Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh was warned for causing society to lose faith in Buddhism and reducing the prestige of the Church.

Updated date: 01/22/2024 05:51:36

According to the announcement of the conclusion of the Standing Committee of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh must receive a disciplinary warning for the violations that occurred at Ba Vang Pagoda (Uong Bi, Quang Ninh ) recently.

The announcement of the conclusion sent to the Supreme Patriarch of the Council of Evidence; the Board of Supervisors, and the Council of Evidence, stated that on December 22, 2023, Ba Vang Pagoda held a ceremony to celebrate the 765th anniversary of the birth of King Buddha Tran Nhan Tong.

Then, from December 23 to 27, 2023, Ba Vang Pagoda organized for Buddhists and people to worship "Buddha's hair relics" at the pagoda, which was broadcast on the electronic pages of Ba Vang Pagoda and Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh introduced as "Buddha's hair relics from 2,600 years ago", a treasure of Parami Pagoda and Parami Buddha relic museum, Yangon, Myanmar.

The event of organizing a pilgrimage and communicating about "Buddha's hair relics" at Ba Vang Pagoda has been criticized by public opinion, creating a lot of conflicting information that seriously affects the beliefs of Buddhism and the reputation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province concluded that Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, violated the Law on Belief and Religion in registering the content of worshiping "Buddha's hair relics" at Ba Vang Pagoda and violating the invitation of foreigners to participate in the event without notice. Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh repeatedly left the country to conduct religious activities abroad without reporting to the Church and the state management agency for religion.

The actions of Ba Vang Pagoda have caused society to lose faith in Buddhism, affecting social order and the reputation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

On January 13, 2024, the Standing Committee of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha met at Quang Duc Zen Monastery (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) under the chairmanship of the Most Venerable, Chairman of the Executive Council, to give his opinion on this matter.

Accordingly, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha affirms that Buddha relics are the belief of Buddhism, a religious belief. Buddha relics are real, from the history of Buddhist scriptures, archeology, and currently Buddha relics are treasures of some Asian countries with Buddhist beliefs. Worship of Buddha relics is practiced in the religious life of the world Buddhist community.

The incident of Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh - abbot of Ba Vang pagoda organizing a pilgrimage to "Buddha's hair relics" by Venerable U Wepulla, abbot of Parami monastery and Parami Buddha relic museum (also known as Thone Wain monastery or Parmee Kyaung, address at Thone Wain road, block 5, Nam Okkalapa town, Yangon, Myanmar) to Ba Vang pagoda for Buddhists to worship during the week of commemorating the 765th anniversary of the birth of King Buddha Tran Nhan Tong without reporting to the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Quang Ninh province and the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; not organizing carefully, the media was not verified, causing the loss of society's trust in Buddhism, and reducing the prestige of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is a violation of Clause 2, Article 82, Chapter XIII of the Charter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, revised for the seventh time.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh went abroad to conduct religious activities and exchanges without reporting to the Sangha and invited foreign monks to attend ceremonies at Ba Vang Pagoda without reporting and asking for permission from the Sangha at all levels, which is a violation of Article 76 and Article 79, Chapter XIV of the Regulations on the activities of the Central Sangha Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Term IX (2022 - 2027).

Pursuant to Article 82, Chapter XIII of the Charter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, revised for the seventh time; Clause 2, Article 71, Chapter XIII of the Regulations on the activities of the Central Sangha Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, term IX (2022 - 2027), the Standing Committee of the Executive Council decided to discipline Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh with a warning, repent the Standing Committee of the Executive Council and notify the Executive Committees of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in provinces and cities.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh must commit that if he continues to commit similar violations that cause loss of public trust in Buddhism and affect the reputation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, he will be expelled and stripped of his abbotship.

Ba Vang Pagoda will not be allowed to organize international exchange events for one year.

The Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Quang Ninh province has strengthened measures to closely monitor the religious and media activities of Ba Vang Pagoda and of Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh.

According to VNA/NDO

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