Buddhismspread first from China to Vietnam's Red River Delta region inapproximately the second century A.D., and then from India to thesouthern Mekong Delta area at some time between the third and the sixthcenturies. The Chinese version, Mahayana Buddhism, became the faith ofmost Vietnamese, whereas the Indian version, Theravada (or Hinayana)Buddhism, was confined mostly to the southern delta region. Thedoctrinal distinction between the two consists of their differing viewsof Gautama Buddha: the Mahayana school teaches that Gautama was onlyone of many "enlightened ones" manifesting the fundamental divine powerof the universe; the Theravada school teaches that Gautama was theone-and-only enlightened one and the great teacher, but that he was notdivine. The Mahayana sect holds further that laypersons can attainnirvana, whereas the Theravada school believes that only ordained monksand nuns can do so.

At the 13century, during the Tran dynasty (1225-1400), the first 3 Kings TrầnThái Tôn, Trần Thánh Tông, Trần Nhân Tông and many high-rankingmandarins and royal members were Zen Buddhists. Among them King TrầnNhân Tông was the most prominent, being the founder of Trúc Lâm Yên TửZen School after his retirement from the throne in 1299. The essence ofTruc Lam Yen Tu Zen school is to “live the dharma” and Trần Nhân Tông’slife is the illustrated example. Trần Nhân Tông’s Truc Lam Yen Tu ZenSchool marked the beginning and foundation of Vietnamese Buddhism,which is exemplified by the tenet, “Dharma applied to worldly life,”all of the characteristics of which are outlined in the verse Cư TrầnLạc Đạo. In this interpretation of Buddhism, practicing Buddhism is notlimited to ritual activities, worship, and meditation, but right withindaily activities. There is no need to search for enlightenment andpeace anywhere outside of self and of the environment one lives in.

VietnameseBuddhism continues to hold this supremacy in our own time. It istherefore easy to understand how great an influence the Buddha has hadon the Vietnamese mind, and the generous contribution it has made tothe moral and spiritual training of a people whose gentleness andsimple outlook on life predisposed them to accept the «Religion ofCompassion.»