Introduction: By defintion Hoa Hao Buddhism is a Buddhist religion named Hoa Hao, that means harmony, peace and unity, within oneself and with the world around. Hoa Hao in fact is the name of a village where the prophet of Hoa Hao Buddhism was born, grew up and started his mission. The village is located on Tan Chau district, Chau Doc Provincial City, South Vietnam. Millions of Hoa Hao Buddhists made a pilgrimage to it once everyyear, before the 30th of April 1975, when to celebrate the inaugural day of Hoa Hao Buddhism.
The Very Venerable Prophet So Phu Huynh, who was born on 25 February 1919, at Hoa Hao Village, Chau Doc, Vietnam, to a family of the highest dignitary of the village, normally the greatest landlord in the locality. Even though he had not finished his secondary school, he proved a genius in all areas of knowledge, and the stories of his deeds convinced his many contemporaries that he was a messiah to Vietnam and the world. His followship amounted to approximately two million within 8 years of teaching.
Hoa Hoa Buddhism is modernised Buddhism
Hoa Hao Buddhism is an attempt to restore the original Buddhism, which the Prophet said lost its vitality and practicability over centuries, exemplified by the periods during which Vietnam owed its strengths to the Buddhisms under Le, Ly, and Tran dynasties. The Prophet used very popular methods to teach his followers, such as poetry and faith healing to convert many people.
"Four Great Debts of Gratitude"
The Debt to the Parents and Ancestors
The Debt to the Country
The Debt to the Buddha, Dharma and Shanga
The Debt to the Compatriot and Mankind
For those who joined priesthood, an additional Debt is one to the Donators
"The Learning Buddhism, Achieving Humanity Method"
"Learning Buddhism, Achieving Humanity" is the way the Master summarises His Teachings. This means practising Buddhism to the full, to reach the highest level of self-enlightenment, like the Buddha before becoming so, while carrying out the messages of Buddha into the mundane world where the four Great Debts of Gratitude must be paid off to allow for an ultimate liberation of soul and body. Learning Buddhism is self-improving whereas Achieving Humanity is Improving Society wherein one lives by implementing the Way which has been passed on by Buddha, Dharma and Shanga.
"Mixing with people to sow seeds of goodness,
Amid them I show the Way to the right ones."
Thus following this maxim, the Hoa Hao Buddhist disciple must know how to live among the mass people without commiting sins like themselves, and instead provide good guidance to those who want to change themselves. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to learn and practise Buddhism in the sense of purifying oneself mentally and physically before proceeding on with their mission to assist others to do the same. Helping others to achieve their goal in this purifying process contributes to improving oneself in the same way that the debtor cannot get away from their debt without being punished. Therefore helping others is not only a human duty but alos a means to an end. These are the two aspects of self-improving which are interdependent and, without one, people cannot achieve the other.