"Buddha's hair relic" case: The abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda was fined 7.5 million VND

On January 26, the People's Committee of Uong Bi City (Quang Ninh province) issued a decision to impose an administrative fine of 7.5 million VND on Mr. Vu Minh Hieu, Buddhist monk Thich Truc Thai Minh.

Specifically, according to this Decision No. 363/QD-XPHC, Venerable Thich Thai Truc Minh when organizing the Great Ceremony to celebrate the 765th birthday of Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong from December 23-27, 2023; including the exhibition, display, worship (display, exhibition) of artifacts (an object called "Buddha's hair relic") at Ba Vang Pagoda did not send a notice to the competent authority.

For this act, the Abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda was fined 7.5 million VND.

In December 2023, Ba Vang Pagoda displayed "Buddha's hair relics", said to have been brought to Vietnam by monk U Wepulla - abbot of Parami monastery and Myanmar monks. Ba Vang Pagoda informed that this is one of eight hairs that Buddha personally plucked from his head and gave to two Myanmar traders more than 2,600 years ago.

Previously, the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha informed Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Dharma Head of the Proving Council, of the disciplinary results of the abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda Thich Truc Thai Minh for violations that occurred. out at this temple.

Accordingly, the Central Council of Administrators of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha assessed that the activities of displaying "Buddha's hair relics" by Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh seriously affected Buddhist beliefs and Buddha's faith. about the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

In addition to being warned, Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh must repent before the Standing Council. These disciplinary measures are notified to all local Buddhist Sangha boards. Venerable Thich Truc Thai Minh must commit that if he continues to allow similar violations to occur, causing loss of society's trust in Buddhism and affecting the reputation of the Church, he will be excommunicated. , confiscation of monks, witness of receiving precepts), stripped of abbot's authority.

At the same time, Ba Vang Pagoda is also banned from organizing international exchange events for one year. The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha assessed that Ba Vang Pagoda's organization of worship and communication about the "Buddha's hair relic" encountered mixed opinions, seriously affecting the belief of Buddhism and the reputation of the Buddhist community. church. The Buddhist Sangha Executive Board must strengthen supervision of religious and media activities of Ba Vang Pagoda and monk Thich Truc Thai Minh.

The People's Committee of Quang Ninh province determined that Ba Vang Pagoda's procession and display for Buddhists to worship the so-called "Buddha's hair relics" is an exhibition activity, thus violating Decree 23/2019 on activities. exhibition. This activity also does not comply with regulations on subjects and registration time according to the Law on Belief and Religion and Decree 162/2017 detailing a number of articles and measures to implement this law.

Upon discovering the incident, the local government assigned the Provincial Religious Affairs Committee to coordinate with the Uong Bi City People's Committee to continue checking, clarifying, consolidating records, and reporting to competent authorities to handle related subjects. for a violation to occur.

In addition, Quang Ninh province also requested that Ba Vang Pagoda not compile or produce videos, images, documents... and remove all information introducing the object believed to be the "German hair relic". Buddha".

Thus, one month after the incident, the abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda had to receive sanctions from the local government and receive a disciplinary warning from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Exhibition of "Buddha's hair relics": Abbot of Three Golden Pagoda repents, disciplined Uyển Đình13:40:16 05/01/2024The 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 the Buddha's hair from Myanmar to Ba Vang Pagoda.