| 笔译、口译资料下载 中文版：卫塞节致辞2013.doc Secretary-General’s
Message on the Day of Vesak 秘书长卫塞节致辞
24 May 2013 2013年5月24日
Vesak Day is a celebration for
Buddhists worldwide and an opportunity for all members of the international
community to benefit from their rich traditions.
卫塞节既是全世界佛教徒的节日，也让国际社会全体成员都有机会获益于各自丰富的宗教传统。
This year’s observance, falling
at a time of widespread strife and misery, is an occasion to examine how
Buddhist teachings can inform our response to prevailing challenges.
今年卫塞节之际，各地冲突四起，造成巨大痛苦，我们正可借此机会思考如何在佛教教义指导下应对当前的种种挑战。
Confronting the troubling
problems facing our world is consonant with Buddhism. The Buddha himself, as a
young prince, left the safety of his palace to discover the four sufferings of
birth, sickness, old age and death.
勇于面对困扰世界的问题符合佛教的观念。佛陀本人年轻时是一位王子，却离开安居的宫殿，发现世上存在生苦、病苦、老苦、死苦这四种苦难。
While such painful realities
cannot be avoided, Buddhism offers insights into how to cope with them. Its
history is replete with inspiring examples of the transformative power of
Buddhist philosophy.
虽然这些现实中的痛苦无可避免，但佛教教给人们如何加以应对。在其历史上，佛教哲学每每以巨大的改造力令人叹服。
The legendary King Ashoka, a
conqueror who presided over a brutal reign in India some three centuries after
the Buddha’s passing, ultimately converted to Buddhism, renounced violence and
embraced peace.
传奇人物阿育王是佛陀离世约三个世纪后对印度进行严酷统治的征服者，最终却皈依佛门，放弃暴力，拥抱和平。
The values that King Ashoka
espoused, including human rights, democratic governance and respect for the
dignity of life, are common to all great religions. The fact that he was able
to embrace them after years of brutal war offers proof that the goodwill of
individuals can end widespread suffering.
阿育王倡导的价值观包括人权、民主治理、对生命尊严的尊重。这些价值观是所有伟大宗教所共有的。阿育王在多年残酷战争后能提倡这些价值观，充分证明个人的善意可以结束普遍存在的苦难。
Now more than ever, we need the
spirit of non-violence to help inspire peace and quell conflict.
今天，我们空前需要以非暴力精神促进和平，平息冲突。
I offer my best wishes to
believers celebrating Vesak Day, and my sincerest hopes that we may all draw on
spiritual ideals to strengthen our resolve to improve our world.
我衷心祝福欢庆卫塞节的佛教徒，并衷心希望我们大家都能本着崇高理想，下定决心，让世界变得更好。 |
