The role Buddhism played in the founding and defence of the nation under the Dinh and Pre-Le dynasties was the main topic of a seminar held at the Bai Dinh Pagoda in the Red River Delta province of Ninh Binh on June 29.

The seminar was co-organised by the Institute for Religious Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Ninh Binh’s Department of Home Affairs and the Executive Board of the provincial Buddhist Sangha.

It attracted a large number of academics, representatives from the executive boards of several provincial Buddhist Sanghas, as well as monks, nuns and followers from across the country.

The participants discussed Buddhism’s contributions to the nation’s development under the Dinh (968-980) and Pre-Le (980-1009) dynasties and Buddhism’s values during its stages of development as well as ways of upholding these values.

The Director of the Institute for Religious Studies, Nguyen Hong Duong, said that Buddhism contributed greatly to the nation during these periods. With the intention of making more of an impact, Buddhist monks actively engaged in the country’s affairs, he said.

The speeches delivered at the seminar highlighted the important contributions Buddhism made under the Dinh and Pre-Le dynasties, its role in laying a foundation for Vietnam ’s Buddhism and the role played by Buddhists in the periods./.