Representing the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha were Venerable Thich Phuoc Dat, PhD - Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Buddhist Education Board, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Buddhist Studies Institute, and Deputy Director of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.
Representing the agencies and organizations were leaders from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Hanoi City Fatherland Front Committee, the Government's Religious Affairs Committee, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, delivered the opening remarks at the workshop.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, emphasized that Vietnamese Buddhism, with its spirit of engagement with the world, has been affirmed and proven throughout history. The engagement of Vietnamese Buddhism not only helps to widely spread the beautiful teachings of this religion within the community but also accompanies the struggle, protection, and construction of the nation throughout history and in the present. In this context, the role and contributions of Buddhist women – one of the four groups practicing and carrying out Buddhist activities within the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha – cannot be overlooked.
History has proven that Vietnamese Buddhist women are an important part, making significant contributions to the cause of national liberation and nation-building. In peacetime, the contributions of Buddhist women are even more evident and multifaceted, not only in transmitting Buddhist teachings but also in practical social activities that contribute to national development.
As one of the leading training institutions in the field of social sciences and humanities, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has conducted research and seminars for many years on the role of Buddhism in general and the contributions and status of women in Buddhism. The scientific seminar "The Engaged Spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist Women Past and Present" is a forum for exchange, aiming to clarify some theoretical and practical issues related to the contributions of Vietnamese Buddhist women in history and today, and to propose solutions and recommendations to promote the engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist women in contemporary society.
Venerable Thich Phuoc Dat, PhD - Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Association, delivered a speech.
Venerable Thich Phuoc Dat, PhD - Member of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, shared that the scientific conference "The Engaged Spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist Women Past and Present" is a tribute to the achievements and contributions of women throughout the history of Vietnamese Buddhism. The engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist women, past and present, has affirmed their role in national history and needs to be encouraged and promoted in the current process of reform.
Venerable Thich Phuoc Dat, PhD, hopes that the scientific conference organized by the Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, will open up new research directions and approaches with many new research works, encouraging the spirit of engagement with the world and positive contributions of Buddhist women in all fields, contributing to the longevity of Buddhism, the prosperity of the country, and the peace and well-being of the people. Accordingly, it affirms the role and position of Vietnamese women in the era of global integration.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, delivered a speech.
In his congratulatory remarks at the conference, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, stated that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities always prioritizes scientific research activities, organizing approximately 30 to 40 conferences annually, covering a wide range of topics within and outside the social sciences and humanities. Among these, Religious Studies is one of the disciplines with outstanding research results at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, demonstrating a vibrant scientific research spirit that attracts the attention of the scientific community.
Highly appreciating the close collaboration and cooperation of scientists from universities, research institutes, and organizations in organizing the conference, Professor Hoang Anh Tuan believes that this will be a great resource in researching and shedding light on scientific issues concerning the engaged spirit of Buddhist women.
Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Kim Oanh, Head of the Department of Religious Studies, presented a paper entitled: The "Feminine" Nature of Vietnamese Culture and the Position of Buddhist Women in Vietnam, Past and Present.
The organizing committee received more than 40 papers from scholars contributing important content to the study of the engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist women in the past and present with main topics such as: (1) The engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist women in history; (2) The engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist women in contemporary society; (3) Some solutions to promote the engaged spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist women in the present period.
Following the conference, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, is expected to publish a book containing valuable research findings.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc presented a paper entitled: The Social Engagement Activities of Buddhist Nuns Today.
