Vesak 2025: 'Black Lady Mountain will be the world's Buddhist destination'

"Peaceful scene" on top of Ba Den mountain

In the solemn chanting and flickering candlelight of the world peace prayer ceremony, Vesak 2025, Ba Den Mountain - the highest mountain in the South - has become a sacred gathering place for thousands of Buddhists from more than 80 countries and territories. Not only a pilgrimage site, this place is gradually affirming its position as a Buddhist center of global stature.

Ba Den Mountain is the gathering place of Buddhists from more than 80 countries around the world during the Vesak 2025 festival.

“ We are standing in a place called heaven in the Pali Canon ,” said Most Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit, President of ICDV. (The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. It is the most complete early Buddhist scripture that still exists - PV).

The President of ICDV called Ba Den Mountain a model for the five forms of happiness of the United Nations Vesak.

“ Heaven is not a place that we have to wait until we close our eyes to reach, but a realm that we can reach right in this life. And today, on the top of Ba Den Mountain, we are enjoying that peaceful realm .” He called this place a model for the five forms of peace of the United Nations Vesak: from economy , society, environment to soul and international friendship. And the 2025 Vesak Festival in Vietnam, with Ba Den as the destination, has contributed to making that come true.

A friendly, hospitable and sacred Vietnam

Many delegates coming to Vietnam for the first time, especially Ba Den Mountain, were deeply moved and surprised not only by the natural beauty or the scale of the spiritual works but also by the way Buddhism exists in life - not as a distant belief, but as a source of peaceful life that covers the space and people here.

Buddha's relics are enshrined at Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh.

Dr. Arunjyoti Bhikkhu from India – the homeland of Buddha – said: “ I was very moved to see the Vietnamese people receiving the Buddha’s relics with deep respect. Ba Den Mountain is as beautiful as Rajgir in India – where the Peace Pagoda is located. This place is very beautiful and I have seen that Vietnamese Buddhists not only consider Buddhism as a religion but also as a way of life, because they have also built such a magnificent Buddhist spiritual complex .”

Venerable Kosho Tomioka from Japan, who came to Tay Ninh for the first time, also expressed his surprise: “ We have never seen such a massive spiritual structure on the mountain. In Japan, there are no relics like this. This is truly something special and worthy of respect .”

Visiting the relics on the top of Ba Den mountain is a "great blessing"

For Venerable Maha Veth Masaenai - Vice President of the Lao Buddhist Union, being able to worship the relics on the top of Ba Den Mountain is a "great blessing": " On the top of this mountain, I feel a very good source of energy, fresh air. This is also a good relationship, when the relics of Duc Tri Ton are placed on Ba Den Mountain for people to worship. "

Beliefs and expectations of a world Buddhist destination

One of the most moving ceremonies at Ba Den Mountain was the planting of 108 Bodhi trees – symbols of wisdom, compassion and awareness – by delegates from around the world.

Ceremony of planting 108 Bodhi trees - symbol of wisdom, compassion and awakening

Venerable Thich Minh Thien - Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long An province - said: " The 108 trees represent the wish that everyone must love each other, protect each other and build happiness with compassion and wisdom ."

Vice President of ICDV – Ven. T. Dhammaratana – called it “a moment that will be recorded in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism”: “ The whole mountain was covered in the yellow color of the robes. Not just one but 108 Bodhi trees were planted, turning this place into a spiritual garden for Buddhists and Bodhisattvas ”.

Within the framework of the event, a candlelighting ceremony to pray for world peace was also held at Tay Bo Da Son Square. Thousands of candles were lit by monks and Buddhists from all over the world, spreading the light of wisdom and compassion in the sacred space. “ This is the first time I have been able to light candles with international friends at the foot of the statue of Quan Am. That moment was quiet and warm, as if the whole world was praying for a good thing ,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa - a Buddhist participant - emotionally shared.

Ba Den Mountain is a prominent pilgrimage site in the eyes of international friends.

Not only a place to hold ceremonies, Ba Den Mountain is becoming a new symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism in the eyes of international friends. Venerable Dhammaratana acknowledged: “ Vietnam is a country with a long-standing Buddhist tradition, religious freedom, and a supportive government. I believe Vietnam will soon become a world Buddhist destination, with Ba Den Mountain being a prominent pilgrimage site .”

Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu - Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - affirmed: " From such a large plain, there is a mountain that is cool all year round, with a systematic spiritual investment. After Vesak 2025, surely many international tourists will know Ba Den Mountain as a pilgrimage destination not to be missed ."

Held from May 6 to 8, 2025, the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is one of the important international cultural events to honor humanistic values ​​and global peace. The Buddha's relics will be enshrined at the Buddhist Exhibition Center, Ba Den Mountain from May 8 to 13, 2025 for Buddhists and the public to worship, pay homage to the world's Buddhist treasures and receive the Buddha's grace.

Thien Vu

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/vesak-2025-nui-ba-den-se-la-diem-den-phat-giao-cua-the-gioi-post548281.html