More than 500 delegates attended the 2nd Congress of Buddhist Delegates of Nghe An province

(Baonghean.vn) - On April 30, the 2nd Congress of Buddhist Delegates of Nghe An Province, term 2017 - 2022 took place with the participation of more than 500 delegates, representing 53 monks, nuns and nearly 80,000 lay Buddhists in the whole province.

Attending the Congress were Most Venerable Thich Thanh Dam - Standing Member of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's Council of Patriarchs; Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon - Chairman of the Executive Council; senior leaders of the Central Sangha; along with delegates from provinces, cities, and Buddhist associations of provinces and cities; monks, nuns and hundreds of Buddhists in the province.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrade Le Xuan Dai - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and representatives of leaders of a number of departments and branches.

Buddhists welcome delegates to the congress. Photo: Tien Hung.

Buddhism has had important influences on the social life and spiritual culture of the people of Nghe An. In September 2011, the Nghe An Buddhist Sangha established the Provincial Executive Committee and held the First Congress of Delegates.

Delegates attending the congress. Photo: Tien Hung

By the end of April 2017, the whole province had 50 recognized Buddhist worshiping establishments, of which 9 pagodas were historical and cultural relics, 5 pagodas held large-scale festivals. Gratitude activities, cultural institutions, and scholarship funds have also been actively responded to by monks, nuns, and Buddhists. The total estimated budget for charitable activities from 2011 to present is about over 25 billion VND...

Speaking at the congress, comrade Le Xuan Dai commended and highly appreciated the results of the Provincial Buddhist Executive Committee in the past term and the key directions and tasks of the new term.

At the same time, it is recommended that the Provincial Buddhist Sangha Executive Committee continue to coordinate with provincial departments, branches, sectors, organizations, and local authorities to do a good job of propagating and disseminating the State's policies and laws to monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers; and direct Buddhist activities in accordance with the law and regulations of the Sangha.

Outstanding monks and nuns received certificates of merit from the People's Committee of Nghe An province. Photo: Tien Hung

The Congress also set out key tasks for the 2017-2022 term: Continuing efforts to build the Provincial Buddhist Sangha to be increasingly solemn and strong, meeting the religious needs of monks, nuns, and Buddhists; Mobilizing monks, nuns, and Buddhists to unite and well implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; actively participating in the movement of the People to protect national security.

Tien Hung