Exhibition of "Buddha's hair relics": Abbot of Three Golden Pagoda repents, disciplined

The Buddhist Church of Vietnam convened Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda (Quang Ninh province) for his involvement in the case of displaying "relics of Buddha's hair" from Myanmar to Ba Vang Pagoda.

Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Governing Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Church (UBCV), Head of the Central Committee for International Buddhism, said that in the afternoon of January 4, the Standing Committee of the Northern Regional Governing Council had a meeting at the headquarters of the UBCV (Quan Su Pagoda, Hanoi), discusses some of the contents of the church's work.

During the meeting, there was a disciplinary review of Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda (Quang Ninh province), regarding the display of "Buddha's hair relics".

Speaking to VnExpress , Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Governing Council of the Church of Vietnam, said Ba Vang Pagoda displays artifacts believed to be "relics of the Buddha's hair" that have influenced the Vietnamese Buddhist Church.
"Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh had a letter of appeal for upsetting the Church and going to the monks' ceremony, listening to analysis and teaching. The Standing Board of Trustees accepts the revelation of Venerable Thai Minh," Venerable Thich Duc Thien said, adding that the disciplinary action "serves as a wake-up call to the abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda."

Also according to Venerable Thich Duc Thien, the Board of Trustees requested that within the next 1 year, absolutely not invite international delegations to exchange activities at Ba Vang Pagoda.

According to Venerable Thich Duc Thien, the incident in Quang Ninh was the responsibility of the local Buddhist Church Administration. The Governing Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Church requests localities to closely supervise the religious and media activities of Ba Vang Pagoda, ensuring compliance with the Church's regulations and the law.

Earlier, on December 28, Venerable Thich Duc Thien himself signed Document No. 895/HDTS-VP1 on behalf of the Standing Committee of the Governing Council requesting Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda to urgently send an explanation report on the origin of the "Buddha's hair relics" and the organization of this event. The document also calls for the removal of all references to the "Buddha's hair relics" at Ba Vang Pagoda from its information pages and those of Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, as well as related social media sites.

All of these moves stem from the fact that the Three Golden Pagoda recently displayed a hair known as the "Buddha's hair relics". The Three Golden Pagoda also gives information that hair relics are extremely sacred and noble; Therefore, those who even once pay homage, contemplation, and offerings are entitled to countless blessings for the present and many generations to come. For the power of the Buddha is still present in this world through the moving hair relics; so when we bless the Buddha, He still blesses.

Prior to the above information, according to the Three Golden Pagoda, tens of thousands of people and Buddhists flocked here to worship and worship the "relics of the Buddha's hair". However, after the information was spread online, people were skeptical about the authenticity of the Buddha's hair at the Three Golden Pagoda. Many people even found on social media a similar-looking hay for sale.

The People's Committee of Quang Ninh province assessed the organization for Buddhists to worship the so-called "Buddha's hair relics" as exhibition activities. Therefore, it violated the provisions of the Government's Decree No. 23/2019/ND-CP dated February 26, 2019 on exhibition activities.

Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda

This is the second time in the past four years that Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh has had to repent as abbot of the Three Golden Pagoda. In early 2019, Thai Minh was dismissed from all positions by the Buddhist Church of Vietnam and asked for 49 days of great repentance. The reason is because the Three Golden Pagoda organizes "occasional death", preaches "vong revenge", worships "wrongful bondholders". This activity violates the Church Charter, "hurting the reputation of the Church, the Sangha."

However, Minh has been abbot of the Three Golden Pagoda ever since. He was reinstated as deputy head of the Central Information and Communications Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Church in March, after nearly 4 years of dismissal.

Three Golden Pagoda denies collecting 60 billion in "tickets", clarifies DNA testing of hair relics Minh Lợi10:34:17 05/01/2024On January 3, talking to the press, Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh (abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh) affirmed that Ba Vang Pagoda did not deceive Buddhists about the relics of the Buddha's hair.