On March 13, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Poshitha Perera, along with a delegation from the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka (BPUSL), led by the Most Venerable, Professor Neluwe Sumanawansa Thero, visited, held discussions, and signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue.
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| Signing of the memorandum of cooperation between Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue and BPUSL |
Most Venerable Thich Hai An, Rector of the Academy; Venerable, Dr. Vice-Rector and Head of the Training Department, along with other academy leaders, welcomed and engaged in discussions with the delegation.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged general information and discussed areas of mutual interest for collaboration. Their discussions aimed at fostering the development of each institution as well as contributing to the education and training of Buddhist monks, both generally and within each country.
As part of this visit, Ambassador Poshitha Perera presented the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue with a sacred Bodhi tree sapling propagated from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a tree that is over 2,300 years old. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which was originally grown from a southern branch of the sacred Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India - where Buddha attained enlightenment. Over 2,300 years ago, in the year 236 in the Buddhist calendar, Emperor Ashoka ordered the branch to be gifted and it is now regarded as a national treasure of Sri Lanka.
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| Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hue presents souvenir to Ambassador Poshitha Perera |
Before the visit and the signing of the memorandum of cooperation, the BPUSL delegation, led by Most Venerable, Professor Neluwe Sumanawansa Thero, visited Bao Lam Pagoda (Thuy Xuan Ward, Thuan Hoa District) to pay respects to and seek blessings from Most Venerable Thich Giac Quang, Vice Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Some highlights from the visit of the Sri Lankan Ambassador and BPUSL University:
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| The BPUSL delegation paid respects to and sought blessings from Vice Patriarch Thich Giac Quang |
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| A commemorative photo session with the Vice Patriarch at Bao Lam Pagoda |
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| Ambassador Poshitha Perera presented and planted a commemorative Bodhi tree sapling propagated from Sri Lanka’s sacred national treasure |
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| A moment of reverence beside the newly planted sacred Bodhi tree |
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| A commemorative photograph marking the beginning of cooperation between BPUSL and HVPGVN in Hue |
By HK
