Remarks by H.E. Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna on the occasion of the Day of Vesak

Remarks by H.E. Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi,
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand
to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna
on the occasion of the Day of Vesak
Wednesday, 26 May 2021, 11.30 – 12.00 hrs.

Most Venerable Dr. Vijayarajapura Seelawansa Thero,

Mr. Dennis Thatchaichawalit, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Office in Vienna

H.E. Majintha Jayesinghe, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ananda Kumaraseri,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

                  It is my great honour to join this auspicious occasion of the Day of Vesak, with the special religious observance by the Most Venerable and H.E. Ambassador Kumaraseri. This is the first time that the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Permanent Mission of Thailand together with the United Nations Office in Vienna celebrate the Day of Vesak in Vienna since the adoption, on 8 February 2000, of the UNGA resolution on International recognition of the Day of Vesak. I also wish to thank the diplomatic corps for attending this event.

                  The full moon day of the sixth lunar eclipse of Vesak Day is the sacred day on which Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing into Parinibbãna of the Lord Buddha. Buddhists observe this solemn occasion by reflecting on the virtues of the Lord Buddha and his timeless teachings or Dhamma. We also express our gratitude to the Lord Buddha by offering his teachings’ practice and contemplating the core principles which could be applied to address the uncertainties and challenges to our lives that we are facing nowadays.  

                  The Lord Buddha taught us to train our mind to protect it against the defilements, to cultivate good and noble qualities, while refrain from doing evil. The Lord Buddha has made us believe that human being has potentials and ability to be enlightened by awakening to the Four Noble Truths^[1] that lead us to end all the suffering as conditioned by defilements. Such defilements can be eliminated through practice of the Noble Eightfold Path^[2], consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi or meditative absorption. These practices help promoting to live our lives in a balanced approach to achieve inner and outer peace, and give true meaning and purpose to human existence. This path is based on the fundamental values of compassion, service to the humanity, and patient endurance, which is defined as “peaceful co-existence with the unpleasant” with our own selves, with one another, and with our surroundings.

In everyday life, we could also remind ourselves to follow the four principles of virtuous existence^[3], composing of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. These enduring concepts remain as a source of inspiration and guidance for humanity to peaceful co-existence, to handle all encounters, be it among human beings and between humans and their surroundings or nature, and to reconciliate different viewpoints and avoid conflicts.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are all well aware that our modern world becomes even more inter-connected with communication and technologies. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic bears testimony to the fact that the complexities of the modern world bring more uncertainties and crises. Many other specific issues, such as social intolerance, violence, growing inequalities, conflicts, global economic volatility, and environment degradation are cross-border challenges and require our shared responsibility to tackle. It is therefore timely for us, global citizens, to share understanding, promote compassion and sympathy, and live our lives in a more balanced way while giving support to each other. We could work together as one strong and united global community, to create a resilient, healthier and sustainable future.

It is my hope that today’s event can inspire and guide us all to continue to do our parts to uphold the peaceful co-existence and betterment of all beings. May the spirit of the Lord Buddha keep us safe and healthy.

I thank for your kind attention.

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^[1] The Four Noble Truths (Ariyasacca) are the fundamental and genuine realities that the noble ones see in the flow of experience of themselves and/or others. They compose of four inter-related topics namely, Duhkha or suffering, Samudaya or the cause/ origin of suffering, Nirodha or the cessation/extinction of defilements which are causes of sufferings, and Magga or the path leading to the cessation of suffering.

^[2] The Noble Eightfold Path (Magga), the fourth part of the Four Noble Truths, is the path to end of suffering or enlightenment.

^[3] The four principles of virtuous existence (Brahma-Vihara) are the principle enhancing people to maintain unblemished and noble life. They compose of the virtue of sympathy, the virtue of compassion, the virtue of unselfish joy, and the virtue of equanimity.