Also attending were Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Minister of Transport ; Mr. Pham Tat Thang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization; Mr. Hoang Cong Thuy, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Venerable Thich Thanh Dung - Vice Dharma Chief, Chief Secretary of the Central Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Vice Dharma Chief of the Central Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Chairman of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; Venerable Thich Thanh Duc, Vice Dharma Chief of the Central Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha...

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and congratulated the leaders of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association and attended the Buddha's Birthday celebration with dignitaries, monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers at Quan Su Pagoda, Hanoi - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully conveyed the congratulations of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Buddhist followers nationwide on the occasion of the Buddha's Birthday. The Prime Minister reiterated the General Secretary's words on the spirit of national and religious unity: "Vietnam is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country, with 54 ethnic groups and many religions coexisting in various communities. The Vietnamese Constitution and laws stipulate that all citizens have the right to follow or not follow a religion. In Vietnam, there are no religious or ethnic conflicts; everyone lives together in harmony..." In his congratulatory speech, the Prime Minister particularly emphasized that Buddhism was born for the life of human beings and for the happiness and well-being of humanity. With the spirit of "Protecting the nation and ensuring the people's peace," Buddhism has always accompanied the nation; the history of Vietnamese Buddhism has always been closely intertwined with the history of the nation throughout the process of nation-building and national defense. With that spirit, along with other religions nationwide, the Prime Minister proposed that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha implement the motto "1. Promote - 2. Pioneer - 3. Focus". "1. Promote" means: Strengthening national unity under the leadership of the Party, fostering solidarity within the country, internationally, among religions, and among the people. "2. Pioneer" means: Pioneering the nationwide campaign to encourage organ and blood donation to save lives with the spirit of "Giving is forever," promoting humanitarian and charitable activities throughout the country; Pioneering the fight against superstition and ensuring healthy religious activities with the spirit of "Religion and life - life and religion," resolutely preventing acts of exploiting religion and beliefs to oppose the State, the nation, the people, or for personal gain, violating both Buddhist principles and the law. The "three key priorities" include: Contributing to the education of patriotism and love for the people among Buddhists and throughout society with the spirit of "Protecting the nation and ensuring the people's well-being"; Living a virtuous life and upholding moral values, further promoting the ideology of "Buddhism - Nation - Socialism"; and Contributing to poverty reduction, achieving social progress and justice, and ensuring that no one is left behind. The Prime Minister stated that the Party and the State consistently uphold the principle of guaranteeing the right to freedom of belief and religion, and the healthy, legitimate, and legal spiritual activities of religious followers, fully reflecting the positive nature of our regime.

On behalf of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Venerable Thich Thien Nhon expressed gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, and all levels and sectors for their congratulations on the Buddha's Birthday celebration - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister expressed his hope and belief that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha would continue to achieve many successes in its Buddhist activities; operating and developing according to the orientation of "Discipline - Responsibility - Unity - Development" set forth by the 9th National Buddhist Congress, guiding monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers in Vietnam to continue implementing the motto "Buddhism - Nation - Socialism," contributing even more to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland. On behalf of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Venerable Thich Thien Nhon expressed his gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, and all levels and sectors for their congratulations on the Buddha's Birthday celebration. According to Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, 2024 is the second year of implementing the Resolution of the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, term 2022-2027. Over the past six months, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has closely followed the Sangha's program and operational guidelines of "Buddhism - Nation - Socialism," "Discipline - Responsibility - Unity - Development," and "a good life and a beautiful religion," achieving many important results. These include organizing a grand ceremony to pray for the souls of the deceased, commemorate, and express gratitude to the heroes and martyrs on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory; and supporting the construction of 500 houses of compassion worth 60 billion VND for those in need of housing in Dien Bien province. Attending the 19th United Nations Vesak Day celebration in Thailand... Venerable Thich Thien Nhon affirmed that the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, along with monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers nationwide, always stand alongside the nation, effectively implementing the Party's policies and guidelines, the State's laws, and the Sangha's Charter, contributing to building a more prosperous, civilized, and integrated country.

AP - Vietnamnet.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-du-dai-le-phat-dan-2024-cung-tang-ni-phat-tu-2283303.html