The seventh Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha got underway inHanoi on November 23, drawing more than 1,000 monk, nun, and local andoverseas dignitary delegates.
This year’s Congresswas chaired by Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Patriarch of the VietnamBuddhist Sangha’s Patronage Council.
Deputy PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Secretary of the Party Central Committee HaThi Khiet and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Huynh Dam alsoattended the event.
Addressing the opening ceremony,Most Venerable Thich Chon Thien, permanent Vice Chairman of theSangha’s executive council, said that the conference will review the2007-12 operational period, adopt the 2012-17 working plan, pass the 5th revision to the Sangha’s Charter, honour outstanding members of thePatronage Council and elect a new Executive Council for the seventhtenure.
Reviewing the work of the Sanghaduring the 2007-12 term, Thien said that the Sangha has established itschapters in 58 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide, with eight newprovincial ones. The Vietnamese Buddhist sects also appear in manycountries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany,Hungary, Ukraine and Russia .
The Sangha hascarried out many humanitarian activities, including organising classesfor disadvantaged children, building homes for the elderly and otherhumanitarian services. It has raised thousands of billions in dongover the past five years.
Speaking at the event,Deputy PM Phuc said that the congress plays an important role in thespiritual life and beliefs of Buddhist followers at home and abroad.
With 2,000 years of tradition, the Buddhist Sangha has made greatcontributions to national construction and protection, he affirmed.
He expressed his hope that the Sangha will continue to live on in thehearts and minds of the Vietnamese people, and remain an important linkfor overseas Buddhist followers who want to contribute to building anddeveloping the country.
On behalf of the Party andgovernment, Phuc presented the Congress with a laudatory bannerembroidered with the words "Vietnam Buddhism- protecting the nation-relieving the people".
The event is scheduled to end on the afternoon of November 24./.VNA
This year’s Congresswas chaired by Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Patriarch of the VietnamBuddhist Sangha’s Patronage Council.
Deputy PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Secretary of the Party Central Committee HaThi Khiet and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Huynh Dam alsoattended the event.
Addressing the opening ceremony,Most Venerable Thich Chon Thien, permanent Vice Chairman of theSangha’s executive council, said that the conference will review the2007-12 operational period, adopt the 2012-17 working plan, pass the 5th revision to the Sangha’s Charter, honour outstanding members of thePatronage Council and elect a new Executive Council for the seventhtenure.
Reviewing the work of the Sanghaduring the 2007-12 term, Thien said that the Sangha has established itschapters in 58 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide, with eight newprovincial ones. The Vietnamese Buddhist sects also appear in manycountries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany,Hungary, Ukraine and Russia .
The Sangha hascarried out many humanitarian activities, including organising classesfor disadvantaged children, building homes for the elderly and otherhumanitarian services. It has raised thousands of billions in dongover the past five years.
Speaking at the event,Deputy PM Phuc said that the congress plays an important role in thespiritual life and beliefs of Buddhist followers at home and abroad.
With 2,000 years of tradition, the Buddhist Sangha has made greatcontributions to national construction and protection, he affirmed.
He expressed his hope that the Sangha will continue to live on in thehearts and minds of the Vietnamese people, and remain an important linkfor overseas Buddhist followers who want to contribute to building anddeveloping the country.
On behalf of the Party andgovernment, Phuc presented the Congress with a laudatory bannerembroidered with the words "Vietnam Buddhism- protecting the nation-relieving the people".
The event is scheduled to end on the afternoon of November 24./.VNA
