Message on the Day of Vesak
衛(wèi)塞節(jié)致辭

20 May 2016
2016年5月20日

At this time of mass population movements, violent conflicts, atrocious human rights abuses and hateful rhetoric aimed at dividing communities, the sacred commemoration of the Day of Vesak offers an invaluable opportunity to reflect on how the teachings of Buddhism can help the international community tackle pressing challenges.
面對當(dāng)前存在的大規(guī)模人口流動、暴力沖突、殘暴的侵犯人權(quán)行為和旨在分裂社群的仇恨言論，紀(jì)念神圣的衛(wèi)塞節(jié)提供了一個寶貴的契機(jī)，我們可以借此思考佛教教義如何能夠有助于國際社會處理各種緊迫挑戰(zhàn)。

The fundamental equality of all people, the imperative to seek justice, and the interdependence of life and the environment are more than abstract concepts for scholars to debate; they are living guidelines for Buddhists and others navigating the path to a better future.
人人平等的基本理念、尋求正義的必要性以及生命與環(huán)境的相互依存關(guān)系，不只是學(xué)者辯論的抽象概念，也是佛教徒和其他人在走向更加美好未來的道路上所踐行的準(zhǔn)則。

One Sutra tells the story of Srimala, a woman who pledged to help all those suffering from injustice, illness, poverty or disaster. This spirit of solidarity can animate our global efforts to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, carry out the Paris Agreement on climate change, and promote human rights while advancing human dignity worldwide.
佛經(jīng)中講述了一個名叫勝鬘的婦女立誓幫助所有遭受不公、疾病、貧窮或?yàn)?zāi)難的人的故事。這種團(tuán)結(jié)精神可以激勵我們在全球努力實(shí)現(xiàn)《2030年可持續(xù)發(fā)展議程》，執(zhí)行關(guān)于氣候變化的《巴黎協(xié)定》，促進(jìn)人權(quán)，增進(jìn)人類尊嚴(yán)。

The actions of Srimala also illustrate the primary role that women can play in advocating for peace, justice and human rights. Gender equality and the empowerment of women remain urgent priorities that will drive progress across the international agenda.
勝鬘的作為也表明，婦女可以在倡導(dǎo)和平、正義和人權(quán)方面發(fā)揮主要作用。性別平等和婦女賦權(quán)依然是緊迫的優(yōu)先事項(xiàng)，將推動整個國際議程取得進(jìn)展。

In just a few days, the United Nations will convene the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, where leaders will join activists and other partners to address the needs of millions of vulnerable people in crisis. Buddhists and individuals of all faiths who are concerned about the future of humanity can help advance the Summit’s aims to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilians in conflict, and improve the global response to emergencies.
再過幾個星期，聯(lián)合國將召開有史以來第一次世界人道主義問題首腦會議，世界各國領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人屆時將與活躍人士和其他伙伴合作一道，解決身處危機(jī)之中的數(shù)百萬弱勢民眾的需求。關(guān)心人類未來的佛教徒和所有信仰的信奉者都可以協(xié)助推動實(shí)現(xiàn)這次首腦會議在維護(hù)人道主義法、保護(hù)沖突中的平民和改善全球緊急情況應(yīng)對工作方面的目標(biāo)。

On this Day of Vesak, let us pledge to reach out to bridge differences, foster a sense of belonging, and show compassion on a global scale for the sake of our common future.
值此衛(wèi)塞節(jié)之際，讓我們承諾為我們的共同未來著想，在全球范圍內(nèi)主動彌合分歧，增強(qiáng)歸屬感，展現(xiàn)悲憫之心。