ มจร เข้าร่วมในพิธีด้วย
By Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit
UN Day of Vesak, Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 12, 2017
Transcribed by Phramaha Somboon Vuddhikaro
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Your holiness Sangharajas and Mahanayakas,
Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka,
Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India,
Respected members of the Sangha
Excellencies and friends in the Dhamma.
As president of ICDV, International Council for the Day of Vesak and IABU, International Association of Buddhist Universities, as rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University of Thailand, and especially as a Member of Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand, I am very pleased and honored to be among Buddhist dignitaries, scholars and world leaders from all over the world to participate in the 14th United Nations Day of Vesak in this beautiful island called Sri Lanka.
As you all know, based on the recommendation of the world Buddhist conference held here in Colombo in 1998, the foreign minister of Sri Lanka at that time, Lakshman Kadirgamar, through his visionary leadership and persistent lobbying of member nations, the General Assembly of United Nations in 1999 adopted resolution that the Day of Vesak, which falls in the full moon day of May, be celebrated at the UN Headquarters in New York and its regional offices and centers around the world.
Since then, the Vesak celebration has been taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York every year. However, due to the fact that majority of Buddhist population live in Asia, it is not possible to bring us all there to celebrate together. Fortunately, Thailand is a location of one of the largest UN regional offices in Asia and the Pacific. That UN regional center, called UNESCAP, is great enough to welcome Buddhist leaders and scholars to celebrate the UN Day of Vesak. That’s why Thailand has been hosting the UN Vesak Day celebrations for almost every year since 2004 except twice in Vietnam in 2008 and 2014. Here, we come together and celebrate the 14th UN Day of Vesak in Sri Lanka.
In order to coordinate activities in celebrating the UN Day of Vesak, Buddhists around the world found the ICDV, International Council for the Day of Vesak, to function as international platform for all the Buddhists and non-buddhists to work together in the four areas of activities: (1) sustainable development, (2) climate change or global warming, (3) education, and (4) peace building. These four areas are within the scope of our mission of ICDV.
As a result of our ongoing effort and regular activities, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Special Consultative Status to ICDV. So, we are entitled to work closely with the world body and its agencies.
This year, with the full support of executive council of ICDV, Sri Lanka plays a host country of the 14th International Vesak Celebration and Conference. I am really grateful to Sri Lanka for making arrangement in such a way that this celebration and conference become one of the greatest event in Buddhist calendar of the year (applause). We are proud to be a part of this celebration. We are honored by the participation of the Prime Minister of India, and also the President of Nepal, Buddhist dignitaries, and other world leaders. You have come here to support us to work together in unity for world peace. That’s why we choose the main theme of our conference as “Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace.”
I hope that, with your deliberation and contribution, the outcome of this celebration and conference will not be just ceremonial gathering but will contribute for world peace and bring about the benefits to the whole world. I believe that your participation and contribution will be a part of Kandy Declaration to be issued on the final day of celebration and conference.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity, once again, to express our gratitude on behalf of Buddhist communities and participants here to the government, people and Sangha of Sri Lanka under the leadership of Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, and under the guidance of Mahanayakas for organizing this wonderful celebration and conference. With the power of the Triple Gem, may all of you be blessed with happiness, peace and longevity.
Thank you for your attention.
News: Dhammaduta College
Reporter: Dr.Phramaha Samarn Jataviriyo
Translator/Phra Siriwanna Siriwanno
Picture: Dhammaduta College
.
By Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit
UN Day of Vesak, Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 12, 2017
Transcribed by Phramaha Somboon Vuddhikaro
————————–
Your holiness Sangharajas and Mahanayakas,
Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka,
Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India,
Respected members of the Sangha
Excellencies and friends in the Dhamma.
As president of ICDV, International Council for the Day of Vesak and IABU, International Association of Buddhist Universities, as rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University of Thailand, and especially as a Member of Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand, I am very pleased and honored to be among Buddhist dignitaries, scholars and world leaders from all over the world to participate in the 14th United Nations Day of Vesak in this beautiful island called Sri Lanka.
As you all know, based on the recommendation of the world Buddhist conference held here in Colombo in 1998, the foreign minister of Sri Lanka at that time, Lakshman Kadirgamar, through his visionary leadership and persistent lobbying of member nations, the General Assembly of United Nations in 1999 adopted resolution that the Day of Vesak, which falls in the full moon day of May, be celebrated at the UN Headquarters in New York and its regional offices and centers around the world.
Since then, the Vesak celebration has been taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York every year. However, due to the fact that majority of Buddhist population live in Asia, it is not possible to bring us all there to celebrate together. Fortunately, Thailand is a location of one of the largest UN regional offices in Asia and the Pacific. That UN regional center, called UNESCAP, is great enough to welcome Buddhist leaders and scholars to celebrate the UN Day of Vesak. That’s why Thailand has been hosting the UN Vesak Day celebrations for almost every year since 2004 except twice in Vietnam in 2008 and 2014. Here, we come together and celebrate the 14th UN Day of Vesak in Sri Lanka.
In order to coordinate activities in celebrating the UN Day of Vesak, Buddhists around the world found the ICDV, International Council for the Day of Vesak, to function as international platform for all the Buddhists and non-buddhists to work together in the four areas of activities: (1) sustainable development, (2) climate change or global warming, (3) education, and (4) peace building. These four areas are within the scope of our mission of ICDV.
As a result of our ongoing effort and regular activities, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Special Consultative Status to ICDV. So, we are entitled to work closely with the world body and its agencies.
This year, with the full support of executive council of ICDV, Sri Lanka plays a host country of the 14th International Vesak Celebration and Conference. I am really grateful to Sri Lanka for making arrangement in such a way that this celebration and conference become one of the greatest event in Buddhist calendar of the year (applause). We are proud to be a part of this celebration. We are honored by the participation of the Prime Minister of India, and also the President of Nepal, Buddhist dignitaries, and other world leaders. You have come here to support us to work together in unity for world peace. That’s why we choose the main theme of our conference as “Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace.”
I hope that, with your deliberation and contribution, the outcome of this celebration and conference will not be just ceremonial gathering but will contribute for world peace and bring about the benefits to the whole world. I believe that your participation and contribution will be a part of Kandy Declaration to be issued on the final day of celebration and conference.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity, once again, to express our gratitude on behalf of Buddhist communities and participants here to the government, people and Sangha of Sri Lanka under the leadership of Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, and under the guidance of Mahanayakas for organizing this wonderful celebration and conference. With the power of the Triple Gem, may all of you be blessed with happiness, peace and longevity.
Thank you for your attention.
News: Dhammaduta College
Reporter: Dr.Phramaha Samarn Jataviriyo
Translator/Phra Siriwanna Siriwanno
Picture: Dhammaduta College
