{"id":12218,"date":"2025-04-24T02:43:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T19:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/?p=12218"},"modified":"2025-04-24T03:01:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T20:01:29","slug":"fifty-years-a-journey-of-vietnamese-buddhism-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/fifty-years-a-journey-of-vietnamese-buddhism-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Fifty years, a journey of Vietnamese Buddhism in America"},"content":{"rendered":"

GHPGVNTHHK<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 Ti\u1ec3u L\u1ee5c Th\u1ea7n Th\u00f4ng<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Translated by Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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FIFTY YEARS, A JOURNEY OF VIETNAMESE BUDDHISM IN THE UNITED STATES<\/span><\/p>\n

Buddhism, like the fate of the people, always ups and downs with the times. Fifty years ago, the country experienced a tragic upheaval, followed by harsh and miserable days that forced millions of people to leave their homeland. Those who left could be evacuees, cross borders, cross seas\u2026 Rushing into death to find a way to live.<\/span><\/p>\n

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People who left brought with them thin and weak bodies, broken and tattered souls. They left with empty hands, leaving everything behind. After arriving in the new land, they had to rebuild from the beginning. One of those things was to build Vietnamese Temples on the new land. In addition to studying to earn a living, they are also passionate about propagating and practicing Buddhism.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Building a temple is not an easy task, not only in terms of economics but also in terms of legal issues, culture, and the attitudes of local residents… It must be said that it is a hundred thousand difficulties, however, with high devotion, with deep confidence in the Three Jewels, with determination not to be afraid of difficulties… From then on, Temples gradually sprung up all over the United States in particular and the world in general.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nFifty years have passed, now Vietnamese Buddhism has a solid foothold, a spacious and decent facility, and legal status… There are monasteries and temples that help native people become monastic people. Specifically, Dharma Centers belonging to Plum Village in Deer Park San Diego, in Blue Cliff New York, in M\u1ed9c Lan Mississippi, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Overseas Vietnamese Buddhism is fortunate to have eminent monastic people with great virtues, well-versed in both Buddhist and non-Buddhist scriptures, such as Venerable Th\u00edch Thi\u00ean \u00c2n, Th\u00edch Tr\u00ed Ch\u01a1n, Th\u00edch Nh\u1ea5t H\u1ea1nh, Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n, etc. Young monastic people are also full of potential, such as Venerable Monk Th\u00edch Nguy\u00ean T\u1ea1ng, Venerable Nun Th\u00edch H\u1ea1nh T\u1eeb, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This year, the Vietnamese American United Buddhist Congregation organized a ceremony to celebrate the Buddha\u2019s birthday at JFK Hocky Fields Park, a wonderful location on the shores of the Tidal Basin, surrounded by a complex of American historical sites such as the Washington Monument, Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean War Memorial, World War II Memorial, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nGetting permission to hold a joint Buddha’s birthday celebration for the overseas Vietnamese community here is a difficult process. The organizing committee continuously asked for permission and explained to the local authorities to convince them. It must be said that the monastic and volunteers were excellent.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nIn addition to applying for a permit, the organizing committee had to prepare a mountain of work from raising funds, organizing transportation, vehicles, accommodation for thousands of people, contacting and hiring security police, medical staff, etc. The organizing committee and all volunteers worked enthusiastically, passionately, and thoughtfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThis year\u2019s Buddha\u2019s Birthday is a major event for Vietnamese Buddhism overseas, marking the past fifty years. This year\u2019s Buddha\u2019s Birthday in the capital of Washington, DC, is a major \u201cdebut\u201d to the American public.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nMany Americans and tourists here have curiously stopped by to watch the ceremony. The activities of this great ceremony have watered and imbued the image of Buddhism, the religion of compassion and wisdom, the path of peace for humanity in the present and in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThe Buddha\u2019s Birthday marks fifty years of Vietnamese Buddhism with the participation of Venerable Monastic people from all continents. <\/span>The Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n and his Buddhist devotees coming from Germany – Europe. Senior Venerable Th\u00edch Nguy\u00ean T\u1ea1ng and his fellow Buddhists coming from Australia. The Most Venerable Elders, Senior Venerable Ones, Venerable monks and nuns, and lay Buddhist devotees coming from all different states gathered together.<\/span><\/p>\n

