Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar Urges Religious Communities to Temper Ego for World Peace

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar has urged all religious communities to control their egos as a step towards creating peace, from personal life to global levels.

The remarks were made during the Vesak 2570 BE celebration at the Wihara Ekayana Arama Indonesia Buddhist Centre in Duri Kepa, West Jakarta, on Sunday, 31 May 2026.

He stated that conflicts worldwide stem from uncontrolled ego, and religious teachings play a crucial role in building harmony and peace.

“If we can tame our egos, it will not only resolve personal and family issues, but also societal, national, and even global problems,” said Nasaruddin Umar.

The Vesak celebration at the centre was attended by around 9,500 Buddhists and 28 monks and nuns from the Sangha Agung Indonesia. The event began with a pindapata procession and Vesak devotional ceremony.

Venerable Bhante Nyana Gupta said Vesak is not merely an annual religious event but also an opportunity to implement Buddhist teachings in daily life.

“We emphasise compassion as a key practice for Buddhists that can bring peace. The presence of the Buddha should also reside within each individual,” he added.

He explained that the Vesak celebrations have spanned nearly a month, with various social and spiritual activities involving people from all walks of life.

“These activities include social outreach, Dharma deepening sessions, and youth engagement initiatives,” he said.

“We were inspired by our Muslim friends and have been practising this for a month. There are also other activities, such as Dharma deepening and youth events, culminating in a special Vesak for teenagers. That’s how it is,” he added.

This year’s Vesak theme is “Spreading Love, Nurturing World Peace” with a sub-theme “Vesak Reminds Us How to Let Go of Ego”. The theme aims to remind communities to continuously instil virtues, tolerance, and fraternity in national and religious life.