Particularly for the Khmer community in Dong Nai , the quiet but persistent efforts from Theravada pagodas in the province are becoming a valuable support to preserve the Khmer language and culture.
Linking language and writing with national spirit
According to statistics, Dong Nai province currently has 10 pagodas and 1 training facility of Theravada Buddhism, mainly distributed in communes and wards of Binh Phuoc province (old).
Here, the monks not only practice and cultivate their religion but also act as teachers to convey the Khmer language, writing and traditional cultural beauty to the younger generations in the community.
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| Venerable Son Hoang Suong (Bo De Tong Pagoda) teaches Khmer ethnic children in Tan Tien commune. Photo: Dao Bang |
Although newly established, Bo De Tong Pagoda in Tan Tien border commune still faces many difficulties in terms of facilities, but the monks here consider teaching Khmer language and writing to the people in the commune as the top priority task in the pagoda's Buddhist work.
Venerable Son Hoang Suong, who is responsible for instructing people at the Khmer language class at Bo De Tong Pagoda, shared: “Although the pagoda has just laid the foundation and the facilities are still lacking, when we announced the opening of the class, nearly 50 people registered to study. I hope this pagoda will be a common home, especially a place where each Khmer child can return to learn their "mother tongue", understand the principles of life and live a useful life in the community.”
Another temple that is actively preserving the Khmer language is Sirivansa Pagoda (also known as Mien Pagoda) in Binh Phuoc Ward. Here, Venerable Danh Dara, the abbot of the temple, regularly teaches Khmer to nearly 30 students aged 8 to 16 every afternoon from Monday to Saturday. This activity has been maintained since 2012, especially during the summer holidays.
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| Students attentively learn to spell their "mother tongue" under the guidance of Master Danh Dara (Mien Pagoda). Photo: Tu Huy |
After more than a decade, the classroom at Mien Pagoda has been invested in more systematically: there are tables and chairs, alphabet boards, large printed number boards, and visual aids suitable for young children. More importantly, this is a friendly, intimate space that helps children easily approach and remember the traditional language.
Truong Thi Diem My, 14 years old, Binh Phuoc ward shared: “I have only been studying at Mien pagoda for over a month but I can already read fluently and remember quite a lot of Khmer language and writing. In addition, I also learned a lot about my ethnic culture, making our summer days truly meaningful.” Diem My excitedly shared.
As a Khmer, the monk understands better than anyone the richness and difficulty of the Khmer language. Venerable Danh Dara said: “Khmer is difficult to write and remember. It takes a long time for children to be able to write. The monks here mainly teach children to speak and use Khmer.”
Expanding professional Khmer language training
Not only stopping at small classes, Wat Phum Thom Pagoda (also known as Soc Lon Pagoda) - a nearly 100-year-old pagoda in Loc Hung commune, is known by many as a school with the largest number of Khmer language learners in Dong Nai province. The school is located in the pagoda grounds, built in Khmer architecture with more than 20 classrooms. Currently, the pagoda maintains 5 grades from grade 1 to grade 5. After 15 years of maintenance, the number of students studying at Soc Lon Pagoda has increased, reaching more than 400 students each year. Currently, 11 Khmer teachers take turns teaching from Monday to Sunday every week.
Thi Sap Hat, Loc Hung commune, a former student of the school, still returns to the pagoda every summer to teach new students. She said: I want to contribute my efforts with the pagoda, helping the children learn their mother tongue and writing. Let them know that, in addition to the common language and writing, the language and writing of our ethnic group still exist.
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| Students practice writing in a class at Soc Lon Pagoda. Photo: Tu Huy |
Not only a place for teaching, Soc Lon Pagoda is also a centralized testing site for Khmer classes at many other pagodas in and outside the commune. This is also a place that inspires many Khmer students to later take exams to enter secondary schools, colleges, and universities exclusively for Khmer people in the Southwest region. Thereby helping them realize their dream of approaching the Khmer language at higher, more professional levels.
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| Thi Sap Hat teaches children how to read and write Khmer at Soc Lon Pagoda. Photo: Tu Huy |
Venerable Thich Phap Quyen (Thach Ne), Member of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Head and Chief Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Buddhist Sangha of Dong Nai Province, Abbot of Soc Lon Pagoda, said: Summer is a precious time to organize classes to teach Khmer language and script. To attract people to study, all curriculums at the school are provided free of charge. Books, as well as meals for children, are supported by the pagoda and benefactors. This is not only a school to teach the Khmer language but also a place for cultural and religious activities, a common home to maintain the beliefs of the Khmer community.
In the context of deep integration, the "mother tongue" of many ethnic minorities is gradually fading away as the younger generation uses it less and less. Therefore, classes at pagodas, where education and religion intersect, play an extremely important role. Not simply a place to learn, Khmer Theravada pagodas in Dong Nai are contributing to preserving the national soul, continuing cultural identity in the midst of modernity.
Lyna Phan
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202507/giugintieng-khmer-giua-dong-chay-hien-dai-fe80828/
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