International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE)

Volume 5, Issue 8, August 2018, PP 25-31

ISSN 2349-0373 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0381 (Online)
http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0508004
www.arcjournals.org

Buddhist Personalities: From Doctrine to Practice in Vietnam

during the Period of International Integration
Dr. Le Ngoc Thong*
Political Theory faculty, National Economics University, Viet Nam

*Corresponding Authors: Dr. Le Ngoc Thong, Political Theory faculty, National Economics University,
Viet Nam

Abstract: With an analytical approach to synthesis, logic with history, observations, interviews, etc., the
article presents an overview of Buddhist doctrine on personalities content: human life, the concept of
liberation and the path of liberation; At the same time, analyzing the process of implementing the Buddhism
of Vietnamese Buddhists in the context of international integration. From there draw the necessary
conclusions.
Keywords: Personalities, Buddhism, Believers, International Integration

1. SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF THE ARTICLE

1.1. Introduction
Buddhist personalities were nicely spread and deeply influenced the spiritual life of people in
Vietnam. Today, in the context of international integration, Buddhism has made great changes,
significant impact, both positive and negative, to social life, lifestyle, ethicsof Vietnamese society
represented by the Buddhist class.
1.2. Rationale
The article is based on the dialectical materialist methodology of philosophy and the history of
philosophy, combined with the methodology of studying Oriental philosophy.
1.3. Specific Research Methods
Combination of methods: analysis with synthesis, logic with history, observation, interview,...
2. CONTENT AND RESEARCH RESULTS
2.1. Buddhist (PG) Personalities - Systems Philosophy - Religious
Buddhist personalities is primarily ideological content covers the entire system of Buddhist teachings.
2.1.1. Buddhist Conception of Human
Starting point - the theory of causation:
All things phenomena are causal, dependent origination. Things, phenomena caused by the
combination of conditions that become and lose when the coast breaks. The cause is the latent power
of all the formation, transformation. Dependent conditions are relationships, conditions, influences
that help the cause to produce results. All the phenomena are mutually dependent. That is the cause.
The theory of cause and condition, in doing "Buddha Self Theory" (sub-set of I p. 291) has said: It
will have the other one there, This arising, that arises, This is not the other one does not, this kill the
other one killed[1, 95]. In the "Surangama Capital" assertion: actually born nor born, but kill nor
destroy. When the causes and conditions meet, it is said that birth, when the coast break, it is said to
kill. The "Great Mahaparinirvana" said: all things, phenomena are not self-nature, Because of
conditions that are born, because of conditions that are destroyed. Buddhism does not claim that
things are not natural, nor are they created by a divine being, but that all things are born of it. The
cause and effect concerned, the Buddha generalized the theory of cause and effect. From there, there
are two direct consequences: impermanence and selflessness.
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The theory of impermanence (Amicca) is one of the fundamental theories in PG, which is a theoretical
basis for the way of life, for the Buddhist philosophy of life. Accordingly, things, phenomena, people
always change according to the law: The formation - attachment - destruction - nothing. Creatures
follow the rules of birth - attachment - mutation - kill. Anatta: An object of no real nature that is a
combination of cause and condition. Figures and figures are composed of parts that can be merged or
split.
With the basic principle above, Buddhism presents the problems of human life: Where do people
come from? How are humans born? What is human life? Way of liberation for humans. Buddhism
identifies man as a cosmic whole, a miniature universe, the result of a combination of fame and
beauty with two parts of physiology and psychology. "Meditation" refers to human physiology as a
combination of four material elements: earth, water, fire, wind. Human psychology: What is
psychology? According to the Buddha, the psyche consists of passions, thoughts, actions, and
consciousness.
