General Assembly Session 54 meeting 79

The President

I call on the representative of Sri Lanka to introduce draft resolution A/54/L.59.

Mr. De Saram (Sri Lanka)

On behalf of the delegation of Sri Lanka, I have the great honour today of introducing in the General Assembly the item "International recognition of the Day of Vesak".

When addressing the General Assembly in the plenary debate on 23 September this year, the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, the Honourable Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, conveyed to the Assembly, pursuant to a decision taken at an international Buddhist conference in Sri Lanka, a hope that was later endorsed by the Government of Sri Lanka that the United Nations would find it possible to give international recognition to the Day of Vesak, the most sacred day in the calendar of several hundred millions who, in a number of countries in a number of regions of the world, follow the teachings of the Buddha.

As the present millennium draws to a close, and the world awaits and prepares for the opening of the new millennium, the United Nations may wish to recall, it was hoped, the teachings reaching back two and a half millennia of the one known as the Buddha, the Enlightened One, who believed and taught that true and complete relief from the sufferings of the human condition lay in one's own true and complete understanding and control and purification of one's own thoughts and desires, and that this state of mind would lead one to the path of compassion for and service to others, and to a state of true and complete happiness. "One may conquer millions in battle, but he who conquers himself is alone the greatest of conquerors" was one of the Buddha's sayings, chronicles have recorded. The teachings of the Buddha brought then, and continue to bring now, understanding, happiness and solace to the lives of millions, originally in the countries of South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia, but now, also, to additional millions in other countries in other regions of the world.

The General Assembly, in the universality of its membership and in the universality of its terms of reference, has in the past recognized many of the diverse concerns of our complex world. In so doing, the Assembly has acted in the knowledge that peoples in all regions of the world look fervently to the United Nations, and in particular to the General Assembly, for at least an acknowledgment of their concerns, hopes and beliefs.

It is in that spirit that the International Buddhist Conference in Sri Lanka looked to the United Nations for international recognition of the Day of Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May on which over 150 million Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth, the attainment of enlightenment and the passing away of the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

The Buddha -- born to royal comfort and privilege as Prince Siddartha Gautama in the sixth century before the beginning of the Christian era, at a place known as Lumbini, now in the modern State of Nepal -- was so troubled by the sufferings of humanity that he renounced the comforts and privileges to which he had been born and devoted himself, sustained only by the basic necessities for life, thought and meditation, to years of wandering and reflection, in search of a complete and true understanding for himself of the sufferings of the human condition and a complete and true understanding of how relief from the suffering of the human condition may finally be completely and truly realized.

The Buddha's life and example so moved his contemporaries that his teachings were remembered and passed on through the centuries, moving the great warrior emperor Asoka of India, in the third century before the Christian era, to eschew wars and conquests and to give himself to the teachings of the Buddha. It was the great emperor Asoka who sent his son Mahinda and his daughter Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka with the teachings of the Buddha. Sanghamitta also brought to Sri Lanka a sapling of the Sacred Bo Tree, under which the Buddha had sat in teaching, in thought and meditation almost three centuries earlier.

The sacred sapling and the teachings of the Buddha flourished in Sri Lanka through the thousands of years that followed, and to this day. The sapling, now the Sacred Bo Tree of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, still stands and is loved and venerated or respected by all the people of Sri Lanka, be they Buddhists or followers of the other great religions of our land: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. It is a sacred tree, engaging and uniting those of all faiths and religions in a spirit of religious understanding and tolerance that we pray will continue to flourish in Sri Lanka through the millennia.

The sponsors of the draft resolution before the General Assembly -- and here I convey to all sponsors deepest gratitude for their support -- would very much wish the Assembly, in adopting it, to recognize Vesak as the most sacred day in Buddhism, commemorated by hundreds of millions of Buddhists around the world, and to allow for appropriate arrangements to be made for observances of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and at other United Nations offices. Arrangements for such observances would be made in consultation with the Secretariat and with such Permanent Missions and delegations as may also wish to participate, in order to ensure that such arrangements are appropriate and without cost to the United Nations.

On behalf of all the sponsors of the draft resolution, I am honoured to be in a position today to warmly commend this draft resolution on International recognition of the Day of Vesak. The following delegations are sponsors of draft resolution A/54/L.59: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Chile, Cyprus, Grenada, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand and Ukraine. The delegations of Greece, Mauritius, Norway and Turkey have also asked to be included as sponsors.

The President

I now call on the representative of Thailand.

Mr. Wirasamban (Thailand)

It is a privilege to speak under this agenda item entitled "International recognition of the Day of Vesak" as a representative of the world's largest Buddhist kingdom in our religiously diverse family of nations. For Buddhists worldwide, the Day of Vesak, or Visakha in the Thai language, is of special significance. It marks the day when three important events in the life of Lord Buddha converged; his birth, his attainment of enlightenment and his passing away. It is thus the single most important day in Buddhism.

Thailand, together with many other countries representing the full diversity of humankind's faiths, is proud to be a sponsor of this draft resolution on the international recognition of the Day of Vesak at the United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices. We are calling for the General Assembly to accord international recognition to Vesak and for the appropriate arrangements to be made for the international observance of this day at the United Nations. The observance will be without cost to the Organization.

The universal message of peace, goodwill and compassion preached by Lord Buddha more than 2,500 years ago has never been more relevant today. Mutual understanding, kindness to fellow human beings and compassion are the hallmarks of the Buddhist faith. Buddhism has always stressed the path of peaceful resolution of disputes between individuals or communities. Excessive competition is to be avoided. Violence in all forms and manifestations is shunned. By and large, therefore, Buddhism is synonymous with peace.

Because Buddhism firmly believes in freedom of choice for the individual and cherishes the diversity of human thought and ideas, it rejects the imposition of ideas on others. Tolerance is thus a central tenet in Buddhism. In Thailand, tolerance, particularly religious tolerance, is enshrined in our Constitution and, more importantly, ingrained in the Thai way of life. We are proud to have believers of all religions -- Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs -- coexisting peacefully in our country, with His Majesty the King of Thailand as the Upholder of all Faiths.

Lastly, Buddhism preaches moderation. The "Middle Path", as Buddhists call it, is a way of life which seeks to avoid the pitfalls of extremism. The sense of moderation serves as a foundation for the actions of Buddhists towards others and, we hope, guards against excesses which all too often manifest themselves in our global village.

The United Nations prides itself on being an organization that is universal and promotes respect for the diversity of ideas and beliefs throughout the world. The dialogue among civilizations is just one manifestation of this respect for diversity. It would reflect well on the universal character of the United Nations if it were to accord recognition to Buddhism, one of the world's oldest religions, and to millions of people in all parts of the world who practice it.

I therefore ask Member States to lend their support to this draft resolution on the international recognition of the Day of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices. This small but highly significant gesture would go a long way towards not only according recognition and respect to Buddhism and millions of Buddhists worldwide but also to reaffirming our strong commitment to the principle of respect for diversity which the United Nations and we Buddhists cherish.

Ms. Lee (Singapore)

My delegation is of the view that the consideration of this agenda item is an appropriate mark of respect for the Buddha, a great spiritual teacher of compassion and humanity whose teachings provide guidance and inspiration to nearly a quarter of the world's population. In fact, his teachings also provide us with inspiration and lessons in our ongoing efforts in the United Nations to achieve peace and respect for each other's values.

Vesak Day, or the Flower Festival as it is sometimes known, is also celebrated in Singapore and is one of our four major festivals. About one third of Singapore's population are Buddhists. Vesak Day is a public holiday in Singapore, enabling Singaporeans of other religious denominations, such as Islam, Christianity and Hinduism, to name a few, to join in the celebrations of their Buddhist friends. This celebration of the rich variety of religions coexisting in Singapore is also a reflection of the diversity of races which live in harmony together.

My delegation therefore commends the initiative for several reasons. First, it is a fitting statement of the United Nations work on the eve of the third millennium. After all, the General Assembly has proclaimed the year 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and declared the decade from 2001 to 2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. One of the hallmarks of the Buddha's teachings is the promotion of peace and non-violence.

