Buddhism was born in Bodh Gaya,
India. Sakya Muni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism in this world. From the
birthplace of Buddhism, India, it was early spread to many Asian countries in
ancient time. Buddhism was propagated into Vietnam in early years of the first
century AD by two path, seaway and road. From the dawn to nowadays, almost 20
centuries, Vietnamese Buddhism was undergone many ups and downs along with
Vietnamese history.
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| Most Venerable Monks and Governors attend the conference |
In recent time, especially in
1960s, many people around the world knew Vietnamese Buddhism through the
movements to struggle against religious repression and discrimination of Ngo
Dinh Diem government. Among those movements, the self-immolation of Most
Venerable Thich Quang Duc was an outstanding event that touched millions of
heart had all over the world and had strong effect to the collapse of Diem’s
Government. The Most Venerable burned himself on the 10th of June,
1963, at the intersection of Phan Dinh Phung street and Le Van Duyet street,
Saigon city (nowadays, Nguyen Dinh Chieu and Cach Mang Thang Tam street, Ho Chi
Minh city) in order to protect Vietnam Buddhism and to request equality and
freedom in religious policy in Vietnam. After his self-immolation, his heart
was still unburned. Then people burned it under the heat of 2.0000C
of a special electric stove, and the heart was still intact. His heart became a
precious item of Vietnam.
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| Representatives participate the conference |
When the state of Vietnam was
united the North and the South, Vietnam Buddhism also came to a new stage with
many challenges. In 7th of November, 1981, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha was
established as an official organization of Vietnamese Buddhist community which
was recognized by Vietnam Government. With the birth of Vietnam Buddhist
Sangha, various schools and traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism had a
representative organization and had collective voices. Up to now, Vietnam
Buddhist Sangha had experienced 36 years with its nation and had provided lots
of benefits to many fields in society, such as culture, education, welfare,
etc. in Vietnam as well as in the world.
To mark 30th
anniversary of establishment of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, on 23rd of
December, 2011, the organization held a conference at the office II of Vietnam
Central Buddhist Sangha (at Quang Duc Monastery, Ho Chi Minh City). There were
many Buddhist leaders in provinces and cities nationwide and intellectual
Buddhists as well as scholars and researchers in Vietnam participated and made
presentations, gave suggestions at the conference. Besides, some officers and
leaders, governors of Vietnam Government also attended the conference.
The conference is a chance for
Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to examine its activities and programs, listen to
comments and suggestions from local Buddhist leaders and scholars, researchers
and intellectual Buddhists as well. At the same time, representatives of the
conference have to help Vietnam Buddhist Sangha set up programs, projects and
actual activities in order to improve Vietnam Buddhist up to a high new level,
uphold internal power of Vietnamese Buddhists and provide more positive effects
and benefits to social community.
In present, Vietnam Buddhist
community has 46,000 monks and nuns, 15,000 Buddhist temples. There are 4
Buddhist Universities, 31 Buddhist high Schools and some Buddhist colleges
nationwide. In addition, there are elementary Buddhist schools in many
districts and provinces.
The one-day conference was
closed with hopes that the Sangha will have meaningful transformations in
various aspects in order to overcome all challenges and suit all needs of a
strongly developing society in Vietnam.
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| Representatives participate the conference |
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| Representatives participate the conference |
Minh Nguyen
