Place Of Buddhist Education Earliest and In Present Day in Vietnam

Buddhism has been pre move in Vietnam for almost dickens thousand years. Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism. It originated in Nepal in 530 B. C. A Hindu price, Gautama who did not like the idea of Hindu caste system, was the founder of Buddhism. Gautama did not view that any man could be superior to the opposite and as Hinduism Brahmans ar considered superior, he left this pietism . Gautama had spent many years wandering and meditating. In the end he found answers to all in all his questions and accordingly found the path of enlightenment, nirvana. According to Buddhism, nirvana is the path to endless serenity.It is free from the cycle of birth, cobblers last and rebirth. Moreover, a individual will start through salvation if he look ats in the four-spot noble rectitudes. These four noble truths argon that a man suffers in all his consecutive lives the basis for his sufferings is his wants for earthly occasions, when the person frees himself from all the wants of ea rthly things he thus achieves deliverance. The last noble truth says that a person bunghole achieve deliverance by fol uttering the eightfold noble path . BUDDHIST SCHOOLS Buddhism spread in Vietnam through with(predicate) qina in second cytosine A. D. In third and sixth century it came from India.Buddhism came through Vietnams Red River Delta region and Mekong Delta ara. Mahayana Buddhism came from China and became more famous than Theravada (or Hinayana) Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism came from India and was accepted by throng in the s emergehern delta region. Both of these flummox different views about Gautama Buddha. According to Mahayana Buddhism, Buddha was peerless of many enlightened people. They also believe that out of all these people Buddha was the divine unmatched. Theravada Buddhism believes that Buddha was the only enlightened one and that there was no some other than him.However they think that Buddha cannot be called as the divine one. The Mahayana school a lso believes that any person can achieve nirvana and that who ever follows the right path will be able to reach nirvana still Theravada school says that only monks and nuns can chance on nirvana. These two schools of Buddhism are actually different interpretations of one basic belief. These are the earliest schools in Vietnam. Why did Mahayana become more accepted? It is because the Mahayana ritual and imagery attracted the Vietnamese. Its ceremonies were in conformity with original Vietnamese beliefs and rituals.This school of Buddhism also combined folklore with Taoist give instructionings. The enlightened ones in Buddhism were consider as animist spirits. In 7th century C. E, Mahayana school became a little more developed. It was then called Vajrayana. This had an influence of Hinduism also but had similar teachings as of Mahayana. The aim of Vajrayana is the same as that in Mahayana, that is to attain Buddhahood, but the tantric practices showed a quick way to achieve this end . BUDDHISM BEFORE UNIFICATION before the country was unified, Buddhism was the state religion. When the communist gained power, Buddhism religion came under continuous hostility.Later, the Patriotic Buddhisticicicic Liaison military commission was formed. This committee tried to separate real collaborators from opponents. It promoted the idea that all Buddhist wanted to build a new society. This society was free from the feudal and neo-colonia inclining influences. This committee tried to prove that all Buddhist were concern in this committee and that they were trying to put a halt to in leechlike Buddhist clergys activities to a halt. The communist in those times tried to pressure the monks and nuns to lead their life in such a way that they do not oppose their realityly desires.However the main aim of Buddhism is to lead a sacrilegious life, hence whoever disobeyed these communists was placed under house arrest or imprisoned. All their holdings were confiscated most o f their religious places were sour in to public use. Trainings of monks and nuns were stopped. In 1981, a Buddhist church was formed in Vietnam which represented all Buddhists. furtherugh Buddhists activities were taking place in some remote areas but each and all(prenominal) pagoda in the country had been destroyed. The main aim of these communists was to stop any religious growth of Buddhists.Whatever Buddhists remained were practicing their religion but no new monks and nuns were allowed to be ordained. When the Buddhist church was formed in 1981, it helped ready a new extension of monks and nuns. Two Buddhists academy were formed one in Hanoi and another in Ho Chi Minh City. BUDDHIST EDUCATION The training system in Vietnam is of great importance as it declares the identity of a nation. This identity is also characterized by the refining and religion and is the core element in cooperation with other nations. The culture might makeup the identity of a nation.This culture i s influenced by the program line of the country and more eventfully the higher statement. From very early period Buddhists are concerned about education. In third century almost 9 Dhamma missionaries were sent to different areas of south East Asia in order to teach people about Buddhism . This is the oldest example telling Buddhists concern about Buddhist studies. These 9 Dhamma missionaries started a wave of missionaries. These were sent to Sri Lanka, Thailand and china etc. Today, due to these missionaries and Buddhist schools, Buddhists are present in very corner of the world.Vietnamese Buddhist education leaders are very much concerned about the world(prenominal) demands and