Vietnamese Buddhism and the journey to realize the desire for freedom

Hue Anh• DNUM_AHZAJZCABJ 09:23

(Baonghean) - That thought of President Ho Chi Minh is the red thread running through the system of viewpoints of our Party and State towards religion over the past decades. It is also the basis for Vietnamese Buddhism to always accompany the struggle for independence, freedom, and the right to life of human beings.

Buddhism accompanies the nation

This fall, President Ho Chi Minh has been gone from us for 50 years. But the thoughts, feelings and spiritual legacies that he left behind will forever be the orientations and signs that light the way for the whole nation to join hands to realize his noble wishes: "To make the country unified, independent, the people free, everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, everyone can study" - as he always wished. On that thorny path, the Vietnamese people always have Buddhism as a companion.

Remembering President Ho Chi Minh, we are proud of the legacy he left for future generations. Not only when he wrote his Will, but also in the reality of his life of tireless revolutionary activities, Uncle Ho was an example of absolute sacrifice and dedication to the ideal of independence and freedom of the people. President Ho Chi Minh is a testament to the spirit of national solidarity - the source of boundless strength of the Vietnamese revolution.

Vu Lan ceremony at a pagoda in Vinh city. Photo: Hai Vuong

In the field of religion and belief, as a leader, he understood the role and position of religion in the life of each citizen and the impact of religion on social life, as well as the cause of national liberation that tens of millions of enslaved people had just risen up under the leadership of the Party to win back from the feudal colonialists. Therefore, at the very first meeting of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 3, 1945, he said: "I propose that our Government declare freedom of belief, solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics".

That thought of President Ho Chi Minh is the red thread running through the system of viewpoints of our Party and State towards religion over the past decades. It is also the basis for Vietnamese Buddhism to always accompany the struggle for independence, freedom and the right to life of human beings.

More than 100 Buddhists made a pilgrimage from Vinh City and neighboring areas to Tu Hieu Pagoda hoping to pay homage to Master Thich Nhat Hanh, the second most influential Buddhist leader in the West, after the Dalai Lama. Photo courtesy of Tu Hieu Pagoda

Inheriting the nation's tradition of patriotism and love for its people, promoting the positive elements of the worldly perspective of Mahayana Buddhism introduced into our country thousands of years ago, in the context of many historical changes, Vietnamese Buddhism has opened the doors of the pagoda to welcome new values of the times without closing the doors of self-cultivation, despite the fact that out there, our nation and our compatriots are trampled under the invading heels of colonial imperialists.

It can be affirmed that Ho Chi Minh's aspiration for freedom and independence has influenced every corner of each person's thoughts and actions. Every day that the country has not been freed from foreign invasion is a day that our people have not been able to live in peace. For decades, the North and the South were divided, and together with the revolutionary forces, Southern Buddhism was ready to enter the world, participate in the struggle and sacrifice for that noble goal.

Since the Buddhist filial piety festival, Vu Lan Festival has become a familiar event to many people, carrying the profound meaning of gratitude and filial piety of Eastern people. Photo: Ho Chien

Vietnamese history will never forget the image of "The Heart of Venerable Thich Quang Duc" - a heart that did not burn because it was carried in the body of a person who sacrificed himself for the Dharma, for the nation, and fought directly against the dictatorial regime of Ngo Dinh Diem, demanding religious freedom, ending all oppression and persecution by the wicked, praying for peace in the country and happiness for the people.

It is truly admirable that, having determined to turn his physical body into a flame to fight for Buddhism, the Venerable Master was always compassionate and tolerant towards the erroneous authorities, when he wrote in a letter before he burned himself: “I hope that Buddha will bless President Ngo Dinh Diem with wisdom… I respectfully ask President Ngo Dinh Diem to be compassionate towards the people and implement a policy of religious equality to preserve the country forever.”

Pinning flowers at Vu Lan Ceremony at Diec Pagoda (Vinh city). Photo: Hai Vuong

The “Sacred Flame” and “Immortal Heart” of Venerable Thich Quang Duc had a great influence in the national liberation movement, and at the same time affirmed to the world about the just struggle of Buddhist compatriots and the Vietnamese revolutionary movement. That is also the spirit of love for peace, independence, freedom of the nation, and freedom of belief of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Monks temporarily put aside their scriptures to join the army, Buddhists left the lecture halls to fight in the swamps, organizations and associations were established by monks and operated in big cities; pagodas became places to hide revolutionary cadres... were worthy contributions of Buddhists to the cause of liberation of the South in the Spring of 1975.

Promote solidarity

In a peaceful and unified country, promoting the tradition of national solidarity, Vietnamese Buddhism has realized the aspiration to unify 9 Buddhist sects in a common organization, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - the only Sangha representing monks, nuns, and Buddhists at home and abroad with the motto of "Dharma - Nation - Socialism"; supporting and propagating Buddhism and participating in building and protecting the Fatherland, serving the nation, contributing to building peace and happiness for the world.

Co Am Pagoda (Dien Minh - Dien Chau) always attracts a large number of tourists and Buddhists to visit. Photo courtesy of Huy Thu

Nearly 40 years of operation under the common roof of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Buddhists nationwide have always been imbued with the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh on the spirit of solidarity. Under the light of the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on religion, Vietnamese Buddhism has developed continuously and increasingly maintained its worthy position in the spiritual and religious life of the nation and the development of world Buddhism.

The 3 times hosting the VESAK Festival are the 3 times Vietnamese Buddhism has proven to the world that Vietnam is a peaceful and beautiful country; the Vietnamese people love peace, that freedom, equality, and happiness for people are always the goals of Vietnamese Buddhism in the process of development and integration.

Panorama of Dai Tue Pagoda (Nam Dan). Photo: Document

In particular, with the VESAK 2019 Festival recently held at the Ba Chuc Spiritual Center - Ha Nam, once again, the name Vietnam had the opportunity to shine, being respectfully received by peace lovers. VESAK 2019 is an important foreign event, contributing to enhancing the role and position of Vietnamese Buddhism in the process of international integration; affirming the historical tradition and humanistic values of Vietnamese Buddhism; an opportunity to spread the message of Buddha Shakyamuni to humanity about the spirit of freedom, peace, harmony, progress and development.