On the occasion of Buddha's Birthday 2023 - Buddhist calendar 2567: Buddhism accompanies the nation

Today, May 27, the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, nearly 6,000 monks, nuns and more than 1 million Buddhists in the province turned to the Provincial Association Pagoda to join in the atmosphere of celebrating Buddha's birthday in 2023 - Buddhist year 2567.

The delegation of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of the province led by Cao Van Quang, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of the province, visited and congratulated Venerable Thich Hue Khai, Standing Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday - Buddhist year 2567. Photo: S.Thao

The delegation of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of the province led by the member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of the province Cao Van Quang visited and congratulated Venerable Thich Hue Khai, Standing Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province on the occasion of the Great Buddha's Birthday - Buddhist calendar 2567. Photo: S.Thao

Most Venerable Thich Hue Khai, Standing Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Head of the Provincial Executive Committee of the VBS, said that activities during the Buddha's Birthday Week (from the 8th to the 15th of the 4th lunar month) this year were quite bustling after many quiet years. At the same time, activities to help the less fortunate were also promoted by monks, nuns, and Buddhists.

* Bring spiritual joy

After 4 years of not organizing, this year the flower car parade to celebrate Buddha's birthday has been resumed. Specifically, more than 30 flower cars participated in the parade on May 26 organized by the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with the route from the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (Provincial Association Pagoda, Do Van Thi Street, Nhat Hoa Quarter, Hiep Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City) to Hiep Hoa Bridge, passing Nguyen Thanh Phuong Street. Next, the group went to Ha Huy Giap Street, then passed Bien Hung roundabout, turned onto 30-4 Street... to Cach Mang Thang Tam Street and then returned to the headquarters of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Not only is there a float parade at the provincial level, but this activity is also carried out by the executive committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in each district and city during this year's Buddha's birthday week.

On the morning of May 26, Venerable Thich Hue Khai, Head of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, presided over the fish release ceremony organized by the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Bien Hoa City. During the program, 82,000 fish were released into the Dong Nai River, which flows through the Long Thien Pagoda area (Buu Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City).

According to Venerable Thich Dat Ma Chi Hai, Standing Member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long Thanh District, this year the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long Thanh District participated in the provincial parade with 4 flower cars. After that, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long Thanh District organized a flower car parade to celebrate Buddha's birthday in the district. As for the pagodas and monasteries, depending on their capabilities, they will organize flower car parades to celebrate Buddha's birthday in the residential areas where the pagodas and monasteries are located so that Buddhists and people can participate in a joyful and happy atmosphere.

According to Venerable Thich Minh Tri, Deputy Head of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bien Hoa City, on the occasion of the 2023 Buddha's Birthday, the Provincial and City Executive Committees of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha encourage Buddhist families to decorate their homes to celebrate Buddha's Birthday and actively do good deeds to help people.

Also on the occasion of Buddha's birthday, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bien Hoa City and the province organized a fish release activity for people to participate. The organizing committee, together with local authorities and Buddhists in Bien Hoa City, will release 82,000 fish into the Dong Nai River through Buu Hoa Ward. In addition, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bien Hoa City will also organize a vegetarian food program, sermons and art performances during the Buddha's birthday week.

* Towards the disadvantaged

Along with Vu Lan and Tet Nguyen Dan, the Buddha's birthday celebration is one of the three major social welfare activities of Dong Nai Buddhism in the year. This year, a series of programs joining hands with the government to help the poor have been actively implemented by monks, nuns and Buddhists in the province.

According to Cao Van Quang, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, in recent times, dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhists have made many efforts and joined hands to support people in difficulty. This activity contributes to the Party Committee and the provincial government in taking care of people's lives better and better.

On the occasion of celebrating Buddha's birthday this year, Dong Nai Buddhism also had a noble gesture when striving to support funding to build 20 houses for people in Dien Bien province and the Northwestern provinces in response to the call of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Venerable Thich Hue Khai said that in addition to the provincial, district and city Executive Committees of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, each temple, monastery and Buddhist followers have activities to support people in difficult circumstances on the occasion of Buddha's birthday. Thereby, contributing to joining hands with local authorities at all levels to take care of people, especially people in difficult circumstances near the temples and monasteries.

According to Buddhist nun Thich Nu Dieu Tri, alternate member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee and Head of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, abbot of Dai Giac Pagoda, the pagoda will give 400 gifts of rice, noodles, and cash to people in difficult circumstances in Hiep Hoa Ward (Bien Hoa City).

At Long Thien Pagoda (Buu Hoa Ward, Bien Hoa City), during the week of Buddha's birthday, 600 gifts will be given to the blind and people in difficult circumstances in the locality. The Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long Thanh District will give 200 gifts to the poor.

Venerable Thich Giac Dang, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Long Khanh City, said that on the occasion of the 2023 Buddha's Birthday, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the city and the temples and monasteries in the area simultaneously carried out activities of giving gifts to the poor, the disabled, the elderly and families in difficult circumstances. In particular, Ngoc Xuan Monastery and benefactors organized the giving of 200 gifts worth nearly 80 million VND to the blind, disabled and ethnic minorities in Long Khanh City.

According to Venerable Thich Minh Tri, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Bien Hoa City, the Executive Committee will organize the presentation of 600 gifts to people in difficult circumstances. The Executive Committees of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province, district, and city will also visit and present gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids, former youth volunteers, and families with meritorious services to the revolution.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee HO THANH SON: Wishing Dong Nai Buddhism to continue promoting the spirit of protecting the country and the people

In 2023, the socio-economic situation is forecasted to have many difficulties and challenges affecting people's lives. Therefore, the Provincial Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee - Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province hopes that members of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, districts, cities, monks, nuns, and Buddhists will continue to make efforts and join hands with the province to support the people. Thereby, continuing to promote the spirit of protecting the nation and protecting the people of Vietnamese Buddhism and Dong Nai Buddhism.

Standing member of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Head of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Most Venerable THICH HUE KHAI: Helping people's lives is the responsibility of a Buddhist.

Along with Buddhist work, carrying out social security activities associated with helping people in difficulty is the responsibility of Buddhists. This responsibility is regularly and continuously carried out by Dong Nai Buddhism in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, provincial authorities, and local authorities at all levels. The provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, districts, cities, monks, nuns, and Buddhists will continue to make efforts and join hands with the province to effectively carry out social security work in the locality.

Thao River

Source link