The Grand Vesak Celebration of Ba Vang Pagoda 2024 - Spreading the message of peace, compassion, and wisdom
Shakyamuni Buddha was born on the fourth full moon day(*), in 624 BCE in Lumbini Garden (present-day Nepal). His birth shook all the realms because it has brought immense benefits to deities and humans as well as happiness to all sentient beings.
According to the Circular of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha about the organization of Vesak, on the May 12, 2024, Ba Vang Pagoda solemnly held the Grand Celebration of Vesak (BE. 2568 - CE. 2024) to honor the profound humanistic values of Buddhism for mankind and all sentient beings.
In the joyful atmosphere of Vesak day, Venerable Thich Minh Nghiem, standing member of the Executive Council, Standing Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of Social Charity of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), delivered the Message from the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on the Vesak Celebration (BE 2568), in which he called for monastics and laypeople to engage in more virtuous actions and actively contribute to the nation's development, while fostering peace among themselves, symbolized by a lotus flower offered to the Lord Buddha on the sacred Day of Vesak. Afterward, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of International Buddhism, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of Information and Communication of VBS, Abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda read the speech on the Vesak Celebration (BE 2568) of the President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Following the annual tradition of the Vesak Celebration, Honored Venerables, delegates, and lay people chanted the Vesak sutra and offered water to the statue of the newborn Buddha.
Furthermore, the program also included many meaningful activities such as art performances to praise the Buddha's birth and gift-giving to peop
le in special circumstances during Vesak season.
The Vesak message of compassion, humanity, and wisdom maybe 2,500 years old, but it has never seemed old-fashioned. Hopefully, through this celebration, the spirit of Vesak will be widespread so that everyone will have an auspicious opportunity to connect with Buddhism and practice the Buddha's teachings, hence living a happy and peaceful life as well as together contributing to national prosperity and world peace.
(*) Fourth lunar month or May in the solar calendar
At the beginning of the celebration, the ritual of respectfully welcoming Honored Venerables took place solemnly.
Most Venerable Thich Tanh Nhiep, Vice President of the Executive Council of VBS, Vice Chairman of Central Committee of Monastic Affairs of Central Committee of VBS, Commissioner of Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos, Head of Executive Board of VBS of Quang Binh province, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh, Deputy Chairman of Central Committee of International Buddhism of VBS, Deputy Chairman of Central Committee of Information and Communication of VBS, Abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, and venerable monks attended the grand Vesak celebration.
Central and local officials of many levels participated in the celebration.
The image of Bodhisattva Prabhapala observing the world before descending into the world was recreated by the Buddhists in the art performance to celebrate the Buddhas birth.
“I urge monastics and laypeople at all levels to engage in more virtuous actions and actively contribute to the nations development, while fostering peace among themselves, symbolized by a lotus flower offered to the Lord Buddha on the sacred Day of Vesak.” Quoted from the Message from the Supreme Patriarch of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on the 2568th Vesak Celebration, read by Venerable Thich Minh Nghiem.
Most Venerable Thich Tanh Nhiep and Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh attentively listened to the Message from the Supreme Patriarch of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on the 2568th Vesak Celebration.
Honored Venerables attentively listened to the Message from the Supreme Patriarch of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on the 2568th Vesak Celebration.
Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh read the Speech of the President of the Executive Council of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on the 2568th Vesak Celebration.
Many gifts were presented on the occasion of Vesak. Hopefully, those meaningful activities will be widespread so that more and more people gain the auspicious opportunity to connect with Buddhism and practice the Buddhas teachings, hence a peaceful and happy life.
Honored Venerables offered incense to the Buddha and chanted the Vesak sutra.
The members of the Youth Club respectfully listened to the Vesak Message from the Supreme Patriarch of the National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Buddhist followers and lovers gathered on the first floor of the Main Lecture Hall to participate in the Celebration.
Buddhist followers and lovers gathered on the second floor of the Main Lecture Hall to participate in the Celebration.
Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh respectfully offered water to bathe the statue of the newborn Buddha.
