"These teachings can be the means to overcome the widespread problems of society caused by the incessant search for material wealth, fuelled by greed, instead of the great spiritual and ethical values of tolerance, understanding and compassion," President said in a message of felicitation to the United Nations Day of Vesak hosted by the Royal Thai Government.

Full text of the message:

I am indeed pleased to send this message of felicitation to the 8th International Celebration of United Nations Day of Vesak, hosted by the Royal Thai Government, with the Mahachulalohgkornraja Vidyalaya University as the principal organizer.

The thrice-sacred day of Vesak, celebrating the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of the Sakyamuni Buddha, is of special significance this year as its marks the 2600th Sambuddhatva Jayanthi – the Great Enlightenment of Prince Siddhartha that brought the message of Buddhism to the world.

As this most significant event in the annals of Buddhism is celebrated throughout the world, it is appropriate that the theme for this United Nations Day of Vesak is Buddhist Virtues in Socio-Economic Development. The many crises faced by the world today, in the diverse aspects of economic and finance, food and fuel security, climate change and protection of the environment the spread of terrorism and the growing search for peace and democracy, underlines the importance of the core teachings, of Buddhism that presents the Middle Path for genuine social progress. These teachings can be the means to overcome the widespread problems of society caused by the incessant search for material wealth, fuelled by greed, instead of the great spiritual and ethical values of tolerance, understanding and compassion.

”Sri Lanka is particularly pleased at the continuing success of the united Nations Day of Vesak, due to the important role played by our late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, in Sri Lanka co-hosting the UN resolution in 2000, giving international recognition to Vesak as the most sacred day for Buddhists the world over. ”The many delegations of Buddhists who will gather at Ayutthaya an Bangkok for these celebrations will engage in learned discourse and other activities that will seek to draw increased attention to the relevance of Buddhist Teaching to the world today; and chart out more paths for the spread of this Great Message of The Middle Way to many moe reions and societies in the world.

”I thank the Supreme Sangha Council and the Royal Thai Government for their blessings to this 8th United Nations Day o Vesak and wish the celebrations all success.
May you all be blessed by the Noble Triple Gem!