Secondly, the initiative provides us with an opportunity to pave the way for another General Assembly decision. The United Nations has also proclaimed the year 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. Through this international recognition of the Day of Vesak, other civilizations can gain knowledge about the Buddhist civilization and culture, which can only help deepen mutual understanding amongst us. The ever-growing interaction amongst peoples of different faiths makes it more imperative that we move forward to learn about one another's cultures and civilizations at a deeper level. Civilizations have always been enriched by the exchange of knowledge and arts. As the Buddha himself once said,

"There is no problem in existence which cannot be resolved with the right understanding and the right effort. Every problem, however, intricate, however complex, contains within itself the means for its own resolution."

Thirdly, the initiative represents our collective wish to cherish the diversity in our efforts to discover shared values. There is no doubt that globalization of technology, finance and information has resulted in people in different parts of the world being directly affected by each other's actions. But faster electronic interaction does not automatically lead people of different cultures to understand and respect one another. Other steps must complement electronic interaction. In a diverse organization such as the United Nations, only interaction between people of different faiths and cultures, understanding and respect for different civilizations can lead to a common approach to dealing with international issues. Therefore, this agenda item is one more step for the enrichment of the United Nations and us all.

Mr. Ali (Bangladesh)

At the outset allow me to associate the delegation of Bangladesh with the statement made by the representative of Sri Lanka on International recognition of the Day of Vesak. My delegation considers it a privilege to speak on this item.

My delegation had the honour to speak on this item in the General Committee on 1 December 1999 when the members of that Committee assembled to consider the inclusion in the agenda of the fifty-fourth session the item entitled "International recognition of the Day of Vesak". We are gratified that the General Committee was able to recommend the inclusion in the agenda and subsequently the General Assembly agreed by consensus. Bangladesh had earlier joined others in proposing inclusion of this item through a co-signed letter.

In Asia and other parts of the world, people observe the Day of Vesak to celebrate the most sacred day in Buddhism. Millions of Buddhists all over the world commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on this day.

Bangladesh is historically connected with the Buddhist civilization. We have a sizeable Buddhist population. At the national level, we celebrate Buddhist festivals such as the Day of Vesak -- Buddha Purnima, in our language -- as national holidays.

As we are entering a new millennium, it is fitting that the world body is considering today the international commemoration of the Day of Vesak. This will give us opportunities to relive the age-old sublime teachings of the Buddha aimed at bringing about, and understanding, happiness and solace in the world. We are happy that the General Assembly is recognizing the Day of Vesak as a sacred day. We are also happy that the Vesak will be observed at United Nations Headquarters and also at United Nations duty offices all over the world in an appropriate manner.

I would like to mention here that my country is one of the sponsors of draft resolution A/54/L.59, which we hope will be adopted by consensus.

Mr. Pradhan (Bhutan)

My delegation is delighted that the General Assembly has decided to take up the issue of international recognition of the Day of Vesak at the United Nations. We wish to express our gratitude to Sri Lanka for having taken the first steps to initiate the process.

The introduction of this item at the General Assembly is timely and will contribute much towards the success of other ongoing initiatives at the United Nations. The year 2000 has been designated by the General Assembly as the International Year for the Culture of Peace, which will prepare the ground for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations in 2001. Both these years usher in the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. The promotion of tolerance and of respect for diversity is a common thread that runs through all these cross-cutting commemorations. It is my delegation's belief that international recognition of the contributions that Buddhism has made and continues to make to the world will strengthen and further the objectives of these processes through the advancement of greater understanding and appreciation of the diversity in our societies.

Mr. Pradhan (Bhutan)

In Bhutan and in the region of the Himalayas, this day is known as Sagadawa, and as Vaisakh in the Sanskrit and Indian tradition. This day, one of the most sacred to millions of Buddhists throughout the world, falls on the day of the full moon around May each year and marks three important events in the life of the Buddha. It was on this day that he was born, in 563 BC. It was on this day that he subsequently gained enlightenment, and it was also on this day that he entered the realm of Nirvana.

Siddhartha Gautama, more widely known as the Buddha, lived and preached from 563 BC to 480 BC in northern India, making Buddhism one of the oldest religions of mankind. His life and teachings have had a significant impact on other religions and on philosophy, morality and ways of life, beginning in Asia and spreading across to other continents.

