Acceptance of the Project for Comprehensive Research and Survey on Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vietnam

Government Committee for Religious Affairs• November 30, 2019 15:53

Comprehensive research and survey project on Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vietnam - Proposing policies and guidelines to clarify a number of issues related to Khmer Theravada Buddhism in our country.

On the afternoon of November 29, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs held a conference to accept the project "Comprehensive research and survey project on Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vietnam - Proposed policies and guidelines". The acceptance council consisted of 7 members chaired by Dr. Vu Chien Thang - Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs; The conference was attended by representatives of leaders of departments, units and members of the Scientific Council of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

Conference Overview

The project of comprehensive research and survey on Khmer Theravada Buddhism in Vietnam - Proposing policies and guidelines aims to clarify a number of issues related to Khmer Theravada Buddhism in our country; assess the current status of activities and state management (SMB) of the activities of Khmer Theravada Buddhism; thereby proposing a number of solutions to strengthen SMB of the activities of Khmer Theravada Buddhism.

Khmer Theravada Buddhism is an important part of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, with about 1.2 million followers, more than 8,500 monks, living in 456 pagodas in 15 provinces and cities, mainly concentrated in the Southwest region. Khmer Theravada Buddhism is an important element, creating cultural characteristics and having an impact on the lives of the Khmer people.

Khmer Southern Buddhism. Illustration photo

Opinions at the Acceptance Conference unanimously appreciated the feasibility of the Project. The research results of the Project, when transferred to the beneficiary agency and applied in practice, will help improve the effectiveness of State management, contribute to ensuring the stability of Khmer Southern Buddhism, and promote the economic and social development of localities in the area with a large Khmer population.

Some comments suggested that the Project Management Board should add more content about the characteristics of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in comparison with Northern Buddhism, linking the development process of Khmer Theravada Buddhism with the history of regional development; clarifying the achievements as well as the shortcomings and limitations in implementing the Party and State's policies and guidelines on the activities of Khmer Theravada Buddhism, thereby proposing a group of solutions and specific solutions for each remaining problem.

TS. Vũ Chiến Thắng, Chủ tịch Hội đồng phát biểu kết luận

Dr. Vu Chien Thang - Chairman of the Council delivered the concluding speech

Concluding the Conference, Dr. Vu Chien Thang, Chairman of the Acceptance Council, welcomed the urgent and serious working spirit of the Project Management Board. Dr. Vu Chien Thang assessed that the Project is a carefully conducted research work with rich and reliable survey data. The Chairman of the Acceptance Council also suggested that the Project Management Board rearrange the layout and edit some contents in the Report to ensure scientific operations. Going into the content of each chapter, Dr. Vu Chien Thang noted that the Project Management Board needs to accurately identify the research object of the Project to propose appropriate solutions, ensuring practical application.

On behalf of the Project Management Board, Dr. Bui Huu Duoc - Director of the Buddhist Department of the Ministry of Education and Training spoke, seriously accepting and thanking the valuable comments of the Council members, affirming that the Project implementation unit will review and edit some limited contents according to the Acceptance Minutes.

As a result of the Conference, the Project was approved by 7/7 members of the Council, meeting the conditions for official Acceptance./.

Government Committee for Religious Affairs