VietNamNet Bridge – Buddhist scholars reaffirmed the strong influence of Buddhism directly from India to Viet Nam at an International Buddhist Conference in Ha Noi yesterday, April 6.


HTML clipboard People burn incense at the Lam Kinh Festival in central Thanh Hoa Province. More than 70 per cent of Vietnamese people believe in Buddhism which is part of the national culture. (Photo: VNS)
"Buddhism was first introduced into Viet Nam as early as first century BC by Indian traders and monks," said Professor Sachchidanand Sahai from India.


Today, there are more than 20,000 Buddhist pagodas throughout the country.


"All testify to a vigorous development of Buddhism in Viet Nam," said the professor on the sideline of the two-day conference.

The conference aims to help Buddhist scholars from Viet Nam, India, China, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Thailand explore and strengthen the rich cultural ties that developed from the teachings of Buddha.


The conference is being held as part of a joint commemoration by Viet Nam and India of the 2600th anniversary of the attainment of enlightment by Lord Buddha.


The executive secretary and deputy head of the Department for International Buddhist Affairs of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, Venerable Thich Duc Thien, said Vietnamese culture had absorbed Buddhism directly from Indian traders and monks.


The venerable said materials and antiques left at Dau Pagoda in the northen province of Bac Ninh were made about 1,752 years ago. This proved the pagoda was one of the oldest in Viet Nam.


Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, standing vice president of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha, confirmed that Buddhism from India had intermingled into Mahayana Buddhism brought to Viet Nam along the Silk Road into China and brought vitality to Viet Nam's culture.


‘It has become part and parcel of the national culture," Tu said.


Between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of Vietnamese population believe in Buddhism, according to the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News