Goodwill Message to the 21st United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand
Respected sangha leaders
Distinguished guests
Friends in the Dharma
We are again celebrating the festival of Vesak with a UNDV conference in Bangkok in Thailand. This is the 21st time that the United Nations Day of Vesak is celebrated here in Asia. The first time being in 2004 here in this city and in this hall.
However, the first United Nations Day of Vesak was celebrated at the UN Headquarters in New York in the year 2000.
This followed the UN General Assembly’s formal recognition of the day on December 15, 1999, recognizing “the contribution that Buddhism has made and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity” and stating that “appropriate arrangements shall be made for international observances of the Day of Vesak at United Nations Headquarters and other United Nations offices.”
The third and most resent of such observances of the Day of Vesak, is the celebration of the International Day of Vesak 2026 at Palais des Nations, Geneva. This year the event was held for the fourth consecutive year.
Thus, the Day of Vesak is now celebrated annually at three major venues of the United Nations in three continents of the world.
This is something that we as Buddhist should rejoice in and something for which we should be thankful to those individuals who made this happen as well as to those who make this happen again year after year.
When the organisation of the United Nations was founded I 1945 the countries attending this event agreed on some fundamental principles as stated in its constitution:
- to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,
- to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
- to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
Peace, human rights and social and material well-being remain concerns for all who care about the welfare of humanity. The Buddha 2500 years ago told his followers to set out on a journey to promote the benefit, the happiness and the fulfilment of human beings.
This deep care for human beings, even going beyond the limits of human beings, is at the heart of the teachings of the Buddha.
Therefore, the values and principles articulated in the founding documents of the United Nations resonate deeply with the values and principles of the Dharma of Lord Buddha.
Therefore, establishing a connection between the organisation of the United Nations and the religion of Buddhism though celebrating the Day of Vesak annually under the auspices of the United Nations is a very meaningful reminder of the shared values that both advocate.
So we have good reasons to appreciate. As Buddhists we commemorate the birth of the Buddha, his attainment of enlightenment and his passing away. As Buddhists doing this at the venue of the United Nations, we add an important dimension to our commemoration, namely rejoicing in the efforts of all humans of all faiths and convictions in working for the wellbeing and happiness of humanity.
So thanks to all on this auspicious day.
Yours in the Dharma
Egil Lothe
President emeritus
Buddhist Federation of Norway