Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks and Nuns of Bac Lieu Province promotes national cultural identity

On July 31, at the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Bac Lieu province, the Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks of Bac Lieu province held the 7th Congress of Delegates for the 2023-2028 term.

Overview of the 7th Congress of the Association of Solidarity of Patriotic Buddhist Monks of Bac Lieu Province, term 2023-2028. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Attending and witnessing were Most Venerable Dao Nhu, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, President of the Khmer Southern Buddhist Academy, along with Venerable Monks, Most Venerables, and Venerables who are Standing Members of the Association of Patriotic Monks and Nuns of the provinces and cities in the Southwest region.

Attending the Congress were Mr. Tao Viet Thang, Deputy Head of the Department of Local Ethnic Affairs under the Ethnic Committee; Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Head of the Mass Mobilization Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Mr. Phan Thanh Duy, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the presence of 145 official delegates who are prestigious people, the Management Board of Khmer and Salatel pagodas attending the Congress.

The Congress approved the draft report summarizing the Association's activities and the draft review report of the Executive Committee of the 6th Provincial Association of Patriotic Monks and Nuns, term 2018-2023. During the past term, the Provincial Association of Patriotic Monks and Nuns actively mobilized and guided monks, A Cha, the Board of Directors and Buddhists to properly implement the Association's Charter, the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws.

With the motto "Dharma - Nation", the Association of Solidarity of Patriotic Monks and Monks of Bac Lieu province determined that the pagoda is a place for traditional cultural activities of the Khmer people, demonstrating the expansion of humanity, vows, and compassion of Buddhists. The construction, repair, and restoration of worship facilities are always facilitated by authorities at all levels in all aspects, meeting the needs of religious activities of monks and Buddhists in the area, with a total estimated cost of more than 76,770 billion VND.

In addition, monks and Buddhists actively participated in contributing to the "Fund for the Poor", participating in supporting the New Rural Development Program, and the Covid-19 Prevention and Control Fund. At the same time, they also carried out social charity work well such as taking care of health, giving gifts to the poor, supporting charity classes, building bridges, rural roads, charity houses, donating coffins and supporting burials, poor patients, distributing hundreds of tons of rice, necessities, scholarships and school supplies... with a total value of over 12.4 billion VND...

The work of preserving and promoting national cultural identity is given attention, especially in the field of preserving the language and writing of ethnic minorities, encouraging monks to study Pali and Vini classes of the Khmer Theravada Buddhist sect. In addition, pagodas in the province regularly open literacy classes for the elderly and Khmer classes for children during the summer vacation...

The Executive Committee of the 7th Bac Lieu Province Association for Solidarity of Patriotic Buddhist Monks for the 2023-2028 term was introduced before the Congress. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

In the new term, the Provincial Association of Patriotic Buddhist Monks and Nuns will strengthen propaganda and mobilization to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, contributing to maintaining and stabilizing the security, political situation, social order and safety; continue to promote the spirit of internal solidarity, national and religious solidarity; actively respond to patriotic emulation movements; build the Association's organization to become increasingly disciplined, stable and strong, operating according to the motto of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha "Dharma - Nation - Socialism", living "Good life, good religion" to preserve, maintain and promote the national cultural identity.

In his congratulatory speech at the Congress, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Bac Lieu province acknowledged and commended the achievements of the Bac Lieu Province Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks in the past term; at the same time, he suggested that the new term should closely follow the Association's objectives and purposes; continue to study and thoroughly grasp the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, coordinate with the Fatherland Front and the government to propagate to monks and Khmer people to understand and mobilize people to participate in implementation.

At the Congress, delegates elected 22 members to the Executive Committee of the 7th Bac Lieu Province Patriotic Buddhist Monks Solidarity Association for the 2023-2028 term, with Most Venerable Huu Hinh re-elected as President of the Association.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoi-doan-ket-su-sai-yeu-nuoc-tinh-bac-lieu-phat-huy-ban-sac-van-hoa-dan-toc-236667.html