"Virtual Vesak - Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration 2020 and Global Prayer Week May 7, 2020, is the Triple Blessed Day of Vesak - Buddha Poornima, the holiest day of Buddha's Birth, Enlightened Awakening, and Maha Parnirvana. Due to COVID- 19 contagion the mass celebrations are not possible this year and yet the need for prayers and refuge in the blessing of Triple Gem is greater than ever before while humanity is going through probably the worst crisis in recent times. Thus, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in association with the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), IBC chapters and several partner organizations incl Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, is organizing the Virtual Vesak- Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration 2020. The event brings a unique and blessed opportunity to witness and virtually participate in the ceremonies and prayers from the most sacred sites of Buddha Dharma. The event is also being dedicated as Global Prayer Week (from May 7) honoring the victims of COVID 19 and the medical professionals and first responders in the frontline of humanity's fightback against the pandemic. The events of the day will be held in three segments:" Schema · Torsdag 7 maj 2020 06:30 Evening- - Ceremonies, prayers and addresses 06:30–09:00 Morning - Ceremonies, prayers and addresses 18:00 Noon - Significance of Vesak from Cultural Context - Joint-Broadcast by IBC and Lotus Communication Network, Singapore Organised by International Buddhist Confederation" https://www.facebook.com/groups/432384590152536/permalink/3135808466476788/

"Today is famously regarded in the Elders' lineage as the holy anniversary of the Incomparable Lord Buddha's birth, Enlightenment, and Parinirvana. It is a precious opportunity for us followers of the Buddhist teachings to align all our behaviors over the next twenty-four hours with our Teacher's instructions and to engage in virtue and abandon negativity through recalling the story of his life and his exalted activities of body, speech, and mind. This time is an opportunity for us to continue developing our inner mental continuum as a means for taming and controlling our conduct. In fact, it is taught that the ultimate intent and goal of the Buddha's teachings is to show us that the primary means by which we are to become proper adherents of the teachings, in conjunction with maintaining a vast altruistic motivation, is nothing other than to strive in taming the mind. In particular, it is now widely recognized that the methods for training the mind, as found in the Buddhist teachings are like an excellent medicine that generates mental happiness and tranquility for all individuals—whether they accept the Dharma or not. We should all, therefore, make efforts to engage in activities that benefit others with a thought of heartfelt compassion. To sustain this unremittingly throughout our day to day lives is, I believe, extremely important. As His Holiness, the Dalai Lama states in his prayer known as "The Resounding Drum of Truth" (Smon tshig bden pa'i rnga sgra): For all those who suffer from the misery of poverty, oppression, and torture, Beset by harm, pestilence, or an imbalance of the elements, May all their hardships and obstacles, outer and inner, be fully pacified, And may they revel eternally in the glory of every happiness and bliss. With sincere prayers that all this will come to pass exactly as is expressed in these words. Ling Rinpoche 7th May 2020 New Delhi, India" https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3198199280200029&id=664580456895270