Does Greater Devotion Mean Less Patriotism? Here Is the View of Venerable Thich Chan Quang

**SUMMARY:** Through a year-end sermon, Venerable Thich Chan Quang clarifies the relationship between Buddhism and one's homeland, helping Buddhists maintain their love for their country while steadfastly upholding their faith in the Dharma.

There is a perplexing paradox: the more devoted one becomes, the less patriotic one feels. Why is this so? In his year-end talk, Venerable Thich Chan Quang explained this clearly, and more importantly, pointed out how Buddhism helps practitioners find balance between spiritual life and worldly responsibility.

**The Paradox of the Devoted**

The Venerable began with a moving story: many Buddhists leave the warmth of their family homes to welcome New Year's Eve at a temple nestled in the mountains. From this, he guided the audience to recognize a sad pattern: when a person's devotion to the path becomes so pure, their love for their country may diminish. The reason is that religion has replaced the sacred objects a person ordinarily looks toward.

"Deities and saints in the imagination are always more beautiful than real people. And these figures replace the image of actual government officials and civil servants."

He explained: the more perfect the imagined saints and heavens become, the more the image of real officials and citizens fades. Similarly, the sacred realms and heavens constructed by religion are so beautiful that one's current homeland can seem mundane in comparison. Consequently, the devoted may lose the motivation to build and protect their nation.

**Buddhism Has a Key Difference**

Yet Buddhism does not fall into this pattern. The Venerable stated:

"Our Buddha was very realistic. He taught the Four Gratitudes, which include the gratitude towards the sovereign."

The Four Gratitudes are: gratitude to the Three Jewels, gratitude to one's teachers and ancestors, gratitude to one's parents, and gratitude to the sovereign. He taught that a disciple of the Buddha must not only aspire toward the sacred but also acknowledge those who directly provide for their well-being—including the leaders of their country. In this way, Buddhism maintains an ideal that transcends borders while remaining rooted in a specific homeland through concrete responsibility.

**What Is the Purpose of Buddhism's Appearance?**

Amidst countless religions, Buddhism holds a very clear stance:

"Wherever Buddhism appears, it brings peace and happiness there, not to gain an advantage there."

The Venerable emphasized three points that prevent Buddhism from opposing the nation:

* The inclusion of gratitude towards the sovereign in the Four Gratitudes reminds practitioners of their duty to their country. * There is no international governing body—Buddhism in each country is connected to that country. * Its teachings are gentle—there is no ambition for power, only for service.

**The Monastic is Merely a Servant**

The Venerable recounted the story of an ancient Venerable who helped the court mobilize people to reclaim land and establish Kim Son district. This is a beautiful image: the practitioner does not compete for followers or vie for power, but quietly serves the people's livelihood and the nation.

"A practitioner of Buddhism must hold the view that wherever they go, they serve that place, making it peaceful and beautiful."

There is no need for anyone to remember their name. One only needs to love humanity and help people love one another. When that happens, heaven is present right here in the human world.

**Love for the Path and Love for the Country are One**

So how should today's Buddhists practice to uphold both? The Venerable shared a golden principle:

"Wherever there is loving-kindness, there is joy."

Start with small things: living well with family and neighbors, contributing to the community, and maintaining ethics at work. This is the most concrete way to love your country. When we bring loving-kindness everywhere, we are fulfilling Buddhism's true mission—to bring peace and happiness to all.

As Tet arrives and spring returns, between the words "Dharma" and "world," a Buddhist need not choose. Let us live fully in both, for the most sacred values—as Venerable Thich Chan Quang taught—aspire toward enlightenment while perfectly cherishing the love for one's homeland.