Addressing the event, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Deputy Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha said that the congress is an important event marking the growth of the city’s Buddhist Sangha in the past five years. It will figure out weaknesses and problems to be tackled for the future efficient tenure.
Overview of the congress. Photo: vov.vn
He called for constructive ideas for the sustainable development of the city’s Buddhism in the integration period.
He also lauded the strong performance of the municipal Buddhist Sangha over the past 35 years through eight tenures.
Meanwhile, Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang highly valued the achievements that the city Buddhist Sangha has made in all fields, including its fulfillment of both religious and social tasks and contributions to the stability and growth of Buddhism as well as the national defense and construction.
Expressing hope that the Sangha will continue promoting its tradition and acting as part of the national solidarity bloc and an active member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, he suggested that the Sangha encourage dignitaries and followers to actively engage in socio-economic development movements as well as poverty reduction, environmental protection and national culture promotion. The Sangha should also focus on fighting superstition and actions aimed to harm the national unity, he said.
A report at the congress showed that in the past five years, the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha made many attainments in the field of politics, culture, economy and social charity.
In the next five years, it aims to develop its organization, responsibly respond to security and defense movements and educate followers to abide by the law.
Participants at the congress selected an 83-member Executive Council of the municipal Buddhist Sangha for the 2017-2022 tenure, led by Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang.
On the occasion, outstanding individuals and collective of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha were honored with noble awards from the State President, the Prime Minister, the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee and the municipal People’s Committee.
Earlier the same day, the Sangha inaugurated the Vietnam Quoc Tu (Vietnam National Pagoda), which is designed to become a cultural, administrative, and spiritual hub and a venue of the Sangha’s major activities in the future.
Source: VNA