2023年槟州全民庆卫塞

2023年槟州全民庆卫塞

槟州首席部长 曹观友先生致词稿

2023年4月30日，12.30pm

槟州社会发展与非伊斯兰宗教事务委员会主席        章瑛

槟州旅游与创意经济事务委员会主席                        杨顺兴

教育部副部长兼丹绒国会议员    林慧英

马来西亚佛教总会署理总会长    禅亮 法师

2023年槟州全民庆卫塞主席       开宁 法师

2023年槟州全民庆卫塞署理主席       郑来兴州议员

各位州议员

泰国领事HE Mr. Raschada Jiwalai

Consul General of Thailand in Penang

各位槟岛市议员

各协办单位、各佛教团体代表、法师、记者和嘉宾们，大家下午好。

首先，我要感谢槟州全民庆卫塞全体委员会筹办2023年槟州全民庆卫塞。

槟州全民庆卫塞自2012年起举办，但在2019年新冠疫情肆虐期间，活动被迫停办多年。如今，随着疫情缓解，槟州政府再次主办此项盛事，由马来西亚佛教总会主办、全槟各寺院庵堂暨佛团共同努力，旨在与全槟城人民共庆佛教徒最重要的节日——卫塞节。

今年的展览内容非常丰富，展现了佛教各大传承——北传佛教、南传佛教，以及藏传佛教的内涵，充分展示了槟城佛教团体的多元性和包容性。值得一提的是，北传佛教还展出了依照马来西亚佛教总会首届主席竺摩长老的墨宝书刻作品。

据我了解，这个作品是由多位佛教徒向拉曼大学中华研究院助理教授林志敏博士学习后雕刻而成的。这不仅是文化发展的重要推动，更展现了佛教中有许多精英人士，他们乐于学习并推动宗教文化的发展。

各位，槟城是一个非常有活力的城市，拥有着悠久的历史和文化。而我们的2030愿景是要把它打造成一个可持续发展、创新和智慧的城市。

这个愿景不仅能够为我们的居民提供更好的生活质量，而且能够让我们在全球舞台上更加有声有色。在实现这个愿景的过程中，佛教和文化的传承是非常重要的一环。

槟州全民庆卫塞是政府极力推动，并与马佛总以及各个佛教团体合作的盛大庆典。州政府希望通过这个庆典，与人民一同欢庆之余，让大家在这个节日里对自己的宗教有更深入的了解，促进文化的传承和弘扬，共同推动“槟城2030”愿景的实现。

各位，教育对于个人的成长和社会的发展至关重要，特别是宗教教育。在过去几年的疫情中，宗教成为了人们在恐惧和不安中的支持和力量，它可以安定人心，稳定社会。此外，佛教团体在疫情中展现了佛陀慈悲的精神，积极协助政府帮助那些需要帮助的人们，这是我们值得思考和肯定的。

我希望槟州的佛教团体和佛教徒能够从这次的槟州全民庆卫塞中受益，并感谢他们在教育和文化方面的推广工作。同时，我祝福他们能够将佛教教育和文化发扬光大。

各位，

本次卫塞节的主题是“齐心启力、国富民强”，因此，我也呼吁大家齐心协力，发挥各自的能力和力量，让槟城、让我们的国家走向繁荣昌盛，让国家越来越好，人民越来越幸福。

最后，我祝福所有的佛教徒在即将来临的卫塞节，一切顺利，卫塞节快乐！

First of all, I would like to thank the Penang Wesak Celebrations Committee for organizing Penang Wesak 2023.

The state level Wesak Celebrations has been held annually since 2012 except during the COVID-19 pandemic years. Now, with the pandemic already over, the Penang State Government is happy to be hosting this grand event again. The celebration is not only organized by the Malaysian Buddhist Association but also involves all Buddhist temples as well as Buddhist groups in Penang which have come together to share the joy of Wesak, which is the most important festival celebrated by the Buddhist community, with the people of Penang.

I’m happy to note that this year's exhibition is very rich and diverse in content, hence showing the significance of the three major Buddhist traditions - Northern Buddhism, Southern Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism, fully demonstrating the diversity and inclusiveness of Buddhist groups in Penang. It is worth mentioning that the Northern Buddhist tradition also exhibited the calligraphy works by the first chairman of the Malaysian Buddhist Association, the late Rev. Zhu Mo.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Penang is a very dynamic city rich in history and culture. Nevertheless, I always believe we can do better and that’s why the Penang2030 Vision is for all of us to develop the state into one which is “Family-Focused Green and Smart that Inspires the Nation”. In other words, Penang needs to be sustainable, innovative and finds its very own niche in meeting future challenges.

This Vision aims not only to provide a better quality of life for our people but also to give us a stronger voice on the global stage, while at the same time, serve as a blueprint for the direction our nation is heading. In the process of realizing this Vision, the culture and philosophy of Buddhism with its emphasis on loving kindness has a very important role.

As such, the Penang Wesak Day celebration is one which the state government strongly promotes through cooperation with the Malaysian Buddhist Association and various Buddhist groups. It is the wish of the state government that through this celebration, the Buddhist community at large will gain a deeper understanding of Buddhism, while at the same time inculcate values such as strong familial bond and proper living which are also part of the Penang2030 Vision.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

During the Covid-19 pandemic period when lives and livelihoods were affected, religion provided a much-needed pillar of support for our people when many were gripped by fear and anxiety. Turning to religion helped many to calm themselves and this stabilized our society. I am thankful that Buddhist groups have demonstrated the compassionate spirit of the Buddha at the time and actively assisted the state government to help those in need.

Ladies & Gentlemen,

I hope the Buddhist community in Penang will benefit from this Penang Wesak Day celebration through your education and cultural promotion activities.

In line with the theme for this year’s Wesak Day – “United Progress Towards National Prosperity and Resilient Citizens” – I appeal to all of you to work together and give your very best to make Penang and Malaysia prosperous in order for our people to lead meaningful lives.

Finally, I wish all Buddhists a very happy Wesak Day!