Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, was disciplined with a warning.

Accordingly, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) warned Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, for displaying "Buddha's hair relics" which seriously affected Buddhist beliefs.

The announcement stated that on December 22, 2023, Ba Vang Pagoda celebrated the 765th anniversary of the birth of King Tran Nhan Tong. Then, from December 23-27, 2023, Ba Vang Pagoda organized for Buddhists and people to worship "Buddha's hair relics" at the pagoda, which was broadcast on Ba Vang Pagoda's websites and Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh introduced this as "Buddha's hair relics from 2,600 years ago", a treasure of Parami Pagoda and Parami Buddha Relic Museum, Yangon, Myanmar.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh Tru Tri Chua Ba Vang was severely disciplined photo 1 — Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh.

The event of organizing a pilgrimage and communicating about "Buddha's hair relics" at Ba Vang Pagoda has been criticized by public opinion, creating a lot of conflicting information that seriously affects the beliefs of Buddhism and the reputation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province concluded that Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh - abbot of Ba Vang pagoda violated the Law on Belief and Religion in registering the content of worshiping "Buddha's hair relics" at Ba Vang pagoda and violated the invitation of foreigners to participate in the event without notice.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh has repeatedly left the country to conduct religious activities abroad without reporting to the Church and the state agency in charge of religious affairs. The actions of Ba Vang Pagoda have caused society to lose confidence in Buddhism, affecting social order and the reputation of the VBS.

On January 13, 2024, the Standing Committee of the Board of Trustees met at Quang Duc Zen Monastery, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, chaired by the Venerable Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and gave his opinion on this matter as follows: Buddha's relics are a Buddhist belief, a religious belief; Buddha's relics are real, from the history of Buddhist scriptures, archeology, and currently Buddha's relics are treasures of some Asian countries with Buddhist beliefs.

The worship of Buddha's relics is a belief practiced in the religious life of the world's Buddhist community. The fact that Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, organized a pilgrimage to "Buddha's hair relics" by Venerable U Wepulla, abbot of Parami Monastery and Parami Buddha Relic Museum (also known as Thone Wain Monastery or Parmee Kyaung, located at Thone Wain Road, Block 5, Nam Okkalapa Town, Yangon, Myanmar) to Ba Vang Pagoda for Buddhists to worship during the week of commemorating the 765th anniversary of the birth of King Buddha Tran Nhan Tong without reporting to the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quang Ninh Province and the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; not organizing carefully, the media was not verified, causing the loss of social trust in Buddhism, reducing the prestige of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is a violation of Clause 2, Article 82, Chapter XIII of the Charter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, revised for the seventh time.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh went abroad to conduct religious activities and exchanges without reporting to the Sangha and invited foreign monks to attend ceremonies at Ba Vang Pagoda without reporting and asking for permission from the Sangha at all levels, which is a violation of Article 76 and Article 79, Chapter XIV of the Regulations on the activities of the Central Sangha Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Term IX (2022-2027).

Pursuant to Article 82, Chapter XIII of the Charter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, revised for the seventh time; Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 71, Chapter XIII of the Regulations on the activities of the Central Sangha Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, term IX (2022-2027), the Standing Committee of the Executive Council decided to discipline Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh with a warning, repent to the Standing Committee of the Executive Council and notify the Executive Committees of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in provinces and cities.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh must promise that if he continues to commit similar violations that cause the loss of public trust in Buddhism and affect the reputation of the VBS, he will be stripped of his abbotship. Ba Vang Pagoda will not be allowed to organize international exchange events for 1 year. The Executive Committee of the VBS in Quang Ninh province will strengthen measures to closely monitor the religious and media activities of Ba Vang Pagoda and Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh.

The Standing Committee of the Board of Trustees respectfully presents to the Supreme Patriarch and the Venerable Elders of the Vinaya Council of the Standing Committee of the Council of Evidence.

Mr. Minh

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