The inaugural day of the conference, June 13, 2024, commenced with a solemn opening ceremony. The ceremony saw a gathering of numerous monks and nuns, accompanied by elected officials representing the cities of Santa Ana and Westminster, California, as well as the state of California. Additionally, representatives from various associations, organizations, radio and television stations, press agencies, and fellow Buddhists from Orange County were also present.
The distinguished guests in attendance included Professor and scholar Le Manh That, who served as the Chairman of the Conference. Among the revered figures present were Most Venerable Thich Phap Tanh, Most Venerable Thich Minh Tuyen, Most Venerable Thich Vien Ly, Most Venerable Thich Quang Thanh, Venerable Thich Nhu Minh, and Venerable Thich Nguyen Tam. Additionally, honorable monks and nuns from the board of directors and the board of Dharma teachers at Bo De Phat Quoc – Bodhi Buddharealm Society graced the event. Notably, more than 90 venerable monks and nuns from Orange County, California, enriched the gathering with their presence. The presence of the Mayor of Westminster, Ta Duc Tri, and elected officials from the city of Santa Ana further underscored the significance of the occasion.
In his opening address, Venerable Thich Huyen Chau, head of the organizing committee and director of Bo De Phat Quoc, conveyed profound appreciation to the Venerable monks and nuns for their support. Additionally, Venerable Thich Huyen Chau expressed heartfelt gratitude to the elected officials from the cities of Santa Ana and Westminster, as well as representatives from various associations, unions, organizations, radio and television agencies, newspapers, and fellow Buddhists in attendance.
Venerable Thich Huyen Chau underscored the critical importance of finalizing a comprehensive Buddhist studies curriculum, noting: “The Vietnamese Buddhist community has been a vibrant presence in Southern California, USA, for over four decades, engaging in a rich tapestry of Buddhist cultural activities. We have inherited the profound teachings of both the Theravada and Mahayana systems, which have been transmitted for over 2,600 years. With the benevolent guidance of the Venerable monks and nuns, the establishment of Bo De Phat Quoc, along with the Intermediate Class, occurred two years ago. While our classes have integrated elements from both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions, our curriculum remains primarily internal. To realize our aspiration of establishing a Buddhist university, it is imperative that we develop an ideal curriculum that encompasses the breadth and depth of Buddhist teachings”.
Following this, Venerable Thich Vien Ly provided guidance to the attendees of the ceremony, followed by insights offered by Venerable Thich Quang Thanh. Subsequently, Venerable Thich Phap Tanh and Venerable Thich Minh Tuyen shared their perspectives with the audience. Mayor Ta Duc Tri then conveyed his endorsement of the impactful endeavors within the Buddhist community of Southern California. He further expressed admiration for the sincere and meaningful statements made by Venerable Thich Huyen Chau, expressing his affinity for Buddhist philosophies. Following the ceremony, a brief intermission was observed to facilitate preparations for the afternoon workshop.