In Buddhist sutra, the Buddha taught that “intelligence is the cause of anything”. For Buddhist believer, his cause is to cultivate his mind. Buddhism is enlightenment, liberation. Anyone who wants to be enlightenment, he must have knowledge. That is why Buddha always advised his followers to cultivate their mind. To promote that spirit, Vietnamese Buddhism always determines that training monks and nuns is basis for preserving Buddhist law
Training monks and nuns is considered as an important task in the history of Buddhism in Vietnam, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. When entering, Vietnam Buddhism formed many Buddhist centers, many sutras were translated in these centers. Some Buddhist Institutes are established, organized and developed. Eminent monks are always interested in training monks and nuns. Before our country became independence and Vietnamese Buddhism was influenced by the Buddhist revival movements in China and Japan, Vietnamese Buddhism paid attention to organize schools, training courses for monks and nuns so many Buddhist institutes, schools classes for monks and nuns were organized everywhere from the North to the South. These bases have attracted large number of monks and nuns.
When Vietnam Buddhist Sangha was established in 1981, the Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan was elected to be the head of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha by all nun and monks who participated in the Conference of Buddhist Unification. The Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan refused. Because of desire of monks and nuns, the Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan accepted the leading role with condition, Conference had a resolution and petitioned to State for some problems including establishing Buddhist schools in three regions.
Request of Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan shows desires of Eminent monks, the leaders of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on training monks and nuns because it is base for propagation of Buddhism and developing of Vietnam Buddhism
From 1981 to 2011, with the help of state and government at all levels, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has built a training system for monks and nuns from primary to university and postgraduate level, with 4 Buddhist Academies, 9 Buddhist junior colleges, 30 Secondary Buddhist schools and hundreds of primary Buddhist classes in our country. At present, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has trained 100 doctors in Buddhism, 100 monks and nuns are preparing to defend PhD and MA theses. The training system not only raises quality of monks and nuns but also quality and quantity of Vietnamese intellectuals.
Apart from these achievements, the training of monks and nuns has set up many problems for people who undertake educational work of Buddhism in general and Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in particular. The training system needs a united training program, professional teachers, suitable training program….The conference on the training of monks and nuns and some orientation for development was held. Many researchers, scholars, Buddhist dignitaries, laymen and managers related to Buddhism participated in conference. The speeches in this conference are printed in the book “Buddhist education in Vietnam- orientation and development”.
Book consists of 70 articles which focus on three main contents: They are Buddhist Education - The general theoretical issues; Orientation, Model, Buddhist educational program - current status and solutions; Buddhist education with firm development. Through the book " Buddhist education in Vietnam- orientation and development” readers will have an overview of Buddhist education in Vietnam and understand clearly policy and law of the Party and the State towards religion especially education and training of religious organizations.
The book " Buddhist education in Vietnam orientation and development” is the important document for all those who undertake educational work of Buddhism, especially Buddhist dignitaries. This books is necessary for researchers, scholars and those people related to religious affairs. Book is published by Religion publisher in 2012.
Yen Son
