The philosophy of entering the world of Vietnam Buddhism in contemporary society

• Pages: 46-55

Vol. 7 No. 2

July, 2021

Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

ISSN 2410-3918

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

46

The philosophy of entering the world of Vietnam Buddhism in contemporary

society

Ph.D. Tran Thi Thuy Ngoc

Vietnam Youth Academy, Vietnam

PhD (C.) Nguyen The Vinh

Academy of Journalism and Communication, Vietnam

Abstract

Buddhismisagreatreligion,towardsenlightenment andliberation bythe wayof cessation

of suerings. In the beginning, Buddhism only focused on cultivating and spreading the

Dharma,notdiscussingaboutenteringorleavingtheworld.Buddhismhasenteredtheworld,

integratedintosociallife,spreadteachings, andengagedin lifetobenet people.Therefore,

enteringtheworldbecomesaninseparableactionintheprocessofpropagatingthebenecial

Dharmaas it enters lifeandenters the world. Vietnamesesociety is now developingin all

aspectsand people’s living standards are constantlyincreasing.However, along with that,

thedrawbacksofthemarketeconomytendtoincrease,suchasglobalclimatechange,natural

disasters,epidemics,moraldegradation,etc...requiredierentnations’aention.Vietnamese

Buddhism entered the world by eective methods to help society develop sustainably,

harmonizewithnationalcultureandorientforthefuture.Buddhismhasreallyinnovatedand

adapted to Vietnamese society in the era of globalization.

Keywords: Philosophyofenteringtheworld,VietnameseBuddhism,contemporarysociety.

Introduction

AccordingtotheVietnamesedictionary,enteringtheworldis“carryingtheburdenof

life,notwithdrawingfromtheworld” 1.Thus,“enteringtheworld”hasadescriptive

meaning,andaccordingtotheSino-Vietnamesedictionary,“enteringtheworld”has

an extractive meaning. In fact, in the teachings of Buddhism, there is no mention of

socialissues,butthe“enteringtheworld”philosophyofBuddhismisanexpression

oftheprocessofadaptingBuddhismtonewpracticaldemands.Thus,theconceptof

“enteringtheworld”referstotheactivitiesofmonksandBuddhistsinsociallifesuch

as charity activities, disaster relief, helping the poor in distress, etc. It also contributes

to solving environmental problems, educating young people... on the basis of serving

thesociallife,contributingtobuildingapeacefulworldwherepeoplecanbehappy

andfeelthepeacerightintherealworld.

IntheBuddha’stime,theconceptof“enteringtheworld”wasalreadyestablishedin

Indianculture:“Now, monks,go, goeverywhereforthesakeandhappinessofthe

many, out of compassion for life, for the sake and happiness of gods and humans…”

(Mahavagga-11-GreatComposition)andthat is“entering theworld”.Theravada

Buddhismproposesthe policyof transcendingtheworldtoreachNirvanawithout

 1 Vietnamese Dictionary (2011), Dictionary Study Center, Da Nang Publishing House.