needs of Buddhist education. In 1975, when the country got united, there already was a higher education institution in second it was named Van Hanh University. This university was popular internationally and had close interaction with many other universities of the world. After 1980s two advanced schoo ls were established in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. These schools instruct monks and nuns at B. A level. delinquent to growing demand these two higher education schools were later turned in to universities.These now trained monks and nuns at not only undergraduate level but also postgraduate level. In 1997, one more Buddhist university was formed, this time in Hue city. Today, there are almost 40, 000 monks and nuns. There are almost six colleges and 31 high schools teaching Buddhism . In past few years many Buddhist colleges extradite been made. These Buddhist colleges give Buddhist education at B. A level. Many monks and nuns confine been sent to other countries like India, China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and United States, in order to have higher education. These students come second with PhDs and master degrees.This will help improve the quality of education and increase the number of teaching ply in the country. These students not only spread the good name of Buddhism but also help wreak their knowledge to other Buddhist students in Vietnam. Though Buddhism is present in every corner of the world and is considered on of the global religions, it has never tried to alter or threaten the cultures and traditions of any place. The main footing for this is that Buddhas original teachings never tried to alter anyones culture. It was with the doctrine of dependent origin (Paticcasamuppada).They have a general formula which says that nothing exists independently. Moreover, the Chinese Hua Yen school believes in the speculation of totalism. This theory says that all the things in the universe have their own qualities. These are fully present deep down or without Dhamma. Hence, we can say that Buddhists studies believe that all existence in the world is interdependent no matter of their faith, nation or religion. This attitude of Buddhist studies has helped Buddhism spread throughout the world. raising can be called a tool which helps a human being grow, transform and percolate.Education in many areas of the world is a genial liability, but never can we see that it illuminates the light of truth and goodness like Buddhist education. The indigenous responsibility of Dhamma schools is to transform a character. A person has values which are responsible for his character. These values come from ideals. Buddhist educators determine these ideals and teach students about a proper Buddhist life. There are 5 qualities that Buddhism education brings from the teachings of Buddha. The commencement ceremony one is concerned with emotions of a human. Second is related to education and scholarship.Others relate to discontinue living styles like avoid killing, stealing, sexual abuse and drinking. The Buddhist education transforms a character in real terms. The character and intelligence, both are tried to be balanced. The entire Buddhist education comes from the studies of Buddha, who is the unconditional teacher. All of the studies root fr om saddha, which is the faith in triple Gem. Depdnding upon these studies the students are taught according to the five rules. The students should know the rules, their reason and their appliance in daily lives. Most importantly, they should appreciate all these rules and believe in them.The students should know what is philanthropy and self sacrifice. These are essential elements that help the students overcome their earthly desires, their selfishness and greed. These five moral rules are dependent on each other. A student can gain by suta, which is by extensive indication of Buddhism texts. According to Buddhist studies the knowledge of a person is dependent on his inside belief of truth i. e. Dhamma. Calm and insight are the two main elements of any Buddhist teaching. In Buddhist education tasks and wisdom are dependent on each other. A student can attain wisdom by deep investigation, discussion and intelligence.This wisdom was the basic instruments which lead Buddha to salvat ion. This wisdom is the crown of all educations of Buddhism. Without wisdom, education is incomplete. Before French, people were chosen based on their education. These were officials known as mandarins. Learning was very important in those times. It was not just education but it lead a person to intellectual understanding, affectionate standing, wealth and power. According to Buddha himself, There arose in me vision, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and light . Today, Buddhist monasteries still give Buddhist education to scholars.Buddhist relics are found all over Vietnam. These relics indicate that there were Buddhists present there in one time or the other. Religious education was issued to masses, and every nook and corner of Vietnam had places for Buddhist education. During rainy seasons the monks be in viharas, which was also their place of meditating. The Stupa is also a place where Buddhist education can be taught. Usually in a stupa there is a large place which can hold the teacher student class. Sometimes there are stone benches and a place on the wall apply as a writing board.Sometimes there are cubicles which are all around the hall. In past days Buddhist scholars were taught in stupas. The academic day in a Buddhist school starts with salaried of obeisance to Buddha. Siddham namah is recited till today and it means I bow to Buddha . Older Buddhists usually write these