Waisak Day: Vice President Gibran Urges Buddhists to Lead Peace Efforts

Jakarta - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka urged all Buddhists in the country to continue being pioneers of peace and maintaining interfaith brotherhood, as taught by Buddhism which emphasises love and wisdom.

During the climax of the 2026 National Tri Suci Waisak commemoration, Gibran made the appeal before Buddhist leaders and followers from various regions gathered at Taman Lumbini in the Borobudur Temple area, Magelang Regency, Central Java, on Sunday evening (31 May).

“The Waisak celebration at Borobudur tonight is not just a religious observance, but a strong symbol that Indonesia is a shared home that upholds peace, respects diversity, and turns differences into strength,” said Vice President Gibran in his speech during the National Tri Suci Waisak commemoration, as quoted from the Vice President’s Secretariat press release confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.

“Indonesia as a great nation requires unity and peace as a strong foundation for development. Therefore, I urge all Indonesian Buddhists to continue being pioneers of peace, strengthen tolerance, and actively contribute to maintaining interfaith brotherhood,” he added.

According to the Vice President, Buddhist teachings such as metta (loving-kindness), karuna (compassion), and panna (wisdom) are highly relevant in addressing today’s increasingly complex life challenges.

On the same occasion, Vice President Gibran also conveyed President Prabowo Subianto’s greetings to all Indonesian Buddhists celebrating Waisak at Borobudur.

“The spirit of this year’s Waisak, with the theme ‘Dharma as the Source of Morality and Wisdom, Love as the Source of World Peace,’ should inspire us all to strengthen brotherhood, spread goodness, prioritise dialogue, and maintain harmony in social, national, and state life,” said President Prabowo Subianto.

At Borobudur Temple Complex on Sunday evening, the climax of the 2026 National Tri Suci Waisak commemoration was attended by several government officials, including Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya, Deputy Minister of Creative Economy Irene Umar, and Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Enik Ermawati.