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International Vesak Day 2006
May 7th -
10th 2006 in Thailand
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The United Nations (UN)
global association of governments
 The
United Nations (UN) is an international organization that describes
itself as a "global association of governments facilitating cooperation
in international law, international security, economic development, and
social equity." It was founded in 1945 by 51 states, replacing The
League of Nations. As of 2005 it consists of 191 member states,
including virtually all internationally recognized independent nations.
Palestine and the Holy See both have Permanent Observer Missions to the
UN.
From its headquarters in New York City, the UN's member countries and
specialized agencies give guidance and decide on substantive and
administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout each year. The
organization is divided into administrative bodies, including the UN
General Assembly, UN Security Council, UN Economic and Social Council,
UN Trusteeship Council, UN Secretariat, and the International Court of
Justice, as well as counterpart bodies dealing with the governance of
all other UN system agencies, such as the WHO and UNICEF. The UN's most
visible public figure is the Secretary-General.
Activities to be held at the United Nations Conference Centre
From May 8-10, the conference will take place at the UN Conference
Centre, Bangkok. Main activities will be as follows:
- Chanting and meditation
- Welcome address by the Rector of MCU
- Messages from Guests of Honour; Special Guests such as H.E. Kofi
Annan, Secretary-General, UN; H.E. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary,
UNESCAP; H.E. Koichiro Matsuuara, Director-General, UNESCO
- Speech by H.E. the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand
- Speeches and messages from Buddhist leaders; Heads of State
- Keynote Speech by the Most Ven. Phra Raj Sumedhajarn (Sumedho
Bhikkhu)
- Panel Discussion on Perspectives on Buddhist Strategy for World
Peace and Sustainable Development
- Guest Lectures
- Workshops on six topics: World Peace, Buddhist Education,
Dissemination of Buddhism, Protection of Buddhist Culture,
Sustainable Development and Buddhist Collaboration
- Reports from the Workshops, followed by Open Discussion
- Issue of Joint Communiqu?
- Closing Ceremony presided over by His Holiness, Somdet Phra
Buddhacharya, President of the Executive Committee on behalf of the
Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
(Download this Schedule)
Transport to and from the United Nations Conference Centre
All VIP guests, Buddhist leaders and participants who stay at the hotels
will be going to the venue by the transport arranged by the host. Other
participants and observers may go there by car (UN car park is limited),
or take a taxi, the cost depends on where you start from. Coaches will
also leave from Wat Mahadhath and Sanam Luang.
Phutthamonthon
Buddhist park in the Phutthamonthon district
 Phutthamonthon
(Thai พุทธมณฑล, also often called Buddha Monthon) is a Buddhist park in
the Phutthamonthon district, Nakhon Pathom Province of Thailand, west of
Bangkok. It is highlighted by a 15.87 m (52 foot) high Buddha statue,
which is considered to be the highest free-standing Buddha statue of the
world.
The park was created in 1957 (which was the year 2500 in the Thai
Buddhist Era) on the basis of an idea of Thailand's prime minister,
Phibunsongkhram. The park covers an area of about 40 hectares, which in
traditional Thai units is 2500 rai. Construction started on July 29
1955, and the park was inaugurated on the Vaisakh Bucha day (May 13) in
1957.
After a long pause construction on the park resumed in 1976; notably,
the main Buddha statue was built after that time. Already designed in
1955 by art professor Silpa Bhirasri, the statue was cast in 1981. Given
the name Phra Si Sakaya Dasabalayan Prathan Buddhamonthon Sudassana by
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, it is located at the centre of the park. Around
the statue are sites memorialising the four main stations in the life of
Buddha: his birth symolized by seven lotus flowers, his Enlightment
under the Bodhi tree, his first sermon and his death. Another important
building is the marble viharn, which contains the entire buddhist canon
engraved in 1418 marble stelas.
Activities to be held at Buddhamonthon
- Opening Ceremony of Exhibitions on the Day of Vesak by His
Holiness, Somdet Phra Buddhacharya, President of the Executive
Committee, on behalf of the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand
- Inauguration Address by HRH Princess Siriwanwarinarirattana
- Welcome Speech by Most Ven. Prof. Dr. Phra Dhammakosajarn,
Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
- Speech by H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
- Speeches and Messages from Buddhist leaders
- Ethnic Cultural Shows from different Buddhist traditions
- Candle Lit Procession
Transportation from and to Buddhamonthon
All VIP guests, Buddhist leaders and participants who stay at the
hotels will be going to the venue by the transportation arranged by the
host.
Those who would like to go there privately can drive a car or take a
taxi; the cost should be between 150 baht and 300 or 400 baht
depending on where you start from.
Wat Phra Kaew
the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
 Wat
Phrasrirattana Sasadaram (Wat Phra Kaew), or the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha, situated within the Grand Palace, near Sanam Luang, is a sacred
symbol of the Rattanakosin, or Bangkok, Dyansty and the most important
temple in realm. It was built by King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri
Dynasty, at the same time as the Grand Palace in 1782, when he
established Bangkok as his capital, in order to serve as the palace
chapel, in which traditional royal ceremonies would be conducted. It
thus has a sanctuary for the performance of Buddhist rites, but no
residences for monks.
The temple is richly endowed with fine art and architecture. The
Emerald Buddha image is enshrined in the phra ubosot, the exterior walls
of which are covered with beautiful designs in gold leaf and glass,
while the interior walls bear murals depicting the life of Buddha and
other subjects.
The phra mondop, or library, is set on a high base surmounted by a
stepped pyramid. Inside is reserved a chest containing the Tripitaka,
the Buddhist sacred scripture.
The Royal Pantheon, or Prasat Thepbidon, has a high spire. Inside are
enshrined statures of the eight previous kings of the Chakri Dynasty.
Next to phra mondop is a miniature replica of Angor Wat, which King
Rama IV had constructed.
The walls of the cloister are decorated with murals showing scenes
from the Ramakian, the Thai version of the Ramayana. These were
originally painted during the reign of King Rama I and have been
restored several times.
Activities at Wat Phra Kaew
Wat Phra Kaew, or the Emerald Buddha Temple, is a very important
Buddhist site because the most sacred Emerald Buddha Image is kept in
the Uposatha Hall of the Temple. Every day many people, both Thais and
visitors, come to pay homage or to visit. To jointly celebrate the 60th
Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne, at 4 p.m. on May
9th, Buddhist leaders, the Sangharaja, Sanghanayaka, Mahathera and
Buddhist monks from 45 countries will perform chanting to bless His
Majesty King Bhumibol on this special occasion. The ceremony will be
presided over by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
On Visakha Puja Day, His Majesty the King himself, or His
representatives, together with the Royal family and people from
different walks of life, will take part in the candle-lit procession to
commemorate the virtues of the Buddha by circumambulating the Uposatha
Hall three times.
Transport to and from Wat Phra Kaew
After the end of the Workshops session at the UN Conference Centre,
transport to and from Wat Phra Kaew will be arranged by the host for all
VIP guests, Buddhist leaders and participants.
Sanam Lung
The Meru Ground
Sanam Luang (Thai : สนามหลวง) is an open field in front of the
Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. It is located in the historic center
of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), Thailand.
It was written in the Royal Chronicle as follow that : "In front
of Wat Mahathat, Sanam Luang lies between the Royal Palace and the
Palace to the Front. When royal cremation was held at the Phramen
Ground, the pyre set up in the centre with the Royal Palace Pavilion to
the south and the one of the Prince of the Palace to the Front to the
north. The music from the the Royal Palace and from the Palace to the
Front would be played on opposite sides of Sanam Luang".
Sanam Luang was officially known as Thung Phra Mane (the royal
cremation ground) (Thai : ทุ่งพระเมรุ). It has been used as a site for
the cremation of kings, queens and high-ranking princes since the reign
of King Rama I In 1855, King Rama IV changed the name from Thung Phra
Mane to Thong Sanam Luang , but the name is now shortened to Sanam Luang
History
Sanam Luang has been used since the time of King Rama I. It was
the place for royal ceremonies and functions. Including the cremation of
the Prince of the Palace to the Front, who was Rama I's brother. King
Rama II followed this example of performing royal ceremonies there,
including the cremation of the Prince of the Palace to the Front of his
reign, who was also his beloved brother. The Royal Chronicles mention
the close link between the two brothers as follows :
At the beginning of the season of the tradewind, the king flew a
Chula kite (star-shaped kite) in front of the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha and the Prince of the Palace to the Front flew a Pakpao kite
(plain kite) at Sanam Luang".
