On Saturday, May 11, 2024, Wat Phra Dhammakaya Melbourne, in collaboration with various Buddhist communities in the state of Victoria, Australia, organised the International Vesak Celebration, officially known as the VICTORIAN UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK, at Melbourne Town Hall in the heart of Melbourne. Thousands of laypeople and over a hundred monks and nuns from various sects, including Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, attended the event.

The morning activities began at 10:00 a.m. with almsgiving and serving meals to the monks and nuns from all nations and sects. This beautiful scene of diverse laypeople creating great merit together was a rare and remarkable sight.

In the afternoon, a procession featuring statues of the Buddha, representing his birth and enlightenment, moved through central Melbourne. This procession included representatives from Buddhist organisations from various countries residing in Victoria, showcasing the cultural diversity of Buddhist traditions. The goal of this activity was to widely proclaim Buddha's virtues to the public.

Representatives from all sects held a ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall at 1:45 PM to honour the Buddha's relics. Monks from the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions conducted chants to celebrate Vesak, an important global Buddhist holiday, followed by collective meditation. The event also included the reading of a message from the Australian Prime Minister, as well as speeches by members of the Melbourne City Council. Representatives from other religions were also present to give speeches and offer blessings to the Buddhist community.

The abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya Melbourne, Venerable Ronrawee, who also serves as a committee member of the Union of Thai Dhammaduta in Oceania and vice president of the Buddhist Federation of Australia, led the monks and laypeople in meditation, encouraging everyone to reflect on the merits accumulated during the Vesak celebration. Venerable Ronrawee emphasised visualising merit as light radiating from the centre of the body outward in all directions, symbolising the light of sharing. This merit, generated from offering Sangha Dana to the monastic community, was dedicated to alleviating the suffering of those in distress. Additionally, the merit of meditation was intended to be a light of peace to dispel the darkness of greed, anger, and delusion in people's hearts, illuminating the path to enlightenment. The merit was also extended with loving kindness, sending good wishes to families and communities, and dedicating them to the deceased with a heartfelt aspiration for world peace.

The event concluded with young participants from various Buddhist organisations reciting the Mangala Sutta in Pali and English.