KUALA LUMPUR: The universal philosophy of Wesak Day can be emulated by Malaysians, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In a post on his Facebook today, in conjunction with Wesak Day, he said Buddhists believe that to achieve the highest level of happiness, or Nirvana, is to fight and eliminate greed, hatred and evil.
"This is a universal philosophy that can be emulated to cultivate love, human dignity, the principle of coexistence, respect and living in a state of peace and harmony."
He said Malaysia is a country that is blessed with various festivals and cultures, as such it should provide enlightenment to Malaysians to bring the message of love and peace, along with understanding as a way to avoid the destruction and extinction of the pluralistic way of life in the country.
In the post, Anwar said Wesak Day is a big day for Buddhists, where they commemorate three important events through one festival (Trisuci Wesak).
"This celebration was to commemorate the birth of the founder of Buddhism, Siddharta Gautama, his enlightenment at the age of 35 and then his death at the age of 80.
"Happy Wesak Day to all Buddhists in Malaysia," he wrote.