Human beings are born due to twelve factors of harmony and transformation that become:Ignorance
causes the Action,Action causesHealth, HealthcausesConsciousness,Consciousness causes the
sphere,sphere causes emotions,emotions causes sensation, sensation causes love,love cause
Head,Head causes Image,Image causes birth,Birth cause old age, death.
So, the visible existence of a conscious human is only temporary (Form form–emptiness emptiness) in
the continuous cycle of innumerable causes and origins. With this approach, all human activity
(karma) is governed by the body, speech, mind and karmic retribution. Man has birth and death, but
kamma is created and still works to bring a new composition of the five aggregates for the next life
with six paths: sky, humans, Atula, animals, ghosts, hell. It does not stop, like a spinning wheel.
Human is a complete organ of body and mind. The "Flower Adornment" said: "Human wins": Human
is the most; "When losing body is very difficult to return to human”. So, human beings to create good
karma, and repentance to change to evil karma. Man is governed by the law of impermanence with the
process of birth - old - sick - death. The existence of temporary body as breath. Along the body,
passive, thought, action, consciousness also fluctuate non-stop: "Life long a thought". Life and death
continue uninterruptedly. From impermanence to the theory of non-self. Man is the result of the
temporary union of the five aggregates: form, feeling, perception, volition, consciousness. The
Buddha says: "Lust has been made by the self (the four elements), from where is the fall? Form has
been created by impermanence; Where are impermanence come from?[5, 159]. According to the "I"
often remains, unchanging, so ambitious, trying to cling to Me, with many desires, selfish, not escape
the cycle of birth and death. It is the source of ignorance, of samsara, of suffering. The Law of
Anatomy, Anatta, contains the dialectical elements of in-depth awareness of movement, of relativity.
2.1.2. The Concept of Human Life
According to Buddhist teachings, human life is manifested through the Four Noble Truths, derived
from Dukkha Arya Satya: "I speak only suffering and the road to end suffering."[4, 272].
The first truth is "Life is suffering: “Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is
suffering, sadness is suffering, boring is suffering, love separates is suffering, desire fails is suffering,
the five aggregates are suffering.” Suffering both physically and mentally. There, referring to the
cause of psycho-physiological, not to mention the social cause should be the way to remove suffering
psychological nature.
The second Noble Truth (Dukkha Samudaya Arya Satya). The Buddhist philosophy holds that the
cause of suffering is craving from ignorance and delusion. Man is unaware of the nature of this world
and even the human body is conditioned by harmony that changes and changes impermanence. People
want to survive but reality and life are rotated: Birth - Aging - Disease - Death, non - stop. So people
are born false hope, self-ego, selfish, greedy, appropriated, life long suffering. Man is governed by
twelve causal factors: Ignorance, Action, Health, Consciousness, sphere, emotions, sensation,love,
Head,Image, Birth,Old,Death; They are related and transformed to each other, both as human beings
cause and results as of the past - present - future. Want to end of suffering must be cut one of the
twelve conditions.
The Third Noble Truth: "Eradication - liberation".
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Buddhism only absorbed a taste, the taste of liberation - The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to liberate
human beings from suffering suffering from samsara, reaching Nirvana. "The eradication of greed, the
eradication of anger, hatred, has eradicated ignorance (ignorance), which is Nirvana" (A Journey) [1,
86]. Or "Turned down selfishness, then witnessed the realms of Nirvana." Religious dictionary says
that "Nirvana is a spiritual world after destroying samsara" [3, 899]. Nirvâna is the world of super-
time-space, the peaceful, enlightened and liberating realm of enlightened beings in Buddhism. All
beings are capable of becoming Buddhas, being equal in the path of liberation. Buddha said: "I am the
Buddha has become, People are the Buddha will be". "Love and need are communication strings
between people." There is no level in the bloodstream with the same redness, no class in the salty tear.
