Religious establishments join hands to support people in epidemic areas

Over time,Covid-19 epidemicIn the province, the situation is complicated. Vinh City and some communes and districts have had to implement social isolation according to Directives 15 and 16 of the Prime Minister, making people's lives difficult.

Venerable Thich Tam Thanh, abbot of Co Am and Phuc Lac pagodas, presents gifts to support the Covid-19 epidemic prevention fund: Photo: Le Khuong

Faced with that situation, the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha issued an official dispatch "Participating in supportingCovid-19 prevention”.

With the spirit of compassion and salvation of Buddhismand the tradition of "the rich help the poor" of the nation, the Provincial Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha earnestly calls on the "boards, monks and nuns and Buddhist followers, according to their abilities, to actively participate in mobilizing support for the Vaccine Fund. Especially supporting necessities and food necessary for the daily life of people in quarantine areas.

Many pagodas in Quynh Luu district actively support the Covid-19 Prevention Fund. Photo: Le Khuong

Responding to the call of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee, pagodas, monks, nuns and Buddhists in the province have joined hands with many practical actions such as: contributing to the Covid-19 Prevention Fund, supporting necessities and medical equipment for officials and people in quarantine areas...

On this occasion, pagodas in the province have donated hundreds of millions of VND to the Anti-epidemic Fund, typically Dai Tue Pagoda (Nam Dan), Co Am Pagoda (Dien Chau), Phuc Lac Pagoda (Nghi Loc), Dong Tuong Pagoda, Yen Thai Pagoda, Lam Son Pagoda (Quynh Luu) ...

Buddhists of Dai Tue Pagoda (Nam Dan) prepare vegetables and fruits to support people in Vinh City. Photo: Hoang Nam

Depending on the specific conditions, each pagoda has its own way of contributing. With Vinh Phuc Pagoda in Nam Xuan Commune (Nam Dan), the "Journey of Connecting Love" was initiated by Venerable Thich Thien Tue, organizing material donations to be transported to Vinh City to help people in the quarantine area.

Since June 14, the pagoda has organized 17 trips carrying tons of food (vegetables, tubers, fruits) donated by people in Nam Dan and Nghia Dan districts.

This amount of material was directly delivered by the pagoda to several locations in Vinh City such as the “No-dong stall” (73 - Dang Thai Than), the provincial Ethnic Boarding High School, supporting people in Ha Huy Tap, Vinh Tan, Hung Dung wards...

Venerable Thich Thien Tue, abbot of Vinh Phuc Pagoda (Nam Dan) directly went to collect donations and give gifts to the people. Photo: Hoang Nam

With the same approach, recently, monks and Buddhists of Dai Tue Pagoda have coordinated with organizations and people of Nam Anh Commune (Nam Dan) to organize donations of vegetables and fruits to donate to some locations in Vinh City to serve logistics for epidemic prevention work and coordinate with the volunteer group of Vinh University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital to cook free meals for patients being treated at Military Hospital 4 and the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center...

In the midst of these extremely hot days, monks,BuddhistPhuc Thanh Commune Pagoda (Hung Nguyen) is also actively mobilizing and donating necessities, vegetables and fruits to transport to support people in Vinh City.

Venerable Thich Nguyen Tam accompanied the Buddhists with the spirit of "helping with whatever you can". The "free trips" from Phuc Thanh commune carrying fruits and vegetables to Vinh seemed to carry the whole heart, feelings, trust and sharing of Hung Nguyen Buddhists for the people of Vinh City.

Representatives of Ong Xa Phuc Thanh Pagoda (Hung Nguyen) support necessities for people. Photo: Hoang Nam

Right at the time when Vinh City implemented social distancing according to Directive 16 of the Prime Minister, in order to share with the community, Diec Pagoda called for donations of instant noodles and rice to support some families in difficult circumstances.

Venerable Thich Dinh Tue - abbot of Duc Hau Pagoda (Vinh City) said: With the desire to help everyone with their own efforts to contribute a small part to prevent and fight the epidemic together, the pagoda has called on Buddhists and benefactors to join hands in donating. "Many hands clap, make a sound", although the pagoda's contribution is small, it will contribute to sharing the difficulties with people in times of trouble.

Duc Hau Pagoda (Vinh City) presents gifts to support local epidemic prevention. Photo: Le Khuong

On this occasion, in addition to supporting the Vaccine Fund for epidemic prevention in Nghi Duc commune (Vinh city), Chau Nhan commune (Hung Nguyen), Duc Hau pagoda also donated necessities and medical equipment to quarantine checkpoints, and supported food for many families in difficult circumstances in Vinh city...

In the condition that it is impossible to give gifts in a centralized manner due to the epidemic, Duc Hau Pagoda mobilized a number of Buddhists in Vinh, equipped with full protective gear, to deliver gifts to each household. This form of gift giving is both fast and time-saving, limiting contact and avoiding the spread of disease...

Vinh Phuc Pagoda (Nam Dan) supports vegetables and fruits for Vinh City residents. Photo: Hoang Nam

The Covid-19 epidemic is developing complicatedly in our province, with cases appearing in many localities, greatly affecting all areas of social life. With the spirit of "compassion, joy, forgiveness, and relief from suffering", many pagodas in the province have been calling for, contributing, and sharing with the local authorities and people in many different ways.

The material amount mobilized by the pagoda can be supported through the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at all levels or the pagodas can organize to give directly to localities, quarantine checkpoints, and households.

The volunteer activities to support the epidemic season organized continuously by pagodas have contributed to the community joining hands to fight the epidemic and accompany the homeland in difficult times.