The teachings of Buddhism are considered to be universal in nature. Buddhism propagates moderation in one's life, nonviolence, peaceful coexistence and tolerance. It teaches humans to safeguard and preserve resources and their natural environment as a means to respect the lives of all sentient beings. Many of these principles are akin to those of other major religions and to the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

My delegation looks forward to participating in the international observances of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices. In view of the significance of this day to millions across the globe, we are confident that draft resolution A/54/L.59 will be adopted by consensus.

Mr. Flores (Spain)

My delegation is a sponsor of the draft resolution on International recognition of the Day of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters because it believes that the Organization is a preferred forum to bring together the different religious, cultural and philosophical traditions that co-exist on our planet.

Recognition by the United Nations of the contribution made to humanity's spiritual patrimony by the various religions of the world is an indication of the commitment of Member States to the preservation of that patrimony in a spirit of active tolerance aimed at encouraging mutual understanding.

Mr. Mra (Myanmar)

The Charter of the United Nations calls on us to practice tolerance and to live in peace with one another as good neighbours. The culture of tolerance eliminates a culture of violence and begets a culture of peace.

Lord Buddha teaches us the virtues of tolerance, compassion and peace. The teachings of Buddha have moved millions of people and have had a profound influence on the thought and life of the human race. Buddha's message of tolerance, compassion and peace provides the ethical and moral basis of many societies around the world.

H.G. Wells stated that Buddha gave a message to mankind that was universal in character, and that many of our best modern ideas are in closest harmony with it. Thus Buddhism, like other major religions, has contributed substantively to the prevalence of peace. It is most fitting that the United Nations, whose ultimate objective is also peace, provides us with an opportunity to bring the day most sacred to millions of Buddhists to the attention of the international community.

Furthermore, we believe that discussion of this item in this unique forum, in which different civilizations are represented, will contribute to a better understanding of the concept of a dialogue among civilizations.

The Day of Vesak -- the Full Moon Day of May -- is the most sacred day in Buddhism. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the most significant events of Buddha's life uniformly fell on this particular day. It was on the Full Moon Day of May in the year 623 B.C. that a noble prince, destined to be one of the greatest religious teachers in the world, was born in Lumbini Park. After six strenuous years of struggle and search for the ultimate truth, again on the Full Moon Day of May, in his thirty-fifth year of ascetic life, Buddha attained enlightenment by his intuitive knowledge, enabling him to rid himself of all defilements of life.

After he attained Buddhahood, without keeping enlightenment to himself, Buddha devoted the remainder of his worthy life to the service of humanity, conveying his message of tolerance, compassion and peace to the human race. His service to humankind, his wisdom and compassion, and his exemplary personal life became the principal factors that compelled millions of people to hail Buddha as one of the greatest religious leaders that ever lived on earth. After having incessantly and tirelessly striven for the benefit of humankind, Buddha passed away on the Full Moon Day of May in his eightieth year.

As it is sacred to all Buddhists of the world, the Day of Vesak is a sacred occasion in Myanmar also and celebrated as Buddha's Day for its significant nature. A famous ceremony is held in Myanmar to commemorate Buddha's Day: the ceremonial watering of the Bo Tree, the tree under which Lord Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The ceremony takes place either early in the morning or in the evening of the day, with girls and women in their finest dresses carrying water in earthen pots in single file and watering the Bo Tree. The ceremony is accompanied by the playing of wind and percussion musical instruments, thus reflecting the auspicious nature of the Day.

Nearly 90 per cent of the population of Myanmar is Buddhist. As a sponsor of the draft resolution before us, we are encouraged by the support for giving the Day of Vesak the international recognition it deserves. We believe that the adoption of the draft would constitute a concrete acknowledgement of the contribution Buddhism has made for the benefit of mankind.

Mr. Shah (Nepal)

Vesak Purnima, or the Full Moon Day of May, is a thrice-blessed day. On this auspicious day, in a span of 80 years over two and a half millennia ago, Gautama Buddha was born at Lumbini, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and passed from physical form at Kusinagar.

