Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) held the launching ceremony for the Tran Nhan Tong Institute.

managing(Photo) The inauguration ceremony of the Tran Nhan Tong Institute

managingThe Buddhist ideology of Emperor Tran Nhan Tong was a combination of national spirit and humanistic compassion.

Attending the ceremony were Venerable Thich Duc Nghiep – Vice Dharma Chief of the Central Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Venerable Thich Thien Nhon – Chairman of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and Vice Chairmen of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, representatives of the Buddhist Sangha Executive Boards of several provinces and cities, along with many abbots, monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers from temples and meditation centers.

Representing the Ministry, departments, and localities were Comrade Nguyen Duy Thang - Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Interior, Comrade Nguyen Van Linh - Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Giang province, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Huong - Former Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Former Deputy Minister of Public Security, representatives of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, along with representatives from several localities, partners, representatives of the Tran family clan, and a number of businesses, as well as representatives of the leadership of universities and research institutes inside and outside the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Representing Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) were Comrade Nguyen Kim Son – Director of VNU, members of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, the Quality Assurance Council, the Science and Training Council, representatives of the leadership of the Office and functional departments of VNU, and representatives of the leadership of member and affiliated units of VNU.

The Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Director of the Tran Nhan Tong Institute, Nguyen Kim Son, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

The Tran Nhan Tong Institute, under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), was established by Decision No. 1717/QD-TTg dated September 1, 2016, of the Prime Minister. It is the fourth of five research institutes of VNU established by the Prime Minister. The Tran Nhan Tong Institute is the first educational institution in Vietnam to pioneer the training of high-quality human resources in Buddhist studies (initially at the doctoral level).

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Kim Son - Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, also holds the position of Director of the Tran Nhan Tong Institute; the Vice Director is Associate Professor Dr. Lai Quoc Khanh - former Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; the Chairman of the Science and Training Council is Professor Dr. Vu Minh Giang - Chairman of the Science and Training Council of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Kim Son, said that since 2011, recognizing the importance of establishing a member-level unit for in-depth research and training on traditional national culture, especially Buddhist studies and Vietnamese Buddhism, in order to positively impact the development of people and national culture in the new era, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has developed a plan to establish the Tran Nhan Tong Institute.

“This is the first time in the national science and technology research system that a unit has conducted in-depth research on Buddhism and the thought of Tran Nhan Tong. It is also the first time a doctoral program in Buddhism has been implemented within the modern Vietnamese national education system,” affirmed Director Nguyen Kim Son. “The establishment of the Tran Nhan Tong Institute is a significant milestone marking society's veneration of Tran Nhan Tong's thought, as well as the profound understanding of scholars from both the monastic and secular spheres regarding Tran Nhan Tong's legacy and the Truc Lam Zen sect, reaching the necessary maturity. This also demonstrates the vision and capabilities of Vietnam National University, Hanoi in expressing an educational philosophy aimed at the holistic development of individuals, both in the short and long term.”

According to the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Kim Son, with its strength as a highly academic research institute under Vietnam National University, Hanoi – a leading university in Vietnam – the Tran Nhan Tong Institute will contribute to the development of the finest aspects of Vietnamese Buddhism, the thought of Tran Nhan Tong and the culture of the Tran Dynasty, as well as Vietnamese traditional culture in general, contributing to the building of a new Vietnamese person in the era of globalization. The Tran Nhan Tong Institute, upon its establishment and operation, will strive through in-depth research to uncover the true essence of Buddhism, further clarify and fully explain the spiritual legacy of Tran Nhan Tong, his era, the culture of the Tran Dynasty, Truc Lam, and Vietnamese traditional culture. “Through training activities, primarily at the doctoral level, the Institute will strive to train talented practitioners to serve as the core for the development of humanistic Buddhism. The Institute will actively engage in social activities, fostering love, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration both domestically and internationally to strengthen national unity and enhance friendship between the peoples of different countries,” the Director emphasized.

Venerable Thich Thien Nhon - Chairman of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Association, delivered a congratulatory speech to the Tran Nhan Tong Institute.

At the ceremony, Venerable Thich Thien Nhon extended his congratulations and highly appreciated the Government's decision to establish the Tran Nhan Tong Institute under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. He stated that the establishment of the Institute is timely and in line with the evolving intellectual trends of humanity through its approach to the thought of Tran Nhan Tong, while simultaneously honoring the humanistic values ​​of this outstanding and enlightened figure, and serving as a reminder and lesson for future generations to inherit and develop that thought.

Venerable Thich Thien Nhon believes that, through the Tran Nhan Tong Institute, monks and nuns of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association and the Buddhist Associations of provinces/cities will have the opportunity to improve their skills and access high-quality doctoral programs in Buddhist studies at a domestic higher education institution.

The establishment of the Tran Nhan Tong Institute is of significant importance to academic activities in general and to the training and research of Buddhism in particular, with national and international significance. The Institute has many unique characteristics, focusing its research on traditional culture, with an emphasis on the history and culture of the Tran Dynasty, especially the figure of Tran Nhan Tong and Truc Lam Buddhism. The interdisciplinary nature of this research requires significant investment in both human resources and the necessary conditions for large-scale research and training.

To get the Institute up and running, VNU has taken many steps, including developing a project proposal, conducting surveys, and discussing the long-term direction of the institute's research and training, especially creating a pilot doctoral program in Buddhist studies and other short-term training programs.

VNU Hanoi is also preparing for in-depth research on Buddhism and the Truc Lam Zen school, while building a database and developing long-term research plans. In particular, preparations are underway regarding human resources to implement the Institute's activities, including a team of scientists from VNU Hanoi and other domestic and international units, as well as monks who have received formal training abroad.

The first doctoral program in Buddhist studies in Vietnam, conducted by the Tran Nhan Tong Institute, is expected to begin enrollment in September 2017.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Duy Thang presents flowers to congratulate the leaders of the Tran Nhan Tong Institute.