(VOVworld) – A grand ceremony was held in Hanoi on Tuesday to celebrate Lord Buddha’s 2558th birthday in the Buddha calendar.
Nearly 10,000 Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, followers and people join a Buddhist procession in Hue on Monday to pray for global everlasting peace and prosperity.
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In his speech, Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha’s Executive Committee, said that even in the modern time, Buddhism had developed strongly across the world. The religion has witnessed positive developments in Vietnam with the Shangha’s increased prestige both at home and abroad. He said that in the future, the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha will expand its influence to remote, border, and islands areas, and especially to overseas Buddhist followers.
Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha, conveys a message to protest China’s recent aggressive acts in the East Sea
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As part of the celebrations, the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha's Supreme Patriarch, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, delivered a message for peace in the East Sea in which, in the spirit of mercy and peace, he appealed to the Chinese Buddhist Association to support justice and ask the Chinese government to implement commitments set out in international law.
Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice-Chairman of the VBS’ Executive Committee, said: “Through the message, we would like to call on all Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers around the world including the Chinese Buddhist Association, to use their powers to request the Chinese government to pull its oil rig out of Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, to preserve peace and stability in the East Sea.”
A celebration for Buddha’s birthday took place in Ho Chi Minh City attended by thousands of monks, nuns, and followers. Most Venerable Thich Tinh Hanh, the head of Phat Buu Pagoda in the city, had this to say: “As usual, this year we’ve organized a ceremony of worship and charitable activities including presenting rice to poor residents in the area. Apart from being happy for these charitable acts, we’re worried because the country is in a difficult period. We hope that the Buddha will help and support us so that everyone can live peacefully.”