Renowned Buddhist monk passes away

HÀ NỘI – The Most Venerable Thích Chơn Thiện, the deputy head of the Buddist Sangha of Việt Nam, passed away on Tuesday morning in Huế city.

The 74-year-old was a deputy of the newly-elected 14th National Assembly as well as the previous 11th, 12th and 13th. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee and a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Presidium.

Born in Huế in December 1, 1942, the Most Venerable Thích Chơn Thiện whose real name is Nguyễn Hội, ordained to be a Buddhist monk at the age of 18 and later obtained a PhD in Buddhism in India.

During his lifetime, he was awarded the Order of Independence, second-class, the Order for the Cause of the National Unity and merit certificates from the Prime Minister and the Buddist Sangha of Việt Nam for his dedication to the development of the country and Buddhism in Việt Nam.

The Buddist Sangha of Việt Nam announced his eight-day mourning ceremony to be held in Tường Vân pagoda yesterday where Thiện lived his last days. – VNS