Every person born is not brought in the neck or necklace in the forehead ... "[9, 115].
The Fourth Noble Truth "Marga Satya" - Path, Way, Method of Salvation.
Buddhism shows 37 methods - the product:
The four foundations of mindfulness, four things, four well, five bases, five forces, seven sense, eight
main roads. First of all, we must perform the Three Teachings (Gender - Determination - Wisdom)
and practice the Noble Eightfold Path (Righteous Thoughts, Right Thought, Righteous Thoughts,
Righteous Thoughts, Righteous Thoughts, Righteous Thoughts, Righteous Thoughts. Geography is
the practice of morality, the means of changing the way of thinking, the way of living toward good.
To make the mind and body clean; undergoing certain moral transformations of good deeds. To
practice the world, to do the right thing - to say the right word: righteousness - to act in a righteous
and righteous way - to add to the good that karma itself. Wisdom is knowing, purifying and
developing mind. The "Dhammapada" states: "The noble path is the Noble Eightfold Path. The
highest truth is the Four Noble Truths. No love is the highest state ... " [2, 173]. Buddhism focuses on
catechesis as the cessation of suffering to Nirvana. The path to Nirvana is a process of self-realization,
each one performs..
2.2. Realization of the Buddhist Life in Vietnam during the Period of International Integration
2.2.1. History of Buddhism in Vietnam
Buddhism was introduced in Vietnam from the beginning of the waterway from India and the road
from China with all three elements Meditation - Pure - Secret. Zen advocated centralized intelligence
to find out the truth of Buddhism: from Zen Vinitaruci to Vo Ngon Thong to send Thao Duong to
meditate Truc Lam, the latter still appears some other Zen: Tao Dong, Lien Tong, Lam Te, Lieu
Quan, ...).The Pure Land is based on the supernatural power of the Buddha Amitabha to help ordinary
people enlighten. The Pure Land teaches the followers of a particular Nirvana - the West. Pure Land
Buddhism says that it is only necessary to recite the name of Amitabha Buddha often to the West.
Tantrism is the policy of the use of mysterious enlightenment as the use of ghost, mantra, hit ... to
quickly reach enlightenment and liberation. Historically, "Pure Land Buddhism and Tantra in
Vietnam have not become separate schools, independent of Zen, but only elements that are received
by Zen." [9-84, 85]. Vietnamese Buddhism has a close relationship with Vietnamese thought and
culture. Thus, on the one hand Buddhism has contributed to Vietnamese culture and on the other hand
Vietnamese culture has transformed Buddhism, making Vietnamese Buddhism its own characteristics.
Buddhism is a good life, ethical life, honesty, compassion, tolerance, masses of labor received.
Professor Tran DinhHuou has general in Vietnam: "... the monk attached to the poor population and
the temple associated with the village" [7, 58]. Vietnamese Buddhism incorporates the religious life
and the life of the nation. Buddhism respects women very much, so there are both male and female
Buddha. Besides the Buddha also Quan Yin Buddha, there are many pagodas bearing the name of
women, such as Dau Pagoda, Ba Da Pagoda, Ba Tuong Pagoda, Ba Danh Pagoda ...As a political,
economic and cultural center of the nation, right from the beginning, Thang Long - Hanoi was an
important Buddhist center. Buddhism in Vietnam reached its peak in the era of the Ly - Tran (XI -
XIV). Tran Zen masters said that the human body is composed of mindfulness, causation, the five
aggregates that are produced by the parents, by the four elements, the aggregate of the five aggregates,
subject to the laws of extermination (impermanence). ), should be virtual (not self). Human life is
fleeting, temporary suffering. The cause of creating suffering is ignorance, perception is ignorance
born dream concept. In order to eradicate suffering, first of all, it is not necessary to create karma, to
eliminate ignorance, to destroy the self, to realize the impermanent world of selflessness, from which
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the chains of samsara, the brain in the mortal body, to place Nirvana liberation. The way of liberation
proposed by the Tran Zen Masters is a combination of enlightenment and enlightenment. Remedial
practice by the Three classes and the eight. Awakening by intuition "mind-heart"; with the principle of
introspection, centralization and disobedience. Thus, Vietnamese Buddhism in this period was closely
associated with the nation and found a new path of enlightenment: saving humanity. Buddhists
actively participate in the construction and defense of the country.
Then, Vietnamese Buddhism has its ups and downs. Today, in the process of international integration,
the country has a fast and stable growth. Vietnamese Buddhism has made some flourishes. Activities
related to belief and religion have been restored and have a considerable impact on the economic,
social and cultural life of the country.
2.3. The Current Status of Buddhist Personalities in Vietnam Today
Situation operation Buddhist personalities expressed in religious beliefs; practice ritual and canon law.
2.3.1. The Issue of Religious Belief in Vietnam
Historically, Vietnam has been leading the doctrine of the doctrines and other religions in their own
way, with different ways of influencing the population. In 2010, there were 14,380,000 Buddhists in
Vietnam, accounting for 16.4% of the total population and 2.7% of the total number of Buddhists in
the world, 10 of the top 10 countries with highest Buddhist proportions.
Table1. Countries with the highest proportion of Buddhists, statistics in 2010
Country The number of Buddhists is estimated Percentage of Buddhists in the population
Cambodia 13.701.660 96,90%
Thailand 64.419.840 93,20%
Myanmar 48.415.960 87,90%
Bhutan 563.000 74,70%
Sri Lanka 14.222.844 70,2%
Laos 6.092.000 95,00%
Korea 11.050.000 22%
Japan 84.653.000 or 45.807.480 67% or 36,2%[6]
Singapore 1.725.510 33,90%
Taiwan 8.000.000 or 4.945.600 35% or 21,1%[7]
Vietnam 14.380.000 16,4%
(Source: wikipedia.org)
Buddhism today still exists with a full mechanism, sticking with harmony with folk beliefs, so the
people of Buddhism have great persuasion towards the people towards the spirit of equality,
humanity, advocacy. liberate people. When people practice religious rituals, people have accepted
Buddhism as well. Moreover, since the country entered the doimoi period, with the negative side of
the market economy, people faced many challenges, so they needed help, "blessing" of the Buddha.
power. On the other hand, Vietnam Buddhism with elements of Meditation - Pure - Secret has the
ability to meet the needs of the social class, attractive, especially for the common people and the
nature of the mass. People at all levels are able to enter the religious life easily. At the same time,
Buddhism is also a nourishment. Meditation relaxes the nerves and muscles, concentrates thoughts in
one place, rests with the law of impermanence, not self, ... is the effect of causing people to overcome
negative emotions, return to the state of peace. normal, or serene, beneficial to life. Many people have
accepted and become Buddhists with a great diversity of occupations and ages. In recent years, with
the appropriate social policy, the work of Buddhist scriptures and propaganda has made remarkable
progress. Periodically, the pagodas held lectures on Buddhist scriptures, the way of practice,
performing rituals. Along with the moral life of Buddhist monks, many Buddhist establishments have
archives and translations of Vietnamese texts in neat and simple language. The popular books on
Buddhism such as "General Buddhist", "Introduction Buddhism", "Buddhist Dharma Regular" ... have
been widely edited and published; mass media, and other cultural activities. Since then, today's lay
Buddhists have a basic understanding of the Buddhist doctrine. From that came the idea of "doing
good, avoiding evil". Religious belief in Vietnamese believers is evident in the belief in samsara,
karma, cause and effect, in the direction of the Buddha. The Buddha was the Buddha close. Buddha
Thousand Eyes Thousand Hands "ready to witness the sincere thoughts and good work of believers
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and to save humanity. Religious beliefs are also expressed. This religious belief is also reinforced by
the sympathy for the monks - living very purely, without regard to ordinary material life, but rich in
mercy, tolerance, willing to work charity, giving to the living beings, helping the poor through the
tribulation. This belief forms a deep connection, which is the basis for the long-term survival of
Buddhism in Vietnam.
2.3.2. Ritual Practice and Buddhist Canon Law in Vietnam
a) The Practice of Buddhist Ritual in Vietnam
The truths, the content of Buddhism must be realized, the religious life of religious practice leading to
