Celebration of Abbot’s Appointment and Ground Breaking of Building 49-metre Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha at Phuc Lac Pagoda - Nghe An

Phuc Lac Pagoda, located at Nghi Thach Village, Nghi Loc District, Nghe An Province, has lasted 400-year. During passing years, the pagoda now no longer exists. Although all the monks have not been there for so long, the local Buddhists have still looked after the pagoda with the earnest spirit for Buddhism.

With the spirit of “the Buddhas are occupying a vacated place”, on the instructions of Venerable Thich Chan Tich and the will of Dharma and benefits, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Thanh went to Nghe An Province and received the responsibility to form a mandala at Phuc Lac Pagoda, a place for practising religion. The Board of directors of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam in Nghe An Province had given the decision on the appointment of the abbot since 2013, but because of the tangled work of the sangha as well as the control of Phuc Lac and Co Am Pagodas. Finally, he was able to organise the celebration until then.

Having received the invitation of the abbot of Phuc Lac Pagoda, Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, all the monks of Hoang Phap Pagoda and the abbots of the subdivisions did not bother at a long way to be in the place to prove and help in organising the celebration.

The Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem, the Vice President of the Board of Directors, the Director of Hoang Phap Pagoda and Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac and the Deputy Director of the Board of Directors of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam in Nghe An Province also came to the celebration.

The appointment happened in a solemnity and tranquillity atmosphere with   all the honoured ones of the sangha from the central to local areas, the authorities, and especially over 5,000 Buddists attanded the ceremony.

Joining the celebration, Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda Had some talks to him as the abbot.

The success of any good act is due to the combination of many predestined afinities.The fact that his building and teaching at Phuc Lac Pagoda was not an exception. It was thanks to the love of all the honoured ones of the sangha, the help of authorites, the support of the sons of Buddha; especially, the help of the Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem. As a result, the learning of Buddhism and the wide proclaimation of the Buddhist truth succeeded. As an abbot, the Venerable have to try his best to learn the Buddhism and to accumulate morality and intelligence. A monk/nun is a medicant who receives the Buddha’s sermons as well as the food from people to live. Having such contemplating they should keep souls modest; from this they try our best to serve the Buddha.

The purpose of a monk or a nun is first to become a Buddha, later protect beings. Building the pagoda is just a beneficial mean; they should not depend on it to create trouble. The Venerable’s and the Buddhist’s duties at Phuc Lac Pagoda are responsible for developing the religion and bringing joy and peace to everyone.

Here are some recorded images: