by 
Sanjay Patil : PTI Agency : United Nations: As millions of Buddhists around the world celebrate the sacred occasion of Vesak, the UN chief called on all nations to celebrate Lord Buddha's wisdom by taking action for others with compassion and solidarity, "and by renewing our commitment to build a peaceful world."
Lord Buddha's message of unity, service to others is more important today as humanity suffers from the COVID-19 pandemic and it is only by working together that nations can stop the spread, recover from the deadly coronavirus, the UN chief said in his message for the Day of Vesak. Vesak marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. It is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world.
"As we honour the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Lord Buddha, we can all be inspired by his teachings. And as the human family suffers the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded of the sutra: ''Because all living beings are subject to illness, I am ill as well''," Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message for the Day of Vesak, observed on May 7.
Antonio Guterres said Buddha's timeless message of unity and service to others is more important than ever. "It is only together that we will stop the spread of the coronavirus and recover," Antonio Guterres said. As millions of Buddhists around the world celebrate the sacred occasion of Vesak, the UN chief called on all nations to celebrate Lord Buddha's wisdom by taking action for others with compassion and solidarity, "and by renewing our commitment to build a peaceful world."
Vesak is the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. On this day, Buddha attained enlightenment and passed away in his 80th year. In 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it recognised the International Day to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity.
Guterres spoke by video conference at a closed council meeting on COVID-19’s impact on the council’s mandate, which is the preservation of international peace and security. It was the first discussion by its 15 ambassadors on the pandemic. While the meeting was closed, the U.N. spokesman released Guterres’ briefing and a number of ambassadors released their remarks to the media.
The U.N. chief said the engagement of the Security Council will be “critical to mitigate the peace and security implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.” He added that “a signal of unity and resolve from the Council would count for a lot at this anxious time.”
Diplomats said the Security Council was initially blocked from issuing a statement or adopting a resolution by U.S. insistence that the origin of the virus in China or Wuhan be included, which China objected to, but Belgium’s U.N. Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, an elected council member, said that was not mentioned on Thursday. He and the nine other elected council members had been pressing for a meeting and succeeded in getting the secretary-general to brief on Thursday.
According to diplomats, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to organize a video conference of leaders of the five permanent council members, also including China, Russia and Britain, and France wanted that before a council meeting, but it couldn’t be arranged. Meanwhile, the 10 elected members had been pressing for a council meeting and briefing from Guterres — and they had the nine votes needed for it to happen on Thursday.
Pecsteen de Buytswerve said even though the press statement from the council was “very minimal” it is an expression of support for the secretary-general and his call for peace and a cease-fire “and that’s the most important thing at this stage.”
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres warns COVID-19 threatens global peace and security
UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is threatening international peace and security — “potentially leading to an increase in social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease.”
The U.N.’s most powerful body, which has been silent on COVID-19 since it started circling the globe sickening and killing tens of thousands, issued its first brief press statement after the closed meeting. It expressed “support for all efforts of the secretary-general concerning the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to conflict-affected countries and recalled the need for unity and solidarity with all those affected.”
Guterres, who called for a cease-fire for all global conflicts on March 23, said the crisis has “hindered international, regional and national conflict resolution efforts, exactly when they are needed most.”
He cited other pressing risks to global security from the pandemic: terrorists seeing an opportunity to strike, groups seeing how a biological terrorist attack might unfold, the erosion of trust in public institutions, economic instability, political tensions from postponing elections or referenda, uncertainty sparking further division and turmoil in some countries, and COVID-19 “triggering or exacerbating various human rights challenges.”
The secretary-general reiterated that the United Nations faces “its gravest test” since the organization was founded 75 years ago from the pandemic and concluded saying: “This is the fight of a generation — and (the reason for) the United Nations itself.”
बुद्ध पूर्णिमा पर पीएम मोदी का संबोधन
नई दिल्ली : पीएम नरेंद्र मोदी ने आज बुद्ध पूर्णिमा के अवसर पर आज देश को संबोधित किया। इस अवसर पर पीएम ने कहा कि हताशा और निराशा के दौर में भगवान बुद्ध की सीख और ज्यादा प्रासंगिक हो जाती है। उन्होंने कहा कि कोरोना महामारी के कारण वह तकनीक के माध्यम से जुड़ रहे हैं। पीएम ने कहा कि दुनिया मुश्किल वक्त से गुजर रही है।
NEW DELHI : PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that while India is making every effort to save the life of every citizen from coronavirus, it is also taking its global obligations during the pandemic very seriously. Speaking at a virtual global Buddha Pournima event, Modi said, “People world over working selflessly for others in these difficult times are worthy of praise.” “While India is making every effort to save the life of every Indian today, it is also taking its global obligations equally seriously.
India is standing strong and selflessly in these difficult times with those facing trouble in India or abroad,” he said. The Prime Minister also asserted that India’s growth will always be aiding global growth. Buddha Pournima celebrations this year are being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event has been organised in the honour of coronavirus victims and frontline warriors. The Prime Minister further said that the teachings of Buddha stated that human beings should constantly strive to overcome difficult situations and urged everyone to work together during this pandemic.
“The goals and standards of our success change with time, but we need to keep in mind is that our work should be done with a sense of compassion and service for mankind,” he said. The Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), a global Buddhist umbrella organisation, organised the virtual prayer event with the participation of all the supreme heads of the Buddhist Sanghas from around the world.
0 comments: