General Buddhism: Class 5 - Lesson 5 The movement of reviving Buddhism in the world and Vietnam in modern times

Universal Buddhist Studies

SRAMANA. Thich Thien Hoa

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Fifth Course

History of Buddhism Spread,
10 Sects and the Universe of Nhon Sanh.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.

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Lesson 5

The Movement of Buddhist Hung Hung in
the world and in modern Vietnam

A.-Open Topic:

In the 18th and 19th centuries in Vietnam and in other Buddhist countries, the Buddhist propaganda seemed to lack a new life force, so it kept sinking, almost to end. Especially when Asia began to come into contact with the Western-radiant and dynamic literature of the West; Asians were "inferiority complex", said that they lost to Western-Western in every way. Therefore, the peoples of Asia, especially the numerous peoples such as India, China, abandon their father's genius-spirit to pursue the mechanical and powerful civilization of Westernization. The Buddhist executioner, like other religions in Asia, leaves only the traditional form of worship, and the rest of its precious components are buried deep in the dust of time.

But after the blinding eyes of the first minutes of exposure to strange light, Asians realized that Western-Western civilization was not necessarily complete. The thinkers, philosophers, religious-ethical leaders ... after reading the method of inference, separation, scientific inquiry of the West, have returned to dig and explore the iga-talented spirit of the father left that they were abandoned. Helping in this work, there are scientists, archeologists and anthropologists who have found a lot of concrete evidence of the true value of the Asian civilization that Buddhism had main motivation.

Buddhism is therefore of special interest. And the deeper they go into Buddhist culture, the more people (Western and Asian) are surprised by its pure, pure, pure nature. From there, a new breath of life blew up, giving the Buddhists much excitement and thought in the sublime teachings of Guru Shakyamuni. The aura has created a Buddhist revival movement, spreading every day, initially in Asian countries, and now across the five continents. In that shared upheaval, the Vietnamese faithful have also made a worthy contribution to their merit, and can be proud that they do not donate to the mission.

So below, let's go through the revival movement in the Buddhist countries like, before sow separately about the revival movement in Vietnam in the present.

B.- Right View:

I.- Buddhist Devotion in India and Countries in the Indigenous Influence Area

1.-  Indian Buddhism  .- As we have seen in the paragraph about the history of spreading Buddhism in India in the first article: Although it is a country of origin in Buddhism, India can only see the glorious appearance. the golden director in the first 15 centuries. Centuries later, the Buddha dimmed here and made room for Bala-la-Islam and Islam to overflow to neighboring states.

In the 18th century, the Buddha in India only had an old shadow. But when the British began to delve into Indian culture, and were surprised to find a profound Buddhist philosophy and philosophy buried in oblivion, the British as well as the India unanimously exhorts and promotes the Buddhist revival.

Among the first Buddhist scholars who had the initiative to build this revival movement, Mr. Rendendachilala was the most credited. The student was based on 144 types of Sanskrit scriptures in Népal to write the "Buddhist Literature" in Sanskrit Sanskrit. In 1888, Tien was again published the "Little Uncle-elegant". In 1893, Sarat Chandrodas, another Indian scholar, promoted the association "Study of Indian Buddhist Scriptures and the Academic Mankind". It was this research society that had gathered a large number of wise members, including India and the United Kingdom, and sparked a movement to study Buddhism in the country and went to England.

The third person of merit, who is now determined by the International Buddhist Association to celebrate the anniversary of his birth anniversary (September 17, 64) around the world, is Venerable Anagarica Dharmapala. It is Venerable that the founder of the Bodhidharma (Mahabodhi) is a very powerful group in the campaign to revive Buddhism in India today. Founded in 1891, the association gradually has branches in Europe and America and the Indian mausoleum.

Regarding the merit of Venerable Dharmapala, the resolution of the 6th International Buddhist Sangha in Nam Vang stated as follows:

'Venerable Anagarica Dharmapala pioneered the revival of Indian Buddhism, and was also the first shaman to visit European and American countries. Thanks to the way, the new preaching work has been pointed out in European and American countries as we have noticed today ... ”

At the same time, with the revival of Buddhism in India in countries that had previously been influenced by Indian culture and in the Theravada Buddhism region such as Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, etc. back to ancient Buddhism a new, pure and powerful nuance.

2.-  Burmese Buddhism . - Currently in Burma, Buddhism is considered the state religion. Since 1948, after the independence withdrawal, the Burmese government and its prime minister (Mr. U Nu) as a Buddhist, many plans to revive Buddhism have been implemented. The government has built many Buddhist schools throughout the country, many Central schools, Pali University, held catechism contests and convened many important Buddhist congresses.

In 1954, the 6th Buddhist canonical amendment was held in Myanmar with the participation of 2500 famous monks in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Ai Lao, Thailand, India, and Islam ... to reciting all the Pali texts. This is a great work not just for Burmese Buddhism but for the World Buddhism.

3.-  Sri Lankan Buddhism. Sri Lan is also a land where Buddhism is very successful. The people are mostly Buddhists. The number of monks in the country is very large and has a great influence in the public as well as in the government. Five years after the end of the World War in 1950), Sri Lanka was the country that convened a World Buddhist Congress of more than 500 delegates from 26 Buddhist countries in the capital of Colombo (Colombo). It was during this conference that the World Buddhist General Assembly was established, and an executive committee was elected, whose president was a Sri Lankan Buddhist scholar, Doctor Malalasekera.

4.-  Thai Buddhism. Like Burma, Thai Buddhism is regarded as the state religion, the elder Sangha (King Sai) is a mermaid with a spiritual influence and is more respected than the King.

Currently Thailand has approximately 200,000 temples and 200,000 monks and Sadi. Compared to the twenty million Thai people, the number of monks is also a very high percentage, one in every 100 people in the country.

But the momentum of development is still strong, massive temples are being built and many young people are following the practice of meditation in monasteries. Currently, the Thai Prime Minister has just come up with a project and has been approved by the entire cabinet to set up appropriate facilities for foreign monks to give them the means to study Buddhism.

5.-  Cambodian  Buddhism : Cambodian Buddhism has long been a national religion. From the capital to the remote villages, the yellow color of temples and monks' robes dazzled everywhere. The moral life and the daily life of the people were closely matched. Just like in Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia, each year at the beginning of the rainy season, young people have a habit of going to monasteries in temples for a long, long or short time depending on their wishes. This precious custom, not only the common people, but even the kings.

Since the day of revocation, the Cambodian Government has paid special attention to the development and revival of Buddhism.

Following in the footsteps of Buddhist seniors, Cambodia has just held in Nam Vang the 6th World Buddhist Congress and many good results have been obtained during this conference.

The above is an overview of the movement of reviving and developing Buddhism in sects of Theravada or Nam religious people. Next, we will comment on the Buddhist revival and development movement in Mahayana or Northern religious countries.

II.- Buddhist Hunger  In China And Other States:

1.- The Buddhist revival movement in China:

As we all know, by the end of the Qing Dynasty, Buddhism in China had been greatly degraded: Superstition had seriously penetrated the Zen subjects. Monks and nuns, as well as believers few understand the sublime teachings of the Buddha, so Buddhism is also classified as the evil cult that is harmful to national social life.

The influence of western European civilization reverberated throughout the country. A great movement of anti-superstition eradicated nationwide. The pagodas were largely converted into schools or other social works!

Fortunately, some Chinese scholars have a national spirit, realizing that they must do a refraining in Eastern civilization, to choose the good ones, then shake them off, and the dismantled ones leave. After the search, search, the researchers unanimously praised the noble right of Buddhism.

Since the Tan Hoi revolution (1912) emerged to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the Nation, the movement of studying and studying Buddhism increased. Thanks to that Buddhism became prevalent and thrived.

In the first few years of the Nation, Mr. Kinh Son and his comrades and lay followers stood up to establish China Buddhism. The laity in Shanghai also established lay Buddhists Buddhism, Buddhist pure career commune.

Later on, the Sangha and the laity continued to open in many places of Buddhist monasteries, or lecture halls such as: The lecture hall of pagodas and pagodas in Ningbo (Zhejiang), which was chaired by Lord De Nhan; In Wuchang (Hubei), there is a Buddhist academy taught by Mr. Thai Hu; In Jiangsu, there is Hoa Nghiem academy, in Nanjing, there is an internal academy taught by Au Duong Vinh Vo.

At the same time with the establishment of the above-mentioned Buddhist schools, many of the research group's Buddhist journals have been published across the country to propagate Buddhist teachings such as Buddhism, Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Lay Buddha, Pure career, monthly na study, Oai Yin, Vi Dieu Thanh, New Literature Buddhism ...

Among the proponents of the Buddhist revival movement in China, the person who had the merit and the most influential was the Dharma Master Thai Hu. The shaman is a broad, highly educated monk who understands and is very enthusiastic about the teachings. He went on to teach about Buddhism throughout the country and to Europe and America to introduce Mahayana Buddhism to Westerners. He wrote many books about Buddhism and advocated the Hai Dynasty as a very valuable magazine. His Buddhist activities not only exerted great influence on Chinese Buddhism but also spread to neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Japan and all the way to Europe and America.

2.-  Buddhism in Japan:

Japan has been influenced by Mahayana Chinese Buddhism for a long time, and is the country with the strongest Buddhism among Mahayana countries. Except for some religious and Christian people, the majority of the people are devout Buddhists. Pagodas were built many times by kings in the past throughout the country, and today the most famous sights in Japan are famous places. The Japanese take great pride in the architecture and the monumental drawing of that place, so foreign visitors to Japan are also introduced to the temple scene first.

As for the doctrine, Buddhism in Japan is also divided into many sects as in China. But the most prevalent religions are Thien Ton, Phap Hoa Ton and Dharma General Ton.

Buddhism in the past has had a very successful achievement and is still brilliant. During the meeting with Western Europe, while Buddhism in Asian countries had a decadent period, Buddhism in Japan still retains its position nationwide. And today, with a spirit of harmony, improvement, and survival, the Japanese Buddhism still keeps up with the national progress and keeps neighborly for ethical morality in domestic. We are sure that after this, when Buddhist countries in Asia have more opportunity to interact and sympathize with each other, Japan will be a country worthy of taking on the task of leading the World Buddhist movement. .

III.-  Propagation of Dharma in America

Since contact with Asia, Westerners began to study the ancient civilization of Asia and discovered that Asian culture was not as trivial as they initially mistook it, but on the contrary there are many valuable points. need learning. In that treasure, Buddhism has emitted a lot of brilliant aura. As a result, Western scholars flocked to study the Buddhist doctrine and wrote many works on Buddha furniture. Gradually Buddhism is not far from the masses of Europe and America. At the beginning of the Buddhist movement, there were English scholars who had a lot of contact with Asia. Later, they formed Buddhist societies and published magazines about Buddhism. These societies have a great deal of enthusiastic practice members. Currently in Europe and America, most countries have a Buddhist-study association, a Buddhist-propaganda press, temples or meditation houses for followers or members to practice meditation. Some came right away in Asian Buddhist countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand to export.

During the Buddhist meetings the European-American Buddhist world has their representatives and has proved to be pure Buddhas.

These concrete evidences allow us to hope that Buddhism will expand strongly in Europe and the United States and give those nations a source of peace that they cannot find in their mechanical civilization. has created.

IV.- World Buddhist Congresses

The better the humanity is, the easier the traffic will be, the peoples of the world will no longer be strangers and strangers. Buddhism today has become a religion that has a worldwide activity, the Buddhists -trial, despite being on the horizon, are brothers and sisters in the same house, worshiping a common master, the Patriarch - Thich -Ca Mau - Much. The idea of ​​unifying Buddhist activities and organizations had been well established before the Second World War.

The first World Buddhist Congress was convened in 1950 in Colombia, the capital of Sri Lanka, comprising nearly 500 delegates from 26 countries and Buddhist organizations around the world. laid the foundations for the World Buddhist Association and elected a joint executive committee for the whole Buddhist world. A rule of the general assembly was voted and the headquarters of the executive office was located in Colombia. After a few months of the conference, Dr. Malaláekera, President of the General Conference, visited the member countries of Buddhism, and the two Buddhist magazines of the General Association published in the world are New Letter and The Buddhist World.

From that first congress to the present, there has been another congress every two years, with the locations changing sequentially as follows:

- In 1952, the second congress, held in Tokyo, Japan-Japan, whose main objective was to decide on unifying activities and forms of Buddhism in the member countries.

In 1954, the third congress convened in Rangoon, the Burmese-Burmese capital, at the same time as the 6th canonical Tripitaka assembly, from the time of the Buddha's passing away.

In 1956, the fourth congress was held in Kathmandu, capital Népal, where the Buddha was born.

In 1958, the Fifth Congress convened in Bangkok, Thai-Lan capital, whose agenda was to revise the Association's internal rules.

In 1961, the Sixth Congress was held in Nam -ang, the capital of Cambodia. In this conference, 21 decisions were approved, including many very important resolutions such as the development of doctrinal literature in Buddhist countries, establishing an Asian Buddhist academy, aimed at providing support, providing information and materials, training cadres in all activities of Buddhism to protect world peace and Buddhists etc.

In addition to the regular festivals mentioned above, Asian Buddhist countries also compete very solemnly and invite international delegates to the 2,500-year celebrations of Buddha's death, as in India. , Japan-Japan, Sri Lanka, Burma etc.

V.- Buddhist Hung Hung Movement in Vietnam

1.- The development of a movement in South, Central and North.-  Imitating the world, and especially China-China, a Buddhist renaissance movement emerged in Vietnam around 1920. In the beginning It is only the sporadic efforts of some of the elderly monks in the country, looking forward to retaining a few clues of religion. instrument by Department (Duong Van Hien); in the middle, there is Mr. Tam-Tinh, Mr. Huệ Dharma, Mr. Phước -Hue; In the South, there were Mr. Khánh-Hòa, Mr. Huệ Quảng, Mr. Khánh Anh, and another initiative of opening a school to teach a number of disciples for the purpose of breeding the dharma for the next generation. At the same time, famous scholars in the country such as Mr. Pham Quynh, Mr. Tran-Trong-Kim ... also wrote many valuable research articles on Buddhist teachings.

However, it was not until 1931 that these sporadic efforts combined into an organized force. At first, a Buddhist association was established in Saigon and named after Cochinchina to study Buddhism; Next is the Buddhist Association Mesopotamia. The people who have initiated the name of this association are Khanh Hoa, His Holiness Hue Quang, His Excellency Khanh Anh, along with some of the advanced Sangha and Lay Buddhas.

In 1932, during the Middle Ages of Giac Tien, Phuoc Hue and a group of Tan Hong Lay Buddhists led by Tam Minh Le Dinh Tham, a Buddhist monk founded the Buddhist Association, the Assembly Hall was Tu Dam Pagoda.

In 1934, in Tonkin, there was Venerable To Lien, Venerable Tri Hai, Mr. Nguyen Nang Quoc, Tran Trong Kim and a number of Venerable and Unforthgoing Buddhists.

The above-mentioned associations all have the same purpose and program of activities: To regulate Zen subjects, to restore the rules of the world, to train a generation of young, righteous and righteous monks and propagate the Dharma.

To achieve this goal, all associations open their own school. In Bac Bac, there is a Sangha school at Quan Su pagoda, many schools are in Bo De pagoda; in China, there are Buddhist institutes in Tay Thien pagoda and Bao Quoc pagoda, Ni school in Dieu Duc pagoda; In the South there is the Buddhist Academy of Mesopotamia (Tra Vinh) Ni school at Vinh Buu pagoda (in Thom).

