The spirit of engagement of Ha Tinh’s Buddhism in today's society

Abstract

Ha Tinh is a province in North Central Vietnam, where people settled early in history. Up to now, Ha Tinh preserves many kinds of beliefs and religions, among which, the most typical is Buddhism. Records of the Buddhist monk Phat Quang who imparted the Dharma to Chu Dong Tu in Quynh Vien mountain between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, or the Buddha relics found in Thap Nhan are considered important milestones for the presence of Buddhism in Nghe region in general and in Ha Tinh in particular. After that, Ha Tinh Buddhism gradually developed. Towards the late 19th – early 20th centuries, and particularly during the two resistance wars against French and American invasions, Ha Tinh Buddhism actively engaged in the national liberation struggle. Today, Ha Tinh Buddhism has been actively incarnating in the world both in terms of religious and social work, demonstrating the spirit of companionship with the nation. In this study, we examine Ha Tinh Buddhism from the perspective of the history of religion and religious study to generalize the incarnation spirit of Buddhist practice in the contemporary context.