the transformation of human thought and action to achieve a natural life, cavity. In it, the practice of
ritual and Buddhist precepts of believers is an important part of the religious life, expressing a vividly
Buddhist life in the present context. It is the liturgy of incense, Buddhist ceremony...
Table2. The main Buddhist ceremony of the year
Seq. Buddhist ceremony Lunar calendar date
1 Buddha's Birthday 15/4
2 Worshiping Buddha attained enlightenment 08/12
3 Vu Lan ceremony 15 /7
4 The first and the full moon day every month
(Source: author)
The faithful can now go to temples for the ceremony or Buddhist ceremony at home (if the temple
was built at home). At the beginning of spring, festivals, pilgrims on Buddha Land such as Yen Tu,
Huong Pagoda ... In Vietnam there are 14,775 pagodas, accounting for 36% of the total number of
Vietnamese monuments. [11]. Many temples have been built with many historical and cultural values:
One Pillar Pagoda, Kien So Pagoda, Ly Quoc Su Pagoda, Quan Su Pagoda, etc. When worshiping, the
believers offer vegetarian aromas including incense, flowers fresh, tea, good fruit, lights, sputum
(hemp), votive. It is estimated that the country burns 40 tons of votive every year. Hanoi alone
accounts for one-tenth of that, or about 4 tons a year [6]. When carrying out recitation of the Buddha's
recitation, the devotees dismiss all ordinary worries, focusing on the Buddha image, the prayer to
make the mind not disturb. That is the practice of meditation, which shows the companion of Zen -
Pure. In the process of living, a part of believers occupying a small proportion of the people who
attach importance to living the virtue, honesty, good living in daily life, worshiping the mother,
respecting people, not doing things. evil, sinful. The practice of religious ritual is only a means of
reaching the goal of enlightenment, so they do not suffer from superstitious activities such as
divination, v.v... The second part, consisting of some of the lower classes, is not sufficiently
comprehensive, often thanks to monks or lay people who are knowledgeable about Buddhist rituals,
religious ceremony. They are often more focused on performing rituals, being easily manipulated into
superstitious activities. Under conditions of integration, people's needs change, the activities of the
temple also changes in the interpretation of some Buddhist laws, in the implementation of the
requirements of the people as a star the term, absolve worship, pray, ... some of the temple to
participate in economic activities: selling books publications serving utensils for performing ritual
worship of believers,…
2.3.3. Eating of Buddhist Law in Vietnam
The five precepts are very flexible to suit the circumstances, the life, the faith.
Forbidden to kill, believers must respect the life of all living beings with the spirit of disobedience,
selflessness, altruism of Buddhism - believers always forget themselves "save sentient beings." At
present, laypeople practice vegetarian diets on certain days such as the full moon, the first day or the
temple holiday. When they are sick, they can drink light medication or the believer can drink beer
instead of alcohol at parties.
Believers make alms - sacrifice themselves for the happiness of others in a neutral way, not profitable.
At present, Buddhist monks and nuns are active in responding to the movements of water and welfare,
gratitude (building schools, houses of gratitude, supporting border guards, islands, visiting wounded
soldiers and poor patients, ...); Helping difficult circumstances, "the leaves cover the torn", "love
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people as the body",…; To actively participate in production labor movements, participate in self-
managed population quarters, contribute to maintaining political security and social order and safety;
Interested in renovating pagodas, statues, casting bell. Particularly in Hanoi, among the 130 temples
classified as cultural and historical relics (as of July 1994), more than 80% of the temples were
repaired medium and large. At present, most temples are "electrified" as equipped with lights, even
the speaker system is quite complete.
2.4. International Significance from Research
2.4.1. Meaning in Moral Training
The content of the "five precepts," "generosity," "purification of mind", ..., in essence are the moral
principles required by social life in whatever Buddhist era Captured to regulate the behavior of
