PM Lawrence Wong at Vesak Day Celebrations 2025

Once again, I’m very happy to join you this afternoon to celebrate Vesak Day and I wish all of you Happy Vesak Day in advance.

This year’s Vesak Day is especially meaningful because it coincides with SG60 – Singapore’s 60th year of independence!

Looking back at the past 60 years, we have so much to be grateful for.

Because Singapore started out from modest beginnings.

Many doubted that Singapore would survive, much less succeed.

But through the grit and determination of our pioneers, we built this nation, strong and free.

Today, Singapore is transformed. We enjoy a much higher standard of living. And we live in one of the most cohesive, peaceful and united societies in the world.

We are one of the most religiously diverse countries anywhere in the world. Across Singapore, you can see temples, churches and mosques, sometimes side-by-side along the same street.

Amidst this diversity, we enjoy deep harmony. Singaporeans of all faiths live together, eat together, and celebrate each other’s festivals. We may have different beliefs and practices, but we are happy to share our meals, forge friendships and grew up together in the same neighbourhoods.

This kind of harmony is not common – and certainly not automatically. Just look around the world. In many places religious and racial tensions are growing. The trend is moving towards division and more extremism.

But here in Singapore we have something precious, we have harmony in our multi racial and multi religious society and this is something we have to always cherish and protect.

What we have achieved did not happen by chance. In the early years, we too experienced racial and religious strife. But we worked hard, we persevered. And with decades of patient effort and hard work – especially by our religious leaders – we built bridges and strengthened mutual trust.

The Singapore Buddhist Federation has played a key role in this journey.

It sits on the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony and is represented on the Inter-Religious Organisation Council.

Through these platforms, the Buddhist leaders have helped to build strong bonds and trust with other religious leaders – quietly resolving issues when they arise, with compassion, mutual respect and understanding.

But harmony is the not the work of religious leaders alone.

All Singaporeans must do their part – reaching across lines of difference and making the effort to expand our common spaces.

I’m so grateful that the Buddhist community, as our largest religious group, you have set the tone of tolerance, inclusion and respect. And you have done so not just with words but with actions. So today I want to thank all of you for your contribution to racial and religious harmony in Singapore. Thank you very much.

There are so many things all of you do. You have Buddhist temples and charities offer free vegetarian meals for the public. Zu Lin Temple, every Chinese New Year invites seniors and disadvantaged families from Hong Kah North to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Buddhist organisations like the Singapore Buddhist Federation and Singapore Buddhist Lodge offer bursaries for students.

During the month of Ramadan, the Singapore Buddhist Lodge also donates rice to Ba’alwie Mosque for distribution to families in need. These are some examples you do.

You participate actively in the activities of the Racial & Religious Harmony Circles across Singapore. Last year, many temples also donated generously to the Harmony-in Action Fundraising Campaign to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza. Once again, thank you for all these acts of kindness and compassion.

Your acts of compassion and generosity reflect the enduring spirit of Buddha’s teachings – the emphasis on kindness, tolerance, selflessness and moral integrity.

These values apply to Singapore as a whole too. As we look ahead beyond SG60, it is the compassion that binds us, tolerance that sustains us, and moral courage that will carry us forward – together as one united people. So on this Vesak Day, let us renew our pledge to continue working hand in hand – to build an even more inclusive, gracious and harmonious Singapore.

Thank you very much and happy Vesak Day to everybody!

新加坡佛教总会会长释广品法师

各位善信

大家好！

今天很荣幸和大家一起庆祝卫塞节。首先，让我提早祝大家卫塞节快乐。

今年的卫塞节特别有意义，因为今年也是新加坡庆祝建国60周年。

我们的建国历程不是一帆风顺，而是面对很多挑战和危机。

但是，我们的建国先贤从来没有向困难低头，反而更加努力，克服挑战。

不但如此，我们可以不分种族、语言、宗教，生活在一起。

新加坡的社会有不同的宗教信仰和习惯，但是我们可以互相包容，尊重彼此。

无论是在组屋区、学校、还是小贩中心，我们都可以看到，不同种族和宗教的新加坡人，和睦共处。

我们一起生活，一起工作，一起用餐，不分你我。

这样和谐的社会，并不常见，也不是理所当然的。

在其他国家，宗教和种族主义的抬头，导致社会的分化。

幸好，在新加坡，我们还是保持团结。所以在庆祝建国60年的时候，这是值得我们珍惜的。

多年来，我们努力促进不同种族之间的了解，加强彼此的互信。

宗教领袖在这方面，扮演了重要的角色。

这不单单是宗教领袖的责任。

所以，我非常感谢本地的佛教社群，为宗教和谐做出的努力。

作为本地最大的宗教团体，本地佛教社群，一直通过不同的方式，加强各宗教之间的联系和信任。

你们邀请其他宗教代表出席活动，也会帮忙其他宗教团体，关心他们。

今天我要感谢大家的努力和付出。谢谢你们！

佛教总会会长广品法师刚才也提到，新加坡作为多元种族、多元宗教的社会，互相包容，和谐共处，是非常重要的。

这也是佛教的精神。慈悲为怀，关心他人，正直向上。

在关怀社会方面，佛总做出很大的贡献和努力，非常重视教育。

除了开办菩提学校和文殊中学以外，

每年也颁发助学金，给有需要的家庭，减轻他们的负担。

为的就是培养下一代，让他们有正确的价值观。

今天活动的主题是“互助互惠 温情处处”。在新加坡庆祝建国60周年，展望未来的时候，这个主题非常适合。

所以在庆祝卫塞节的今天，

希望大家能够继续关心彼此，互相帮忙，

因为只要我们团结一致，

肯定可以建设一个更温暖、更包容和更和谐的新加坡！

谢谢大家！