WESAK 2026 message by Bro Tan Leng Huat

Vesak Message 2026

This Vesak Day, let us take a moment to be thankful for this life – a life in which we have the capacity to cultivate gratitude and kindness.

As we bow before the Buddha on this auspicious day commemorating the Birth, Enlightenment, and the Passing of our Great Teacher, may our hearts be filled with gratitude for His teachings of compassion, wisdom, peace, and goodwill. These timeless teachings have moved the hearts of millions across the world and through generations.

Gratitude is one of the simplest yet most profound practices. It is simple because it requires little sacrifice; we need only be appreciative of the here and now. Yet it is profound because, when practiced consistently, it brings unburdened joy and renewed energy to overcome obstacles. It shifts frustration to appreciation, and as we learn to value what we have, we lessen attachment and craving – the causes of suffering – and move one step closer to the path of enlightenment.

The Buddha described in the Dullabha Sutra, the importance of gratitude:

“Monks, these two people are hard to find in the world. Which two? The one who is first to do a kindness, and the one who is grateful for a kindness done and feels obligated to repay it. These two people are hard to find in the world.”

When gratitude fills our hearts, it makes us humble. As we appreciate and seek to return the kindness shown to us, we become more aware of the goodwill and inter-connectivity of society. We realise that we don’t live in isolation, and this understanding helps create a more harmonious, cooperative, and peaceful world.

This deep connection between gratitude and our shared humanity, is eloquently expressed by Jean-Baptiste Massieu, a French bishop born in 1743;

‘Gratitude is the memory of the heart’.

As we celebrate this happy occasion, may our lives continue to be guided by the teachings of the Buddha and may we always find a reason to have gratitude in our hearts.

I wish you a very Happy Vesak 2026.
 
May the Triple Gem bless you and your loved ones always.

Happy Vesak Day!

Tan Leng Huat
President,
Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia.