Attending the conference included representatives of the provincial Department of Home Affairs, district-level officials working on the state administration on religion, and Buddhist dignitaries of the provincial Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Executive Committee.

It’s reported that Buddhism in Nghe An province currently has over 45,000 followers with 47 pagoda and 55 dignitaries. In recent years, the provincial People’s Committee strengthened the dissemination of state policies and laws amongst local state officials and Buddhist followers, and issued many specific guidelines in order to enhance the effectiveness of the state administration on Buddhist affairs and create favorable conditions for Buddhism in the province. The VBS Executive Committee at all levels also stepped up trainings for followers to better understand the Buddhist tenets and canons, and the State laws. Thanks to these efforts of both local authorities and Buddhist Church, Buddhist activities have primarily been conducted in accordance with legal provisions on religion.

In addition, the conference pointed out remaining issues, such as illegal construction of worshipping facilities and organization of religious activities at some pagodas in the province, due to lack of understand on the State policies on religion and the VBS’s regulations.

The conference also approved key tasks in the coming time, with focus on dissemination of the State policies and law on religion for the monks, nuns and Buddhists, and close coordination between the local authorities and the provincial VBS for addressing violating activities at some pagodas.

Source: Baonghean.vn