Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has many contributions in "Protecting the nation and bringing peace to the people"

President Vo Van Thuong visited and congratulated Most Venerable Elder Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Council at Hue Nghiem Pagoda.

On the morning of May 26, April 8, Quy Mao year, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, President Vo Van Thuong visited and congratulated dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhists of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at Hue Nghiem Pagoda and Minh Dao Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of Buddha's birthday, Buddhist calendar 2567 - Gregorian calendar 2023.

Also attending were Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission Bui Thi Minh Hoai.

Every year in the fourth lunar month, Buddha's birthday is solemnly celebrated by monks, nuns and Buddhists both at home and abroad. This is not only an occasion for each Buddhist to show gratitude and turn to their Master, but also an occasion for society to honor the good moral and cultural values of Buddhism for social life.

Visiting and congratulating Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Council at Hue Nghiem Pagoda, President Vo Van Thuong sent his best wishes to the Supreme Patriarch; wishing the Sangha and all monks, nuns, and Buddhists at home and abroad a peaceful, joyful, and happy Buddha's birthday.

Recalling the process of Buddhism's introduction into Vietnam over thousands of years, the President stated that Buddhism is currently one of the important religions in Vietnam, having a great influence on social life. Buddhism has always been a patriotic religion, accompanying the nation, making many important contributions to the cause of "Protecting the nation and bringing peace to the people."

The President acknowledged that over the past time, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has continuously developed and grown in all aspects; done many things that benefit life and religion. In particular, the Sangha has mobilized monks, nuns, and Buddhists nationwide to live and work according to the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, fulfill their obligations as citizens, build a cultural life, eradicate hunger and reduce poverty, mobilize humanitarian aid, and help people facing difficult circumstances due to natural disasters, epidemics, and misfortunes in life.

These humane activities are a continuation of the tradition of protecting the nation and pacifying the people, "Serving all living beings is making offerings to the Buddhas," contributing to arousing the responsibility and mutual love of the whole society, contributing to fostering the great solidarity of the whole nation.

President Vo Van Thuong performs the Buddha bathing ritual at Hue Nghiem Pagoda.

The President affirmed the consistent policy of the Party and State to always respect and ensure the people's freedom of belief and religion, care for and create conditions for religious organizations to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws; promote good cultural and ethical values and religious resources for the country's development process for the goal of "A rich people, a strong country, a democratic, equitable and civilized society."

The President emphasized that the Party, the State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front believe and hope that, with the leadership position of the head of the Council of Monks, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang and other religious dignitaries will have a new term with many successes; at the same time, guide Vietnamese Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers to continue implementing the motto of "Dharma - Nation - Socialism," contributing to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Council, thanked President Vo Van Thuong on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front for coming to congratulate the Buddha's Birthday to dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhists of Vietnam and highly appreciated the position, role, and achievements of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in recent times.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang recalled the heroic history of Vietnamese Buddhism accompanying the nation in the cause of building and protecting the country; at the same time mentioned the great significance of Buddha's Birthday and said that for monks, nuns and Buddhists, there is no greater joy than celebrating Buddha's Birthday.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang expressed his joy and happiness to see that under the leadership of the Party, the country is developing strongly, its international position and prestige are growing stronger, just as President Ho Chi Minh wished. The Supreme Patriarch hopes and believes that the country will continue to achieve even greater achievements in the coming time, bringing an increasingly prosperous and happy life to the people.

Referring to the fact that Vietnam has successfully organized the United Nations Vesak Festival three times, thereby spreading a good and humane image of the country and people of Vietnam in general, and Vietnamese Buddhism in particular, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang said that international delegates and friends coming to Vietnam not only attend Vesak, but also to learn about religious freedom in Vietnam and witness the strong development as well as the rich religious activities in Vietnam.

President Vo Van Thuong and delegates released doves to pray for national peace and people's safety at Minh Dao Pagoda.

Visiting and congratulating Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at Minh Dao Pagoda, the President acknowledged that since its establishment, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has gone through more than 40 years of construction and development, becoming a unified and strong common home of Vietnamese Buddhism both at home and abroad.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and other leaders of the Sangha have made many positive contributions, joining hands with authorities at all levels, the Fatherland Front and organizations in building national solidarity, religious solidarity and carrying out patriotic emulation movements, social security work and community work in recent times.

The dignitaries, monks and nuns of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha as well as the numerous Buddhists have carried out many activities that benefit religion and life, contributing to the development of the country. With the motto of practicing religion "Buddhism - Nation - Socialism."

Emphasizing that 2023 is a year of special significance for the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 9th National Buddhist Congress, President Vo Van Thuong hopes that the Sangha will promote the traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism, gain more achievements that benefit religion and life; mobilize monks, nuns, and Buddhists to join hands with the entire population to make increasingly important contributions to the cause of national construction and development in the new period.

Respectfully thanking President Vo Van Thuong and the delegation for visiting and congratulating the Buddha's Birthday at Minh Dao Pagoda, Venerable Thich Thien Nhon said that, along with Buddhists around the world, monks, nuns, and Buddhists across the country are joyfully welcoming the Buddha's Birthday - Vesak with wishes for peace and happiness.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon emphasized that after 8 terms, in the 40-year journey, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is the sole representative of Vietnamese monks, nuns, and Buddhists at home and abroad, having many Buddhist activities that benefit religion and life, and many achievements in participating and contributing to the cause of building and protecting a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

President Vo Van Thuong visited and congratulated Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at Minh Dao Pagoda.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon expressed his gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, and authorities at all levels for always paying attention to and supporting the activities of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in recent times.

The Venerable said that since the 9th National Buddhist Congress, all levels of the Sangha have been actively implementing the Congress Resolution and the 7th amended Charter. In particular, the Sangha continues to promote social welfare and charity activities with a total value of nearly 2,000 billion VND/year.

Since the beginning of the year, the Church has carried out social work activities with a total value of nearly 500 billion VND. Responding to the call of the President and the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the Launching Ceremony to support the construction of solidarity houses for poor households in Dien Bien province, towards the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2024), the Church has registered to support 475 houses for people in difficult circumstances in Dien Bien.

Informing about many important activities of the Church from now until the end of 2023, Venerable Thich Thien Nhon said that the Church will solemnly organize the Buddha's Birthday and the 60th anniversary of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation, along with many other important international cooperation activities; striving to follow the motto: Dharma, nation, socialism and the theme of the 9th Congress of the Church: "Discipline - Responsibility - Solidarity - Development."

On this occasion, on behalf of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang and Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon sent their gratitude to President Vo Van Thuong and authorities at all levels; hoping that the President will continue to support, care for, and create favorable conditions for the Buddhist community of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Buddhist activities and join hands to build and develop Vietnam to become more and more prosperous./.

According to VNA

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