[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2361]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE VIETNAMESE BHIKSHU BUDDHIST COUNCIL'S CEREMONIAL 
                 REMEMBRANCE OF MASTER MINH DANG QUANG

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2004

  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the San Jose Vietnamese 
Bhikshu Buddhist Council's annual remembrance of Buddhist Master Minh 
Dang Quang.
  According to the Bhikshu Buddhist Council, Master Minh Dang Quang 
founded the indigenous Vietnamese Buddhist Order ``Tang Gia Khat Si'', 
normally referred to in English as the Mendicant Buddhist Order, in 
Southern Vietnam. This order represents a unique combination of 
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. On the Second day of the Second month 
in the Year of the Horse (1954) during a time of political turmoil, 
Master Minh Dang Quang went missing and the Monks and Nuns of this 
order observe his disappearance each year as a religious ceremony.
  According to the Bhikshu Buddhist Council, this year marks the 50th 
anniversary to celebrate the long-lasting work of Buddhist Master Minh 
Dang Quang and his founding of the Vietnamese Sakya Muni Dharma School 
of Buddhism. Although, Master Minh Dang Quang is not with us today, his 
followers continue their Master's teachings in Vietnam and all over the 
world.
  I am pleased to know that in my City of San Jose, California, the 
Vietnamese Bhikshu Buddhist Council can freely meet, worship, and 
practice their faith without fear of persecution.
  But that is not enough. We must demand that all Buddhists around the 
world, and others attempting to practice and worship their faith, are 
able do so freely without fear of persecution.
  We must continue passing legislation like the Vietnam Human Rights 
Act to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam and House Resolution 
427 that praises the courageous leadership of the Unified Buddhist 
Church of Vietnam and the urgent need for religious freedom and related 
human rights in Vietnam.
  We cannot sit idly by as the Vietnamese government continues to 
oppress its people while hiding behind the veil of free trade. On this 
special day, I recognize the 50th Anniversary of the remembrance of 
Buddhist Master Minh Dang Quang and reassert my commitment to fighting 
for human rights in Vietnam.

                          ____________________