During the reign of King Rama III, when Thailand was engaged in
a conflict with Vietnam over the Cambodian border, the King wished to
demonstrate to other nations that Thailand was such a fertile,
flourishing country that even the area in front of the Grand Palace was
cultivated. Sanam Luang was then a normal plot of land, used for growing
rice. When there was a Royal Funeral, it would be smoothed over to
prepare for the event.
King Rama IV set up a place for performing the Ploughing Ceremony and
the Ceremony of Calling the Rain (Thai
พระราชพิธีพืชมงคลจรดพระนังคัลแรกนาขวัญ) where low walls were put up and
a small hall was built to place the Buddha image for the Ceremony.
Pavilions and towers were built near the king's seat when he watched the
ploughing ceremony. Next to the king's pavilion there was a stage where
plays were performed as part of the ritual of propitiating the gods.
Outside the wall there was a barn where the rice would be stored.
King Rama V enlarged Sanam Luang and pulled down all the
buildings which were used for the ceremonies of former kings and it was
no longer necessary to grow rice near the Royal Palace. The space was
needed for the preparation of the Centennial Celebration of Bangkok in
1897 which took place soon after King Rama V's return from Europe. It
was a grand celebration also corresponding to the king's fiftieth
birthday. Sanam Luang was still the place for kite flying. King Rama VI
again used the place in the same manner as former kings to perform
various ceremonies. Also, it was used as a race-track, and golf-course
since more foreigners came to visit and stay in the country.
The present king uses Sanam Luang annually on 11 March, for the
Ploughing Ceremony and the Ceremony of Calling the Rain. There were
various ceremonies performed at Sanam Luang, including the Bi-Centennial
Celebration of Bangkok (Thai : พระราชพิธีฉลองกรุงรัตนโกสินทร์ครบ 200 ปี),
in 1982, the grand celebration to the king's birthday (Thai :
พระราชพิธีกาญจนาภิเษก) and the cremation for Queen Rambhai Barni of King
Rama VII, in 1986
The last cremation that took place there was for the Queen
Grandmother, Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajachondeni in 1997.
The Fine Arts Department has listed Sanam Luang as a historical
site in 1977, announced on 13 December 1977, according to the Royal
Decree (book 94 part 126). The area of Sanam Luang is about 30 acres (74
Rai 63 Wa).
Activities to be held at the Meru Ground or Sanam Luang
The Meru Ground or Sanam Luang is a large park where important functions
are frequently held. Every year a week of promoting Buddhism is held on
the occasion of Visakha Puja Day. Temples, Buddhist organizations and
Buddhist societies, mostly from Bangkok and the suburbs, with the
cooperation of the Government and the private sector, organize
activities which may be classified as follows:
- Candle-lit procession and paying respect to the Holy Relics of
the Buddha (every day at any time)
- Exhibitions about the significance of Visakha Puja Day,
- Dhamma Discussions on interesting topics are held by various
organizations. Buddhist scholars are invited to give a talk
- Dhamma Talks by famous teachers
- Buddhist Chanting and meditation practice
- Recitation of Tipitaka (in Pali) over 24 hours
- Dhamma Speech Competition for youth is an activity supporting
young Buddhists interested in Buddhist teachings
- Cut-price book sales. Buddhists can buy books on Buddhism, and
also on general fields, at discount prices.
Transport to and from Meru Ground (Sanam Luang)
As Sanam Luang is at the centre of Bangkok City there are many ways to
reach it. Some public buses start and finish their routes at Sanam Luang
and many buses pass Sanam Luang. Taking the Chaophraya Express Boat is a
good choice to avoid traffic jams in Bangkok -- get off at Ta-Chang Pier
or Wanglang Pier.
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Buddha - The Great Humanist
among the world religious teachers
(next)
Xem
bài về Vua
Bhumibol
Adulyadej
Next
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Source:
http://202.28.52.14/vesak49/
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Layout : Pho Tri
Update : 06-05-2006
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