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Remarks by H.E. Mr. Yasuhide Nakayama
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of
the Government of Japan
At the Special Commemorative Event
On the Occasion of International Vesak Day
June 5, 2015
Madame President,
Venerable Monks,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor to have the opportunity to speak to you all at this ceremony commemorating International Vesak Day. I would particularly like to thank His Excellency Ambassador Plasai from the Permanent Mission of Thailand and His Excellency Ambassador Perera of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka, for taking the lead in organizing this event.
I am thrilled to see so many representatives from Japanese Buddhist temples and organizations based in the United States in attendance here today. It is wonderful to see the ways in which Japanese forms of Buddhism and their tenets have spread across the world.
Buddhism was first introduced into Japan in the mid-sixth century, hundreds of years after the death of Gautama Buddha. It soon became deeply rooted in Japanese society and culture, influencing the way in which the Japanese people live. In the early seventh century, Prince Shotoku, a great political leader at that time, enacted a 17 Article Constitution, Japan’s oldest constitution upholding the teachings of Buddhism. The first Article reads: People tend to form a group, but harmony is of utmost importance. Another article states “the evil must be punished. Good spirit must prevail”. Conflicts were seen often at that time, which made Prince Shotoku reflect on why people fight with each other. He believed that when one person holds both authority and power, it will be a source of disputes. Based on this belief, he separated these two; authority to the Emperor and power to the samurai soldiers. Eventually, he ruled the country in the spirit of Buddhism, and constructed the Horyuji temple, the oldest wooden building in the world. Through skillful means and a doctrine of tolerance, Japanese Buddhism flourished side-by-side with other indigenous faiths. While Japan has been and remains a home to peoples of many different religions, the influence of Buddhism and its teachings are seen and felt everywhere.
Denominations of Buddhism around the globe have different ways of honoring Vesak Day. In Japan, Buddhist temples hold hana-matsuri, or ‘Flower Festivals,’ where celebrants pour ama-cha, a sweet beverage prepared from hydrangea, over small sacred statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing a newborn baby, in commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha.
Buddhism’s emphasis on the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as also enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments, are values that practitioners cherish and believe in deeply.
Please allow me to quote an ancient saying from my country. It reads: “When people interact with each other with the mindset of Buddha, we find peace in our spirit amongst ourselves.” These sentiments are further highlighted in an old poem written by a renowned Zen monk from Japan. The story says that a samurai soldier asked this monk, “Where does your spirit lie?” The monk replied in the form of a poem. “My spirit cannot be stolen from my heart even by a sword. The right solution will emerge without deliberately seeking for it, just as cherry blossoms bloom when spring comes every year without fail.” I believe these words, which express the spirit of Buddhism, resound with the mission of the United Nations; that is to seek a solution satisfactory for all through dialogue.
Japan supports and is actively participating in a number of initiatives which the United Nations has undertaken in these areas, including the activities of UNESCO and the relevant General Assembly resolutions on the promotion of inter-religious dialogue and the elimination of intolerance.
In commemoration of Vesak Day, I would like to stress the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world. Buddha called for non-violence and profound respect for all living things, a message and principle that still rings true today. I would like to conclude my speech by reiterating our sincere thanks to those involved in making the Day of Vesak Celebration a success.
Thank you.
