An inspection delegation from Long An provincial authorities visited on May 21 Mrs. Cao Thi Cuc's household in Lap Thanh hamlet, Hoa Khanh Tay commune of Duc Hoa district for an administrative check, known as “Bong Lai temple” or “Zen shrine the Divine Realm”
Reportedly, Mr. Lê Tùng Vân (89 years old, permanently residing in Ho Chi Minh City) came to this place 6 years ago and established a worshipping place called “Bong Lai temple”
According to the dispatch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Chapter in Long An province sent to the VBS Executive Council in December 2019, “Bong Lai temple” was not a legal worshipping place managed by the provincial VBS chapter. All members living in this place were not Buddhist monastics.
The VBS and other social organizations have also asked Duc Hoa district authorities to this practice of worshipping in the place in order to avoid misrepresentation of Buddhism.
Therefore, Duc Hoa district authorities have conducted administration check including the resident registration, construction and land permits, and religious activities in this place. Accordingly, local authorities have concluded that the place has not been granted operation permission by competent authorities.
Vice Chairman of Duc Hoa district authorities Liêu Văn Bùng informed that this place is a kind of “house church” with 20 residents coming from many places and is looking after several abandoned children. In addition, this place attracted visitors who often come to worship and offer charitable support.
In the coming week, the inspection team will recommend administrative measures based inspection results, the Vice Chairman said.
In the campus of Cao Thị Cúc's house, there has an altar worshipping the Buddha as in a Buddhist temple. Most of the residing people cut their hair, wear clothes similar to those of Buddhist monastics, and then call themselves as nuns and monks. In many clips in social networks, this place self-claimed as a pagoda or temple of the VBS and organized religious activities as a temple of the VBS.
Mr. Lê Tùng Vân has never been ordained as a monk but called himself "Venerable", performed ordainment for other people and accepted disciples. Many clips of this group regarded Mr. Vân as a saint or even a Buddha, and other clips shown Mr. Vân rejected Buddhist teaching and asked people not to recite Buddhist scriptures.
PH
