The Characteristics of Vietnamese Buddhism – public course at Dharma Gate

Professor Le Manh That will hold a public course between September 4 and 8, 2023, at the Dharma Gate Buddhist College. Professor Le Manh That is one of the most prominent contemporary researchers of Vietnamese Buddhism and a leader of the United Vietnamese Buddhist Church and the Vietnamese Buddhist University.
Le Manh That was born in 1944. He specializes in the history and philosophy of Buddhism, as well as the history of Vietnam, and speaks more than 15 languages. From 1965 to 1974, he was a student at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned his doctorate in the philosophy of Vasubandhu. From 1974 to 1984, he worked as a university professor in Vietnam. In 1984, he was arrested and sentenced to death in 1988 for his activities in the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Church. Following protests from Europe and the US, his sentence was later commuted to 20 years in prison, and he was finally released in 1998 after 14 years. Since then, he has resumed teaching and is involved in the leadership of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha and University.

His course, entitled “The Characteristics of Vietnamese Buddhism,” presents the early history and special features of Vietnamese Buddhism, with many surprises. It is translated from English by Zoltán Cser and George Tenger. At the end of the semester, students will take an oral exam based on the lectures and the assigned reading, with the assistance of Zoltán Cser and Gábor Karsai. The course is also open to external participants.

Course dates:

2023. September 4-8 (Monday-Friday) 4:15-7:30 p.m. (with a 15-minute break)

Course location