In addition, associations also publish magazines to promote Buddhism, such as Duu Tue in the North, Vien Am Quan in Trung, Phap negative, Compassion, Duy Tam in the South. These associations were enthusiastically responded and expanded very quickly, and soon every province in the country had its branches. Thanks to that response, associations have built more facilities, expanded more Buddhist institutes, published more books and newspapers.

But while the Buddhist revival movement was on the rise, the second world war broke out and the Vietnam-France war disrupted the activities of Buddhist associations in the country.

2)  Vietnam-Vietnam Buddhist Association.

By 1948, although the Vietnam-France war had not ceased gunfire, but because of their eagerness for the Dharma and to give people a comfort in the deadly tragedy caused by the war, the leaders Buddhism was in regions occupied by the French army, actively working to rectify the development of the facilities that had been ravaged by the war.

In Hanoi, the monks Venerable To Lien and Tri Hai, with the help of a group of lay people dedicated to Buddhism, revived the Buddhist revival movement and brought a new nuance, paying much attention to the work. charities and society, such as setting up orphanages, private, charity agencies to help war victims.

In Hue, too, the Sangha and a group of laypeople worked closely to repair the pagodas that were ruined by the war and stood up to gather the scattered believers and friends. , reestablishing provincial associations, Buddhist festivals and especially developing the family of Buddhists is an organization of educating young people and Buddhists, to be the posterity for Buddhism tomorrow ...

In Vietnam, the Sangha and the laity join together to establish the Vietnam Buddhist Association. Although in extremely difficult circumstances, the aforementioned associations have developed quickly, vigorously and gained the trust of the people in general, and especially of the Buddhists in particular. In a few years, those associations have built many more clubs, opened printing houses, dispensing rooms, libraries, released speech agencies, and business ...

Simultaneously with the aforementioned associations, the Sangha churches were also organized in an orderly manner, gathering many talented monks and practitioners; practical learning and thus gained great confidence among the Buddhists and regained the status and responsibility of the Buddhist leadership that the Buddha had entrusted.

The laity congregations and the Sangha Churches have been rectified and have power in the North, Central and South of the three regions, but there has not been a convenient opportunity to unify the will and act, although the concept of unity It has been a long time in the minds of Buddhist leaders.

But what must come, will come. On May 6, 1951 a national congress was convened at Tu Dam Pagoda in Hue, nearly 51 Sangha and lay members of 6 groups in three regions (3 Sangha groups and 3 lay groups. ) to establish the "Vietnam Buddhist Association" and elect the Central Executive Committee for the National Buddhist Association, or the "governing the Vietnam Buddhist Association".

Currently, the Vietnam Buddhist Association is the most important organization in Vietnam, the most closely organized, in the spirit of Buddhism and gathering over one million members.

The Vietnam Buddhist Association is also a founding member of the World Buddhist Association, established in 1950 in Columbo and sent delegates to attend all the meetings of the World Buddhist Association. Vietnam Buddhist Association includes the following activities: Hoang Phap, Education, Fine Arts, Youth, Ritual, Social charity ... (1)

C.-Conclusion

From the virtues From the annexation of Nirvana up to now, it has been more than 25 centuries, but the sun of the Dharma, though sometimes passed by a dark cloud, still illuminates the whole realm. Particularly in Vietnam has been light that shines to nearly 20 centuries. In Vietnamese history, the prevailing Buddhist periods were a state of autonomy, independence and power. On this day, Vietnamese Buddhism in Vietnam was revived, and the light became more brilliant. This is good news foretelling the people of Vietnam.

We firmly believe that with the current progress, the World Buddhist movement in general and Vietnamese Buddhism in particular will increase and expand even more. We have enough reason to believe so, because Buddhism is not contrary to today's science, but also a source of consolation, a well-needed stream of love for humanity. END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.27/1/2020.