lyric poem when starting to write any text. Vietnamese Buddhists are trying hard to encourage people to learn Buddhism. They are conveying the message of peace as Buddhism is a religion of peace and mental development. Buddhism has contributed a lot to Vietnams development.Buddhists monks are brought together from inside and outside the country. VBS, also known as Vietnam Buddhist Sangha is the only representative of Buddhism in Vietnam . They have worked very hard in order to spread and teach Buddhism. Today there are almost 15,000 worship places in Vietnam and 10 million Bu ddhist followers. roughly 40,000 monks and nuns have studies Buddhism. Though there were a few schools in the country and only one Buddhist institute names Van Hanh in Ho Chi Minh City. Today there are four institutes, six colleges and 31 high schools which teach Buddhist education.Almost 200 monks and nuns went abroad to schooling Buddhism. Each and every one of them either got a PhD or a masters degree. Many thousand students are force fielding Buddhism in Vietnamese schools. VBS runs almost 1,000 classrooms for disadvantaged children. There are almost 36 Buddhist orphanages all across the country. Almost 10 vocational training schools have been built by VBS. These schools train people free of charge. Buddhist education system is indeed prospering and when a nations education system is that well it certainly has an impact on other walks of life also.Buddhists Monks and nuns organize a large number of humanitarian works. They have campaigns to raise funds for flood victims, buil d charity houses and provide medical care to the poor and disabled. Over past 5 years VBS has raised almost $25 million for charity works. Due to Buddhists scholars going abroad for learning, there has been a deep integration of Buddhist education in the international economies also. Many Buddhist students from all over the world come to Vietnam to study Buddhism. It ahs become an international arena and attracts Buddhist scholars from all over the world.Though Vietnam is a poor country with low per capita income yet it has one of the highest literacy rates. The literacy rate in Vietnam in 1997 was 92%. There are over 2 million pupils all over the country. In 2000, the budget share for education was almost 15%, out of which almost 80% was paid to the teachers . In 2008, Birth anniversary of Buddha will be held in Vietnam for the first time. Already almost 100 countries have registered so far. Indeed Buddhist education in Vietnam has open up the gates to the worlds community. People now from all over the world come to Vietnam to study religion.Vietnamese education system is one of the oldest and yet most advanced. Though there were no universities teaching Buddhism as a subject, today there are several universities which have Buddhist studies as their main subjects. closure Buddhism is one of the most important religions of the World and has become one of the fastest spreading religions also. The materialistic disposition of human is the root of all evil and as Buddhism shows human that there existence is not for these worldly pleasures but for the attainment of nirvana, it is enough popular.More people are now turning to Buddhism. These people want to come upon the true spiritual reason for the existence of humans. These spiritual values are one major thing that all other western religions lack. An innovation and reformation is occurring in all the study areas of the world. Globalization is becoming a new trend. Buddhists students are also not confined to Vietnam alone, but they go to many other countries in order to educate themselves. These students then come back and teach many other students who are eager to learn Buddhism.Due to new trends, Vietnam has also reformed its educational structures and strategies in order to conform it to global changes. Buddhism as a whole has under gone structural changes in higher education so that Buddhist universities can reach international standards . Many scholars suggest that educational institutions teaching Buddhism in Vietnam should have and entrepreurial structure but others say that a heuristic approach would help more. Here is a list of some Vietnamese Universities giving Buddhist education . Ho Chi Minh City College for Buddhist Studies, Thien Minh Temple, Do Xuan Hop Hanoi College for Buddhist Studies , Non Nuoc Temple, Xa Phu Linh, Huyen Soc Son, Ha Noi. Hue College for Buddhist Studies, Bao Quoc Temple,Hue. chamberpot Tho College for Buddhist Studies, Chua Buu An, Quan Ninh Kie u, Can Tho Lam Dong College for Buddhist Studies, Linh Son Temple, 120 Nguyen Van Troi. Da Lat Ba Ria Vung Tau College for Buddhist Studies, Dai Tong Lam Monastery. Tan Thanh. Ba Ria Vung Tau Bac Lieu College for Buddhist Studies, 3/234 Tinh lo 38, P. 5, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau Advanced instruct for Dharma Dissemination, Hoa Khanh Temple, 215 Phan Van Tri, Binh Thanh, HCMC Khmer Theravada Academy for Buddhist Studies, Pothisomron Temple, O Mon, Can Thos References Asia Recipe. (2000). Vietnam Education. Retrieved January 2, 2008 from http//asiarecipe. com/vieteducation. html Brough, John. (n. d). Gandhari Dharmapada. India (n. p). B. Seshagiri Rao. (n. d) Andhra Karnata Jainism, Madras Dan, Nhan. (2007). Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on journey with nation. The Buddhist Channel. International Association of Buddhist Universities (2007). List of universities and colleges. Retrived January 2, 2008 from http//www. iabu. org/ListOfUniversity. aspxLang, Nguyen. (n. d. ). History Of Buddhism in Vietnam. Viet Nam Phat Giao Su Luan Marginson, S. and Rhoades, G. (2002). 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