On the occasion of the Buddha Shakyamuni's relics being invited from India to Vietnam during the United Nations Vesak Day celebration taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6-8, a VNA reporter in New Delhi interviewed Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) Dr. Abhijit Halder about the significance of this activity.

Dr. Abhijit Halder said that Vietnam and India have a very ancient and close relationship that has lasted for many centuries. Buddhism is one of the deep bonds between the two countries.

Buddha lived in India, but his teachings have been preached in Vietnam for a long time and have been deeply received and studied by the people. This will be the first time that Vietnamese people will be able to worship Buddha's relics right in their homeland.

According to Dr. Abhijit Halder, the Buddha's relics are considered to be his incarnation whenever they are invited to a Buddhist country. Therefore, bringing the Buddha's relics to Vietnam is as sacred as the Buddha himself visiting Vietnam.

As the General Director of IBC, Dr. Abhijit Halder hopes that Buddhists in particular and Vietnamese people in general will deeply understand the special meaning of this event.

The relics invited to Vietnam this time originated from Nagarjuna Konda in Andhra Pradesh state, South India - a famous Buddhist heritage.

During the excavation here, this relic was found in a specially sealed coffin along with scriptures recording the relic. This excavation and research took place during the period when India had not yet gained independence.

In 1932, a representative of the British Viceroy returned the relics to the Maha Bodhi Society of India - founded in May 1891 with the mission of restoring and preserving Buddhist relics.

The Society later enshrined the relics in Sarnath (Deer Park), Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath is also where the Buddha delivered his first sermon - the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to his five disciples, marking the birth of the early Buddhist Sangha.

Regarding the procedures for bringing the relics, Dr. Abhijit Halder said that after leaving Sarnath, the Buddha's relics will be brought to the capital New Delhi on the afternoon of April 30 and kept at the National Museum for one day and one night.

During this time, monks, including about 150 Vietnamese monks and nuns, and the public will be able to come and chant sutras and pay homage. This solemn ceremony will mark the spiritual bond between India and Vietnam, based on the profound foundation of Buddhism.

On the night of May 1, the Buddha's relics will be brought from the capital New Delhi on a special plane of the Indian Government in a respectful and solemn atmosphere and by the morning of May 2, they will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The delegation accompanying the relics included monks from different parts of India, representatives of the Maha Bodhi Society of India, members of the National Museum, IBC, press reporters… led by a representative of the Government of India.

Regarding the meaning and importance of moving the Buddha's relics to Vietnam, Dr. Abhijit Halder pointed out three main points: First, IBC has the responsibility to support and motivate the Vietnamese people as much as possible in understanding more deeply about the Buddha and his teachings.

What India is trying to do is to appeal to people to focus more on the teachings of Buddha, because it contains the solution to the pressing problems of the world today such as war, conflict, climate change, related disasters.

Second, more and more Vietnamese people follow Buddhism and make pilgrimages to sacred places such as Sarnath, Bodh Gaya...

However, there are still many Vietnamese people who have not had the opportunity to come to India. Therefore, the invitation of Buddha's relics to Vietnam this time aims to help those who believe in Buddhism to worship and receive blessings from the Buddha, thereby imbuing them with the noble qualities and positive values ​​in the Buddha's teachings;

Third, Vesak is a sacred festival that combines three important events in the life of the Buddha: his birth, enlightenment and passing into nirvana. This is a day of extremely special significance for Buddhists around the world.

On this occasion, bringing the Buddha's relics to Vietnam will create an opportunity for many Buddhists to worship, remember and practice the Buddha's teachings on compassion, wisdom, moral values, ethics, mindfulness, and the ability to meditate to build a peaceful world without war or conflict...

Regarding the role of IBC in bringing Buddha's relics to Vietnam, Dr. Abhijit Halder said that IBC is the organization responsible for coordinating and leading the entire process of inviting the relics.

Specifically, IBC organized an accompanying delegation of monks and relevant officials; coordinated with the temple in Sarnath to plan the movement of the relics; organized ceremonies at important locations such as the airport, the National Museum, etc.; coordinated with the Vietnamese side in activities to welcome and enshrine the relics; organized exhibitions during the time the relics were enshrined in Vietnam; produced documentary films about the relics to be shown at the Vesak Festival, etc.

On the occasion of Vesak Day, Dr. Abhijit Halder would like to send his best wishes to Buddhists and people across Vietnam.

He stated: “Vesak is a great event, an opportunity for us to reflect and absorb the precious teachings of the Buddha on wisdom, compassion, mindfulness, morality, ethics... We bring the relics to Vietnam with all the hope that you will receive the blessings of the relics and remember all the teachings of the Buddha more deeply, strongly and sustainably”./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/y-nghia-cua-su-kien-lan-dau-ruoc-xa-loi-duc-phat-tu-an-do-sang-viet-nam-post1035893.vnp