Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Gia Lai (VNA) – Construction of a Truc Lam Zen monastery began in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on November 27.
Covering 2 hectares of land in the Cultural Park of Gia Lai Ethnic Groups in Ia Grai district, the monastery, funded by the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, includes temples dedicated to Saint Tran (Tran Hung Dao), President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs.
It follows the Truc Lam Yen Tu, a Vietnamese Zen sect founded by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), who was also the founder of the Truc Lam Monastery 700 years ago.
After defeating Mongol invaders, the king renounced his throne at the age of 35 and spent the rest of his life on Yen Tu Mountain, which is located in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.
During the period, the King-Monk worked to unify different sects of Vietnamese Buddhism into Vietnamese Zen Buddhism. The project, alongside with other facilities in the park, is expected to preserve and promote the cultural values of ethnic groups in the Central Highlands region and serve as a location for spiritual and ecological tourism.
On the occasion, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee and the Hoang Anh Gia Lai JSC presented 1,200 gifts worth 600 million VND (27,000 USD) to disadvantaged households in Ia Grai district.-VNA
