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Bangkok Declaration of the 19th International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak
20 MAY 24 | University's News
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Preamble
On December 15, 1999, representatives from 34 countries proposed to the United Nations General Assembly that the full moon day in May be officially recognized and observed as the United Nations Day of Vesak, starting in the Year 2000 and held annually at the United Nations Headquarters and its Regional Offices. The General Assembly approved this proposal (Agenda Item 174 of Session No. 54), and thus the UN Day of Vesak was established in the Year 2000 with the support of all Buddhist traditions.
In accordance with this decision, we, participants from 73 countries and regions, gathered in Ayutthaya and Bangkok, Thailand on May 19th–20th, 2024 (B.E. 2567) to commemorate the Birth, Enlightenment, and Passing of the Buddha; and also to celebrate the 72nd Royal Birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand. This event was graciously organized by the International Council for the Day of Vesak and Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University; and generously supported by the Royal Government of Thailand under the guidance of the Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand.
During the meetings at the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Main Campus in Wang Noi, Ayutthaya; the UNESCAP in Bangkok; and Buddhamonthon in Nakhon Pathom Province, we discussed the theme of “The Buddhist Way of Building Trust and Solidarity,” aiming to enhance mutual understanding and co-operation among organizations and individuals from all Buddhist traditions and beyond. At the conclusion of our productive meetings and deliberations, we have unanimously agreed on the following 12 resolutions:
1.Buddhist leaders from various traditions invoked the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem upon His Majesty, King Rama X of Thailand, on the auspicious occasion of His 72th Royal Birthday, wishing Him good health, longevity, and happiness.
2.We, all the participants, also extend our profound admiration for the Royal Thai Tipiṭaka Translation Project, which involves the translation by Thai and international scholars of the complete 45 volumes of the Siamrath Edition of the Pali Tipiṭaka into English. This project has been launched by the Supreme Sangha Council of Thailand and generously supported by the Royal Government of Thailand in honour of the Coronation of His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn, Rama X. This year, to celebrate the 72nd Royal Birthday of His Majesty the King, one volume from each of the three collections of the Tipiṭaka will be published.
3.Recognizing a sense of shared purpose and universal responsibility, we, the Buddhist communities worldwide, urge citizens and governments to redouble their efforts in building trust and solidarity in today’s world, so fractured by conflicts, by using mindfulness, empathy and compassion as the basis for respectful dialogue and co-operation.
4.Acknowledging the universality of suffering and the shared desire for happiness, we resolve to build and nurture connections that transcend our ostensible cultural and ideological differences.
5.We are committed to following the Buddhist framework of cultivating trust within ourselves and with others, shifting from a competitive to a collaborative mindset: promoting mindful emotional management, communication and effective problem-solving, leading to global partnership.
6.We emphasize the importance of tolerance, active listening and mindful dialogue as valuable tools for fostering mutual respect and in building bridges across religious divides.
7.We commit to increasing our efforts in developing and promoting mindful education to ensure future generations are provided with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute to a more peaceful and compassionate world. This foundation is based on ethical conduct, mindfulness, and compassionate wisdom – the very cornerstones of a harmonious society as taught by the Buddha in the Four Noble Truths and the Middle Path.
8.We urge the Buddhist communities and beyond to apply mindful compassion to many spheres of daily life. We discussed successful case studies such as (a) mindful eating, as in Zen Eating which connects us to all the people and processes that make every bite of our food possible; (b) mindful compassion in the workplace, for instance, of healthcare workers; and (c) mindful education, with the example of the “Mindful School Project” (Sati Pasala) in Sri Lanka.
9.We agree that mindfulness may also be applied to a range of other activities, for example, in diplomacy, international trade and nationbuilding. In the case of Vietnam, mindfulness is used to embrace the present and not dwell on her painful past, thus bringing healing to all concerned, contributing to world peace and prosperity.
10.We declare that mindfulness, if widely applied in societies, has the potential to reduce inequality, to narrow the gap in health and economic terms between the haves and the have-nots, and thus be instrumental in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, that are essential for our collective future.
11.We emphasize the need for continued climate-awareness action and engaged mindfulness from its leadership, serving as a model for responsible environmental stewardship at all levels of society.
12.Finally, the International Council for the Day of Vesak is pleased to announce its approval and support for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to host the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2025. This will be the fourth time Vietnam has held this prestigious honour. We extend a warm invitation to all Buddhist leaders, scholars, and practitioners to join us in Vietnam for this momentous occasion.
Done as the Declaration of the 19th United Nations Day of Vesak, this 20th Day of May 2024 (B.E. 2567).
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