Messages from Korea
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
From Ven. Jinwol (Young Ho Lee, Ph. D.), Korea
Dear Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Chairman, ICDV-UNDV 2014 IOC
Greetings of peace from Gyeongju, Korea! I believe this finds you well.
It is my great pleasure to write a congratulatory message regarding United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration & Buddhist Conference 2014/B.E 2557, which has been organized by your National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
It is remarkable that the thrice-sacred day of Vesak, celebrating the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing away of the Sakyamuni Buddha, was recognized by the United Nations in its General Assembly resolution of 1999. This year, the celebration of the 11th United Nations Day of Vesak will be held at Bai Dinh Temple in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, from 7 to 11 May, 2014. I expect that various wonderful events with the theme “Buddhist Contribution to Achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals,” would be held around the venue. I think it is a timely subject for all people around world.
On behalf of Buddhists in Korea, as well as my university community, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulation for your eminent leadership and achievement to plan and manage the remarkable events. Moreover, as the Secretary General of Asia Region, I also like to convey the expression of congratulations from the United Religions Initiative, which has tried to be a religious UN, as a global interfaith organization since 2000.
I think that we should get together for sharing Buddhist wisdom and experiences with other members of the global community for world peace and prosperity.
May the Wheel of Buddha-Dharma turn around the world forever! May peace prevail on Earth!
Jinwol Lee
Ven. Jinwol (Young Ho Lee, Ph. D.) Chair Professor, Dept. of Buddhist Studies; Director, Institute of Seon (Zen),
Dongguk University Vice President, World Fellowship of Buddhists Secretary General, United Religions Initiative of Asia
Tel: +82-10-6264-8260 Fax: +82-54-770-2396 E-mail: jinwol@dongguk.edu
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
From Dr. Lee Chi-Ran, Korea
I would like to extent my heartful thanks to ICDV–UNDV 2014 International Organizing Committee Standing members on the occasion of 11th United Nations Day of Vesak 2014 to prepare and organize this wonderful assembly with the theme of Buddhist Perspective towards Achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals Peace-Building and Post-Conflict Recovery.
Great and small conflicts and war seem endless in many regions throughout the world. The entire human race trembles in the fear of a catastrophic nuclear war that could change history forever. We fear it even more so than natural disasters that just affect one area of the globe, at least so far. Why is there so much conflict and lack of harmony in the world? Powerful nation-states act only for themselves alone like school yard bullies who regard themselves as the center of the universe. They think they are superior to everyone around them and exploit their neighbors and weaker states for their own benefit. Weaker states are forced to react defensively and suffer badly and too often submit in defeat while trying to protect their people. We all have experienced how personal greed and selfishness can poison interpersonal relationships in families and among friends and cause shameful scandals in business and political administrations. When expressed at the international level, however, greed and acquisitiveness lead to military aggression with many people being hurt and killed in armed conflict and entire cultures being erased from history.
Humankind must learn to live in harmonious communities on our small and ever more crowded planet. Only planet Earth in the universe known to us can support human and animal life and the vegetation that sustains it all. Even if other planets are discovered that can support human life, our blue planet will remain the base from which we can explore other domains. As Buddhists, we should look far ahead into the future and recognize that human crises must be resolved where we are now on planet Earth. We have ultimate responsibility. The teachings of the Buddha provide us the wisdom to understand why we are in the trouble we are now and the way to develop peace and prosperity among nations before it is too late for our species.
Conflicts must be approached on a case by case basis. The living truths of Buddhist practice with its understanding of the dependent origination of all passing phenomena will strengthen the U.N.’s role as a mediator both before and after conflicts. It is up to U.N. leadership to implement training in the Middle Way for all personnel directly involved in international diplomacy.
I hope that this gathering should bring a good way and inspiration to solve great and small conflicts and war of the world.
Triple gems bless on all participants!
Dr. Lee Chi-Ran
Korea - World Buddhist Network CEO