believers. Therefore, in the process of forming human moral qualities, it is necessary to clearly see the
positive and negative aspects of Buddhist ethics in order to exploit, inherit its positive elements,
contribute to the building human morality conforms to the requirements of integration. Associate
Professor Nguyen HuuVui, has commented: "... In any country, the great believers are the workers, so
in their "believer piety", apart from the religious virtue there is an important part of the moral of the
workers." [8, 157]. In a market economy, there are many negative impacts on people and social
relationships, on lifestyle, morals, etc. Then religious morality is consistent with the construction of a
new world. The thought of the Buddha as the cause - results, karmic retribution, samsara, compassion
- forgiveness, selflessness - good thinking, good direction, ... contribute to the formation of moral
norms, adjust Moral behavior for the people. Since then, the way of life of goodness, selflessness,
tolerance has become one of the manifestations of the civilized lifestyle of the whole world, making
human relations more humane and humanitarian.
2.4.2. Meaning in Building Up Human Personality
In the world of cultural and spiritual life, the number of Buddhist followers, Buddhist festivals and
Buddhist activities are becoming increasingly prominent in the social life, the number of Buddhist
texts published ... increasingly increase. These phenomena have been constantly affecting people, and
in fact have contributed to the creation of the human personality of Buddhism and that has influenced
the development of human personality today.
2.4.3. Significance in Developing Thinking
Buddhist personallities oriented human beings always look at phenomena in causal relationships,
dialectic. Thus, it contributes to the building of a natural and dynamic character for human beings
against unpredictable changes of circumstances, disasters and hazards.
3. CONCLUDE
Buddhism with unique humanity has brought a new nuance to the philosophy and treasure of human
thought. The Buddhist doctrine, structured by the Four Noble Truths, presents a philosophical, logical
view of human and human life. The views on "Five Aggregates," "Decalogue," "Karma," and
"Karma," "Samsara," "Impermanence," and "Non-self." etchas a convincing interpretation of man and
human life. The concept of liberation in Buddhist philosophy has shown very deep human nature.
With the process of long-term admission and development in Vietnam, Buddhism has become a part
of our country's culture and morals and has a great impact on our society. Today, in the context of
integration, Buddhist life has deep international significance.
REFERENCES
[1] Nguyen Van Che, Basic Problems in Buddhist Studies. Buddhist Association of Vietnam published in 1976.
[2] Doan Chinh, liberation ideas in Indian philosophy. National Political Publishing House, Hanoi 1997.
[3] NhamKe Du (Editor), Religion dictionary. Shanghai Publishing Commune, 1985.
[4] KumuraTaiken (translated by ThichQuang Do), the Mahayana Buddhist thought. Buddhist Association of
Ho Chi Minh City, 1997.
[5] Like Truthfulness, Buddhist doctrine. Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation, Board of Education monks
published, 1993.
[6] Sports Culture Newspaper No. 12 dated 16/3/1998.

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Buddhist Personalities: From Doctrine to Practice in Vietnam during the Period of International
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[7] Sociological Review No. 4/1989.

[8] Institute of Religious Studies, Current Religious Issues. Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 1994.
[9] Institute of Philosophy, issues of Buddhism and history of thought in Vietnam. Vietnam Social Science
Committee, Hanoi, 1986.
[10] https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Số_lượng_Phật_tử_ở_các_nước]
[11] https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chùa_Việt_Nam].

Citation: Dr. Le Ngoc Thong. “Buddhist Personalities: From Doctrine to Practice in Vietnam during the
Period of International Integration" International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education
(IJHSSE), vol 5, no. 8, 2018, pp. 24-31. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10. 20 431/ 2349-0381.0508004.
Copyright: © 2018 Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.

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