CONTRIBUTING TO UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTERISTICS AND VALUES IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL THOUGHTS OF TRAN NHAN TONG

Abstract

Tran Nhan Tong (1258 - 1308), known as “the first founder of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen”, made significant contributions to depicting the identity and soul of the Vietnamese nation in general, as well as the characteristics of Vietnamese Buddhist philosophy in particular. He left a legacy of philosophical thought with distinct characteristics and values. That entails inheritance, integration, growth, active meditation, and profound humanity. His philosophical ideas have contributed to the development of a Zen philosophy with a Vietnamese identity, resulting in a unified Vietnamese Buddhism that serves as a spiritual foundation, a social ethical standard, uniting people's hearts, and establishing an independent Dai Viet country that is unified and strong in all aspects, uniting the entire nation's strength against three devastating invasions. The Yuan-Mongol invaders used violence to protect the nation's independence.