Covid-19: UN urges unity and service on Buddhist feast of Vesakh
By Robin Gomes
Many Buddhists across the world are marking the feast of Vesakh on May 7. Sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday", Vesakh actually commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, and is celebrated on different days in different countries.
Unity and service
Buddha鈥檚 message of unity and service to others is more important today as humanity suffers from the Covid-19 pandemic, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message for Vesak.
鈥淎s we honour the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha, we can all be inspired by his teachings,鈥� he said, greeting millions of Buddhists around the world marking the feast day.
鈥淎nd as the human family suffers the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥� he pointed out, 鈥渨e are reminded of the sutra: 鈥楤ecause all living beings are subject to illness, I am ill as well鈥�.鈥�
鈥淭his timeless message of unity and service to others is more important than ever,鈥� Guterres said, stressing, 鈥淚t is only together that we will stop the spread of the coronavirus and recover.鈥�
The UN Secretary-General thus invited all to 鈥渃elebrate Lord Buddha鈥檚 wisdom by taking action for others with compassion and solidarity, and by renewing our commitment to build a peaceful world鈥�.
The Vatican on Vesakh
Earlier, on April 2, the Vatican had also released a message for Vesakh. Entitled, 鈥淏uddhists and Christians: Constructing a Culture of Compassion and Fraternity鈥�, the message by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) encouraged the followers of the two religions in the service of 鈥渁 wounded humanity鈥�. It underscored the high value given by both religions to compassion and fraternity.
In this regard, the Vatican recalled the words of Pope Francis when he met the Supreme Buddhist Patriarch of Thailand in Bangkok on November 21 last year.
鈥淲e can grow and live together as good 鈥榥eighbours鈥�,鈥� the Pope said, 鈥渁nd thus be able to promote among the followers of our religions the development of new charitable projects, capable of generating and multiplying practical initiatives on the path of fraternity.鈥�
Pointing to the life of renunciation and detachment that marked the lives of Gautama Buddha and St. Francis of Assisi, the PCID offered them as inspiration to a 鈥渃ulture of compassion and fraternity for the alleviation of human and ecological suffering鈥�.
The Vatican especially invited Buddhists to take part in "Reinventing the Global Compact on education", a Vatican event in October promoted by Pope Francis.
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue concluded its message with a prayer for those hit by Covid-19 and their caregivers. 鈥淟et us encourage our faithful to live this difficult moment with hope, compassion, and charity,鈥� it urged.
The PCID has been sending messages for Vesakh for the past twenty-four years. It also sends messages for Diwali and Ramadan.
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