Respected members of the sangha, respected leaders and colleagues,
distinguished guests!
is a great honor to stand here in Bangkok on Vesak Buddhist Day 2026.
As a scholar of Buddhist Studies, I approach this occasion with both deep respect and a sense of responsibility. My work has allowed me to study Buddhist traditions, texts, and communities across different countries and cultures. And the more I study Buddhism, the more convinced I become that its ethical and spiritual potential for our world is immense.
At its heart, Buddhism offers humanity something profoundly needed: the possibility of compassion in times of anger, wisdom in times of confusion, and inner peace in times of fear. In a world increasingly marked by violence, polarization, and loneliness, the teachings of the Buddha remain not only spiritually meaningful, but also socially and politically relevant.
For this spiritual heritage, we should indeed feel genuine gratitude today.
Buddhism has given comfort to people in suffering, dignity to those who felt forgotten, and moral guidance to generations seeking meaning. Across Asia and far beyond, monks, nuns, and lay Buddhist leaders have educated communities, preserved knowledge, cared for the vulnerable, and created spaces of reflection and peace.
This deserves sincere respect.
But appreciation should never prevent honesty.
And honesty requires us to ask difficult questions — because, so I assume, Buddhism has much more potential than what we already see in practice today.
The modern world does not need religious institutions consumed by scandals, silence, or proximity to political power. It does not need spiritual leaders who remain passive in moments of war and injustice.
The world needs courageous monks and nuns who truly understand their role as ethical leaders in society.
Not leaders who distance themselves from suffering, but leaders who stand beside ordinary people.
Not leaders who seek influence and privilege, but leaders who speak truth even when it is uncomfortable.
Not leaders who bless nationalism, but leaders who defend our shared humanity across national and ethnical boundaries.
Too often, in many societies, religion has become entangled with nationalism and ethnic division. Religious language has sometimes been used to justify exclusion, discrimination, and even violence. Buddhism is not immune to this danger.
But Buddhism should never become an instrument of nationalism.
Because once religion divides human beings into “us” and “them,” it moves away from compassion and toward fear.
Rather than supporting nationalism, Buddhism should become a global peace power.
A peace power that stands firmly against war.
A peace power that rejects racism, discrimination, and hatred.
A peace power that protects minorities rather than remaining silent when they are attacked.
A peace power that reminds societies and governments that human dignity matters more than ideology or identity.
And this moral responsibility also begins within Buddhist institutions themselves.
If Buddhism wishes to speak credibly about justice and compassion, then it must also confront inequality inside its own communities.
Gender equality matters.
Women must have equal opportunities for leadership, education, ordination, and authority within Buddhist traditions. Nuns should not be treated as secondary figures. Their voices, scholarship, and spiritual leadership deserve full recognition and equal respect.
Compassion and wisdom without equality is incomplete.
And here I believe scholars of Buddhist Studies also have a special role to play.
Our task is not only to preserve texts, translate manuscripts, or organize conferences. Our responsibility is also ethical. Scholars must help create honest conversations about Buddhism in the modern world — conversations about power, inequality, nationalism, violence, and institutional responsibility.
We should not romanticize Buddhism, but neither should we cynically dismiss it.
Scholars can build bridges between traditions, between religions, and between cultures. We can defend historical complexity against propaganda and simplistic political narratives. And we can support voices within Buddhist communities that are working for peace, equality, and social responsibility.
Especially today, when misinformation, extremism, and polarization are growing around the world, intellectual honesty and moral courage matter deeply.
Young people are searching for ethical and spiritual guidance. They are looking for authenticity. They are looking for communities brave enough to confront racism, reject extremism, defend peace, and stand with the vulnerable.
If religious institutions fail to respond to these expectations, they risk becoming irrelevant.
But Buddhism does not have to become irrelevant.
In fact, Buddhism has extraordinary potential in the 21st century.
But this potential can only become reality if Buddhism chooses courage over comfort.
If it chooses self-criticism over denial.
If it chooses humanity over political and national loyalty.
And if spiritual authority is measured not by status or hierarchy, but by integrity and authenticity.
May Vesak 2026 therefore become a moment of reflection and renewal.
A moment where Buddhism rediscovers not only its ancient wisdom, but also its full responsibility in the modern world. A global player striving for conflict resolution and peace.
Our world needs peace.
And Buddhism can — and should — be one of the great forces for that peace.
Thank you very much.