Overview of the congress (Source: vov.vn) HCM City (VNA) – More than 800 Buddhist dignitariesand followers gathered at the ninth Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City BuddhistSangha for the 2017-2022 tenure that opened in the city’s District 10 onNovember 7.
Addressing the event, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang,Deputy Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha said that the congress is animportant event marking the growth of the city’s Buddhist Sangha in the pastfive years. It will figure out weaknesses and problems to be tackled for thefuture efficient tenure.
He called for constructive ideas for the sustainable developmentof the city’s Buddhism in the integration period.
He also lauded the strong performance of the municipalBuddhist Sangha over the past 35 years through eight tenures.
Meanwhile, Vice Secretary of the municipal PartyCommittee Tat Thanh Cang highly valued the achievements that the city BuddhistSangha has made in all fields, including its fulfillment of both religious andsocial tasks and contributions to the stability and growth of Buddhism as wellas the national defence and construction.
Expressing hope that the Sangha will continuepromoting its tradition and acting as part of the national solidarity bloc andan active member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, he suggested that the Sanghaencourage dignitaries and followers to actively engage in socio-economicdevelopment movements as well as poverty reduction, environmental protectionand national culture promotion. The Sangha should also focus on fightingsuperstition and actions aimed to harm the national unity, he said.
A report at the congress showed that in the past fiveyears, the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha made many attainments in the fieldof politics, culture, economy and social charity.
In the next five years, it aims to develop its organization,responsibly respond to security and defence movements and educate followers toabide by the law.
Participants at the congress selected an 83-memberExecutive Council of the municipal Buddhist Sangha for the 2017-2022 tenure,led by Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang.
On the occasion, outstanding individuals andcollective of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha were honoured with nobleawards from the State President, the Prime Minister, the Vietnam FatherlandFront’s Central Committee and the municipal People’s Committee.
Earlier the same day, the Sangha inaugurated theVietnam Quoc Tu (Vietnam National Pagoda), which is designed to become acultural, administrative, and spiritual hub and a venue of the Sangha’s majoractivities in the future.-VNA
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