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We can briefly mention the states such as: California, Michigan, Nevada, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas, etc. <\/span>It can be said that this year\u2019s Buddha\u2019s birthday ceremony is the biggest and most crowded ever. The monks, nuns, and all Buddhists are extremely happy. In addition to the usual rituals, this year’s Buddha’s birthday ceremony also included a prayer program for Vietnam at the Vietnam War Memorial.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nGi\u00e1c S\u01a1n Buddhist Temple and the Organizing Committee organized a flower car procession to perform around the important area, the most powerful area in America, which is the area around the roads surrounding the White Palace, the Washington Monument (Vietnamese people call it the pencil tower), running around the Nation Mall…<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThe chants, the sounds of the bells and drums of prajna resounded in the sky and land of Washington, DC. The Buddha’s teachings have been propagated right in the sacred land of America, the heart of America. Buddhist devotees around the\u00a0<\/span>world could not help but be moved by these sacred moments right here.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The bright robes of the monks and nuns shine in the green landscape of the national park. The flowing \u00e1o d\u00e0i of Vietnamese Buddhists amazes the eyes of local residents and tourists. The Buddhist flags flutter in the capital’s sunshine and wind, in harmony with the American flags that are everywhere in this National Mall area.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Fifty years, for the first time, a forest of five-colored Buddhist flags has been flying for several days in Washington, D.C. If the Buddha’s birth in Lumbini is an unprecedented event in the world, then the Buddha’s birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. is a meaningful milestone, a glorious victory in the Buddhist history of overseas Vietnamese.<\/span><\/div>\n
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This is also a new event for local residents. On Sunday morning, the Buddha procession and circumambulation around the lake in front of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial is a heartwarming event of people.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Thousands of Venerable Buddhist Monks and Nuns, fellow Buddhists, and country people walked with peaceful footsteps. The murmuring sound of chanting the names of the World-Honored One spread into the vast space. Perhaps this is the first special event since the inauguration of the memorial statue. World Buddhism in general and Vietnamese Buddhism in particular have brought a new atmosphere to the culture of the indigenous people.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The Buddha’s Birthday, also known as the Vesak Festival, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the formation and development of Vietnamese Buddhism overseas, enriching the cultural heritage of the United States. Americans know Buddhism as a peaceful religion. Of course, the rituals, costumes, and language have a little strange look to them.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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They can see it as an element of Eastern spiritual culture. America, specifically New York City, named a street after Zen Master Th\u00edch Nh\u1ea5t H\u1ea1nh.<\/span><\/div>\n
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This is a honor and recognition of his great contributions and influence. New York has Th\u00edch Nh\u1ea5t H\u1ea1nh Way, a great honor for Buddhism in particular and all Vietnamese people in general.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Fifty years is a long time, enough time for two generations. Venerable Monks, Nuns and fellow Buddhists have spent so much effort to have this beautiful day. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Fifty years to have a solemn and honorable day like today. Who knows what the next fifty years will be like? While times change rapidly and unexpectedly, on the other hand, science, technology, engineering, computing, and artificial intelligence have developed to a high level, profoundly changing habits and behaviors of people.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Buddhism and Buddhists cannot escape the law of impermanence, there will certainly be many other changes in the future. Likewise, fifty years ago, no one knew that Vietnamese Buddhism had a strong flow outside the country, that Vietnamese Buddhism had such a proud foundation and career. Overseas Vietnamese Buddhism, thanks to the indomitable leadership of the great and bright people of the Vietnamese American United Buddhist Congregation, has achieved such great success as it has today.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Throughout the history of the Vietnamese people and the nation, Buddhism has also gone through many ups and downs and challenges. Even in the fiercest times, it could not separate the nation from the Dharma way. Nation and the Dharma way always go hand in hand. <\/span><\/div>\n
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The Vietnamese America United Buddhist Congregation maintains this principle, operating in the heart of the nation, blending into the heart of the nation. Fifty years of Vietnamese Buddhism overseas is also fifty years of perseverance going along with the years and months of the Vietnamese American United Buddhist Congregation.<\/span><\/div>\n
Ti\u1ec3u L\u1ee5c Th\u1ea7n Phong<\/span><\/div>\n
Washington DC. 0425<\/span><\/div>\n
https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/tv\/nam-muoi-nam-mot-chang-duong-cua-phat-giao-viet-nam-tai-hoa-ky\/<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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GHPGVNTHHK\u00a0 \u00a0 Ti\u1ec3u L\u1ee5c Th\u1ea7n Th\u00f4ng\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Translated by Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9 FIFTY YEARS, A JOURNEY OF VIETNAMESE BUDDHISM IN THE UNITED STATES Buddhism, like the fate of the people, always ups and downs with the times. Fifty years ago, the country experienced a tragic upheaval, followed by harsh and miserable days that […]\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12219,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[231,206,224,653,727,331],"tags":[729,730,728,732,731],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12218"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12249,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12218\/revisions\/12249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}