Sunday, May 10, 2009

Buddha taught that we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer..."

A rich family in Cambodia (L) and a poor beggar in Cambodia. Buddha taught that we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer..."

UN chief calls for global compassion, solidarity on Buddhist day of Vesak

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- In a message commemorating the Vesak Day, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called upon the world to learn from the spiritual leader's sense of compassion.

"The financial crisis, climate change, pandemics, terrorism and other international threats prove that the fates of all people are linked," the secretary-general wrote in his message.

He noted that a problem for one country can quickly turn into a global threat, saying that "I constantly remind leaders that we must act together or we will fail individually."

It is in the world's best interest to join forces in solidarity, as well as the right thing to do, Ban said. "More than 2,500 years ago Buddha taught that nothing exists in isolation."

Underscoring the idea, Ban noted that Buddha also taught that we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer, and that when we do reach out, we discover the best in ourselves."
"On this day of Vesak, let us resolve to help people who are suffering so that we may secure a better future for all," he said.

Vesak is an annual holiday observed traditionally by practicing Buddhists in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Pakistan and India.

Sometimes informally called "Buddha's birthday," it actually encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.

The exact date of Vesak varies according to the various lunar calendars used in different traditions. In Theravada countries following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon Uposatha day (typically the 5th or 6th lunar month). While the Vesak Day in China, it is on the eighth of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar but falls in April or May.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

HUN SEN AND HIS FAMILY MUST DIE....

Anonymous said...

. . .but this whole family is far more than just happy!!!

Anonymous said...

we "cannot be happy as long as others suffer..."

This noble quote is only valide for a human with a brain and a conscience, it dosn't work chea muy pouk sat derichann os nis te. Pouk os nis beu vir mean kour kbal somrab kitt vir min tveu avei avei del pouk vir taeng tae tveu te. Pouk os nis kronn tae chea beysach mouy krom del mean trong treay chea mnuos, pak phlak khmer bunnos

pouk os nis tuos pouk vir khom promul prak kob kloun, peas meas penh kloun reu pak meas dol bak kor slab kor min arch aoy pouk vir mean domlai chea mnuos douch ke aeng der pruos pouk vir chea sat, derichann, mean meakri chivit ning kar kitt baeb sat derichann

Anonymous said...

Hookers and tugs family?