To celebrate this year’s Vesak Day, the Ministry of Religious Affairs organized a nationwide simultaneous recitation of the Dhammapada Sutra by Buddhists.
On Sunday, 2,569 Buddhists from churches, schools, universities and various departments of the Ministry of Religious Affairs participated in the religious event.
“We adjusted the number of participants according to the date of Vesak Day in 2569 B.E.” said Supriyadi, director of the Buddhist Guidance Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jakarta.
He pointed out that the Dhammapada Sutra is one of the most well-known and cherished scriptures among Indonesian Buddhists due to its easy-to-understand and practical teachings.
“The content of the Dhammapada Sutra conveys moral teachings and wisdom, guiding people to become virtuous, cautious and happy,” he pointed out.
Supriyadi continued that the nationwide event, which began at 7:30 a.m. local time, aims to instill in all participants the noble values advocated by the Mahayana Buddhist Sutra and inspire them to fully practice these teachings in their daily lives.
He stressed: “Each of us has the obligation to get closer to the religion we believe in. Reciting the Mahayana Sutras reflects our love for religion, and this love must be reflected through our behavior and concrete actions.” He
expressed the hope that the nationwide collective chanting activities will inspire all Buddhists in the country to continue to deepen their spiritual understanding and actively integrate religious teachings into their daily lives.
He concluded: “I hope that reciting the Mahayana Sutras can become a medium for us to express our love for religion and encourage us to put religious values into practice.”
