Respectfully Sent to:
Venerable Buddhist Clerics
Buddhist Followers
Greetings in the Name of Buddha.
Dear Venerables, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The twentieth century was a century of science and technology. Humankind benefited greatly from the numerous accomplishments of science. This century, however, also witnessed many setbacks of humanities. Natural disasters, poverty, diseases, wars, injustice, hatred and divisiveness, ... have brought much suffering to the world.
Human beings, as in the past, presence and future, still aspire for a peaceful and developed world, prosperous countries where every citizen enjoys true freedom and happiness without any forms of oppression and discrimination.
In the new millennium, this aspiration should not be just a wish. Efforts must be expended to turn it into a reality so that peace and happiness can be present in each family and each one of us.
Thus, ThuaThien-Hue Buddhist Clergy Council is organizing at the Tu Hieu Temple (in Hue city), a week of meditation-prayer-penance and religious services to pray for:
- Progress in world peace and prosperity for mankind;
- Soldiers who sacrificed for the country and victims of disasters in the
last century;
- Religions in Vietnam to be untied; and the Unified Buddhist Church of
Vietnam to resume its activities freely;
- The Vietnamese people to soon be free from the oppressive yokes and human
rights to be truly respected.
The Week of Prayer will be held from February 8 to February 14, 2001. On behalf of the Thua Thien-Hue Buddhist Clergy Council, we request all Buddhist clerics and followers, inside Vietnam as well as overseas, to join us in prayer so our wishes can be realized.
Best wishes of peace and happiness to all of you in the new millennium.
Buddhist Year 2544
Hue, January 8, 2001
On behalf of Thua Thien-Hue Buddhist Council
(Signed and sealed)
Bhikkhu Thich Thien Hanh