HT. Thich Như Điển TT. Thích Hạnh Định Translated by Thích Trừng Sỹ
Invitation Letter to the Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday) 2650 Celebration and the Concrete Pouring Ceremony for the Basement Construction of the Vien Giac Buddhist Institute, Hannover, Germany
Hannover, May 28, 2026
Homage to the Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.
Respectfully paying homage to the Most Venerable Senior Monks, Venerable Elders, and Venerable monks and nuns,
Dear Buddhist devotees from near and far,
The Most Venerable Founder of Viên Giác Monastery has been planning the construction of the Viên Giác Buddhist Institute for a considerable period of time. The Institute will consist of one basement level, a ground floor, and three upper floors. The building will be 30 meters wide and 33 meters long, with each floor having an area of nearly 990 square meters.
The basement includes technical rooms, storage areas, a community hall, and a fitness area.
The ground floor includes offices, a reception room, a medical room, a kitchen, a dining hall, and five bedrooms for the kitchen staff.
The first floor includes one library and nine classrooms.
The second floor includes 28 bedrooms.
The third floor includes a memorial room dedicated to the Most Venerable Founder of Viên Giác Monastery, a meditation hall, and three bedrooms.
Finally, the German government issued the building permit in December 2023. After the bidding process was completed, excavation for the basement began on April 29, 2026. They will finish the excavation tomorrow, May 29, 2026, which marks exactly one month.
On the occasion of Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday) at Vien Giac Monastery, Venerable monks and nuns, together with lay Buddhists from near and far, will conduct the concrete pouring ceremony for the basement construction of the Vien Giac Buddhist Institute at 11:00 a.m. on May 30, 2026, in the presence of the two Most Venerable Presidents of the Executive Committee of the European Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, Most Venerable Thích Tánh Thiệt and Most Venerable Thích Như Điển.
We, the monastic Sangha, respectfully announce and joyfully celebrate the Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday) Grand Celebration at Vien Giac Monastery, which also marks the occasion of the establishment of the Vien Giac Buddhist Institute. This is a moment of great joy for the European Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in general, and for the German Branch and lay Buddhists in particular.
We respectfully invite Venerable monks and nuns, as well as lay Buddhists near and far, to kindly arrange their time to attend this ceremony. This is also a spiritual offering and a source of encouragement for the construction committee to successfully fulfill its work in the years to come.
We respectfully wish all Venerable monks and nuns a peaceful and joyful Vesak season, with body and mind at ease, abiding in immeasurable happiness under the radiant compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
We respectfully wish all fellow lay Buddhists near and far abundant blessings, happiness, and well-being in their lives.
Namo Lumbini Garden, the manifestation of the Untroubled Grove, the appearance of the Blessed Birth—Our Original Teacher Śākyamuni Buddha!
Vien Giac Monastery, May 28, 2026
Abbot
Bhikkhu Thích Hạnh Định
