The Hidden Letter and the Vision of Master Nguyen Sinh Sac

The atmosphere in the Hong Phuc Pagoda hall seemed to settle into a profound stillness as Venerable Thich Chan Quang spoke of a historical event that had slept in darkness for nearly a century. The eyes of the assembly turned forward, where his words were gradually opening the door to a past filled with hidden truths.

Venerable Thich Chan Quang recounted that when Ho Chi Minh was young, Nghe An province had only about two hundred and ninety-four pagodas. At that time, Master Nguyen Sinh Sac, the father of President Ho Chi Minh, traveled south to engage in revolutionary activities. His heart was always heavy with great concern for the fate of the nation. He realized that to gain independence and preserve the identity and spiritual strength of the people, Buddhism must be revitalized. Buddhism is not merely a religion; it is the soul of the Vietnamese people.

With this penetrating vision, he wrote a letter back to his homeland of Nghe An, calling on his compatriots to return to Buddhism and unite to rebuild a solid spiritual foundation. This letter carried the hope and earnest call of a patriotic scholar. Yet, this letter never reached the hands of the people of Nghe An.

The reason is truly heartbreaking: French secret police intercepted the letter. They understood the value of this appeal, so they hid it away in their archives, treating it as dangerous evidence that needed to be silenced. For nearly one hundred years, the letter lay dormant in dusty old storage rooms, while the people lived quietly without a spiritual anchor.

It was not until today, after the country was fully liberated, that authorities rediscovered the letter among the files left by the French colonial police. The revealed truth shocked many. Nearly a century later, Master Nguyen Sinh Sac’s call was finally heard. People began to understand his exceptionally clear-sighted vision: Buddhism and the nation are inseparable, like two sides of the same coin. If Buddhism weakens or divides, the country becomes vulnerable to manipulation and attack.

Venerable Thich Chan Quang emphasized that the government and the people today clearly see the value of his words from over one hundred years ago. Having a pagoda in every village and a sincere monk in every pagoda is not just a religious need, but a responsibility to protect the soul of the nation. A people cannot survive on money or weapons alone; they require a sustainable system of spiritual values to endure and withstand the fluctuations of history.

The Meaning of the Story

The story of Master Nguyen Sinh Sac’s hidden letter conveys a profound message: Buddhism is closely linked to the destiny of the nation. Revitalizing Buddhism, building pagodas, and training monks are not merely religious tasks, but practical actions to protect cultural identity and national spiritual stability. Every child of Vietnam, especially Buddhists, must recognize the responsibility to maintain and develop the Dharma as an expression of patriotism.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Venerable Thich Chan Quang