The essence of Buddha's teachings concerns humanity, peace, compassion, tolerance and non-violence, the equality of all human beings, and respect for and non-denigration of each other and each other's beliefs -- ideals so eloquently accented in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and ideals which are as relevant today as they have ever been over the centuries.

The unique significance of so sacred a day has made Vesak Purnima a symbol of the light of Buddha's teachings, which have travelled through the ages, beyond the high Himalayas and across continents, and inspired the lives of millions and millions of people who strive for, and believe in, the institution of peace and justice.

Lumbini today is a prominent World Heritage Site. The United Nations has historically been involved in the preservation and development of this holy Site. The International Buddhist Summit, held at Lumbini in December of last year, declared the birthplace of Buddha to be a fountain of peace. Vesak Purnima is also recognized in Nepal as Lumbini Day and observed as a national holiday -- a day of non-violence on which all public slaughter of animals is officially banned.

As the inheritor of this great cultural and religious legacy, Nepal is more than honoured to be a sponsor of the draft resolution contained in document A/54/L.59 on "International Recognition of the Day of Vesak". It is most fitting that the draft resolution would have the United Nations commemorate the Full Moon Day of May each year. By adopting this draft, the General Assembly will have taken one additional step towards a culture of peace and cross-civilizational understanding.

Mr. Haque (Pakistan)

The land of Pakistan has historically been a meeting ground for different peoples, religions, cultures and ideas. Geographically, Pakistan sits astride the traditional routes that link the peoples of South Asia with their neighbours in West Asia, Central Asia, China and the lands beyond. The interaction between the many influences and civilizations that commingled in the area has led to the evolution, over centuries, of a rich, complex and intricate social and cultural texture and ethos in my country.

The north-west of Pakistan was the home of the famous Buddhist Gandhara civilization, which flourished around the first century B.C. This period also saw the birth of Gandhara art through a fusion of Greco-Roman art and Buddhist traditions, resulting in the depiction in stone of various aspects of the life and teachings of the Buddha, which adorned thousands of stupas and monasteries in the area.

The influence of Buddhism is not confined to our region; it extends to all parts of the world. The universal appeal and message of Buddha finds its resonance in many corners of the world. The contribution of Buddhism to the culture, art and civilization of the peoples of South Asia and beyond has been profound. The message of peace, compassion and truth given by Buddha is shared by most religions and systems of belief. His sublime vision of the Middle Path, calling for the avoidance of sin, acquiring of merit and purification of the mind, reflects his noble message and his noble spirit.

My delegation is a sponsor of draft resolution A/54/L.59. We strongly support international recognition of the thrice-sacred Day of Vesak, commemorating the birth of Buddha, his attainment of enlightenment and his passing away. The recognition of the Day of Vesak by the United Nations would be a fitting acknowledgement of the contribution of Buddhism to the spiritual development of mankind.

Mr. Sharma (India)

Although we spoke on this issue in the meeting of the General Committee when the proposal to observe the Day of Vesak came before it, we are taking the floor once again to convey to the full membership our deep satisfaction that the proposal by the delegation of Sri Lanka for international recognition of the Day of Vesak has been adopted by the Committee.

The appearance of the Buddha was one of the transformative events in the history of mankind and has shaped the spiritual, moral and ethical values of the world. As such, it is appropriate that a day of recognition for this transcendent and defining occurrence in our shared civilizational heritage should be earmarked, and that it be honoured and observed in this most representative of all bodies of the global community, which seeks to inform its actions with universal moral and ethical concern.

In fact, universalism of enlightenment, which can be reached through individual effort by any person, is at the core of the Buddha's teachings, which have touched countless millions of lives with salvation and hope. To recall such ennobling and eternal legacies in our shared heritage is to inspire us in seeking the highest goals of our collective striving. We congratulate the delegation of Sri Lanka for its initiative, and we hope to participate actively in the observance of Vesak within the United Nations.

The President

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/54/L.59. I should like to announce that since its introduction, the following countries have become sponsors: Greece, Lesotho, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Norway, Turkey and the United States.

May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/54/L.59?

The President

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 174?