Serving the Nation and the Sangha
in Foreign Affairs
With his profound knowledge and
excellent capabilities in secular academics, he was assigned many other
importsant tasks in foreign affairs.
In June, 1965 he visited and gave a
lecture at Kamazawa, Taisho, Japan.
In 1967 he participated in a Conference on Education at Yale
University, USA.
In June, 1968 he participated in
the World Conference on Education for University Presidents held in South
Korea.
Near the end of 1968 he represented
presidents of universities in South Vietnam to participate in the International
Conference on Education held in Mexico.
He also participated in many
thematic international conferences. At
the Fifth Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) in 1982 in Ulanbator
(Mongolia), he was elected to become a member of its Executive Board
(1982-1985) and its Vice-President.
In June, 1983 he participated in
the World Peace Conference Against Nuclear Weapons held in Praha,
Czechoslovakia.
In May, 1984 he was head of a
delegation to participate in the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace held in
New Dehli, India. At this Conference he
met the Indian President Zuil Singh.
In October, 1984 he led the Vietnam
Buddhist Sangha delegation to participate in the World Buddhist Conference on “Buddhism
and National Cultures” in New Dehli, India.
In February, 1985 he participated
in the Round Table Conference on “Dangers to Our Sacred Life” in Moscow, USSR.
In November, 1985 he participated
in the Sixth ABCP in Hanoi.
In May , 1986 he again participated
in the World Round Table Conference in Moscow, USSR.
In February, 1987 he led the
Vietnam Buddhist Delegation to participate in the International Peace Conference
in the USSR.
In February, 1986 he was the
Secondary Leader of the Delegation to participate in the Seventh ABCP Conference
held in Vientiane, Laos. At this
Conference he was invited to continue his position as ABCP Vice-President, and
member of the Executive Board of the International ABCP. At the same time he was assigned the
President of the National ABCP Center in Việt Nam.
In January, 1989 he attended the
Conference on Religions and Peace held in Monash, Australia.
In August, 1989 he led the Việt Nam
Buddhist Sangha Delegation to participate in the Conference on Buddhism and
Leadership in Peace at Ulanbator, Mongolia.
In October, 1989 he led the Việt
Nam Buddhist Sangha Delegation in a friendly visit to the Japan Buddhist Sangha
in Tokyo.
In September, 1990 he led the Việt
Nam Buddhist Sangha Delegation to participate in the ABCP Eighth International
Conference in Mongolia.
In October, 1990 he led a
delegation to participate a conference on religions and peace in Bali, South
Italy.
In October, 1991 he led a Vietnam
delegation to participate in another conference of religious leaders in Matla,
Italy.
In November, 1991 he led a
delegation to participate in a conference on Buddhism and Leadership for Peace
in Seoul, Korea.
In November, 1992 he was head of a
delegation at the ABCP International Conference in Colombo, Sri-Lanka.
In March, 1993 he presided the
Conference on Buddhist Ethics in Our Times in Ho Chi Minh City.
In April, 1993 as President of Việt Nam ABCP Center he presided the
International Conference on Arms Disarmament in Hanoi.
In October, 1993 he was present at
the International Buddhist Sangha Conference in Taiwan.
In March, 1994 together with Most
Venerable Thiện Siêu he led a Buddhist delegation of pilgrims to India to visit
the Buddha’s relics.
In September, 1994 he participated
in the International Buddhist Sangha Conference in Vancouver, Canada.
In 1995 he presided at the
Conference on Buddhist Education in Our Times in Ho Chi Minh City.
In August 1995 he led the Buddhist
delegation to visit and preside at a Buddhist conference in Paris, France.
In May, 1996 he was offered an
Honorary Doctoral degree by the Royal University of
Mahachulalongkorn,Thailand, for his colossal accomplishments in the Tripitaka
translation and education.
In 2000 with his great
contributions to the Dharma, and the Socialist Nation of Vietnam, he was
awarded the secondary Medal of Independence.
In 2012 he was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal.
His Last Days
After what to be done was done, now
was the time for him to resign, and live in profound quiet and meditation, with
close disciples nearby. In 2006 he
retired completely, leaving behind his translations of the suttas, in
equilibrium with no discrimination between the Mahayana or the Hinayana, only
the Buddha’s liberation doctrines that he had tiredlessly taught for over 70
years. Out of his 95-year lifespan,
over 70 years he had served the Dharma, the Sangha, and the Nation. He had opened schools to train monks, nuns,
and lay people to serve the Sangha and the Nation.
He had left this life, perhaps to
enter the eternal realm of Nirvana, who knows, but his legacy of serving the
Dharma, the Sangha, and the Nation lives on with us from North to South
Vietnam, at Tường Vân Temple, as well as at Vạn Hạnh Zen Monastery, and even
abroad.
Namo Gassho to the Revered Bardo of
the Most Venerable Maha Thera, the Abbot of Tường
Vân Temple, the Founder of Vạn Hạnh Zen Monastery, A Member of the Vietnam
Buddhist Sangha Senate, and Vice-Partriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist
Sangha!
Source:
http://www.nguoiaolam.net/2012/09/hoa-thuong-thich-minh-chau-tieu-su-cong.html#.UEomRpHZKCk
