Q: Could you please provide a more detailed analysis of the intersection between Buddhism and the Mother Goddess religion?

A: I notice that almost every Buddhist temple has a section dedicated to Mother Goddesses while Mother Goddess worship also shares many similar rituals with Buddhism. Within the premises of shrines dedicated to Mother Goddesses, there are also Buddhist elements such as the Avalokiteshvara. In other words, Buddhism has adapted itself when entering Vietnam, and the Vietnamese people have embraced Buddhism and changed it to suit their local beliefs. Now the two religions are virtually inseparable such that where there is a Buddhist temple, there is also a shrine nearby worshipping Mother Goddesses.

Similarly, Mother Goddess worship also shares many icons and rituals of Buddhism. Research has only just begun into this phenomenon, so I strongly encourage more research into the relationship between Buddhism and the Mother Goddess religion. In Vietnam, the two rely on each other and exist together.

There is also another belief very typical of Vietnam, that is ancestor worship, which is later elevated to the worship of Hung Kings, the common ancestors of Vietnamese people. The Mother Goddess religion also incorporates ancestor worship into its rituals. A deeper and more comprehensive look shows that the worship of Mother Goddesses is the combination of a folk belief with a foreign religion which has been embraced by the common people to place their faith in.

Q: What is the difference between Buddhism and Mother Goddess worship?

A: The worship of Mother Goddesses is not a subject is Buddhist precepts. In this way, the Mother Goddess religion is more involved in worldly matters than Buddhism. In the meantime, Buddhism has a certain distance despite its enormous popularity among the people. The practices of Buddhist monks and nuns are different from those of practitioners of Mother Goddess worship.

Q: In the current context of extensive cultural integration, what should we do to safeguard and the promote the beauty of Vietnamese culture, particularly Buddhism and the Mother Goddess religion?

A: A very important event took place in Hanoi on November 24, 2021, namely the National Culture Conference held by the Central Commission for Communication and Education. In his concluding speech, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised that culture must be understood in the broadest sense as the soul of a nation and the driver for a country’s sustainable development.

The Koreans say that in order to reach the pinnacle of humankind, it is necessary for them to transform all that they have into what can compete internationally. In other words, if we only rely on foreign resources or experience, we can never equal them, not least overtake them. What we need is tap into our strengths so that we can “stand on an equal footing with powers across the five continents” as wished by President Ho Chi Minh, and that depends on the quality of the Vietnamese people.

We defeated not one but three Mongol invasions because we brought our strengths into play and exploited the enemy’s weaknesses. Therefore, culture is the soul of a person and appears in many forms, including in their way of eating and drinking as well as their will, belief and spirituality. For the Mother Goddess religion, it apparently demonstrates the mettle of and honours those with contributions to the country and people. It is the spiritual strength that helps Vietnamese people overcome all difficulties and challenges to reach the pinnacle.

I think it is time we need scientific knowledge, on which we can find out what our strengths are and which we need to promote. For example, we often say that Buddhism accompanies the nation, but how? And only until recently have we realised that Buddhism used to be a glue to unite villages in protecting national cultural values against the strong assimilation of northern empires. It is apparent that Buddhism has merit in uniting different villages and people within a village. Buddhism also softens politics, which is inherently harsh.

The same goes for Mother Goddess worship. There were times when it was viewed with a negative attitude, so when dossiers were compiled to submit to UNESCO, some objected and regarded the worship as superstition. But with thorough research, we realise that it is part of our national soul. Many things in the Vietnamese mind are converted into belief and spirituality.

If we look at the sessions of spirit possession thoroughly, we can see all interesting stories and features of Vietnamese culture. We also see that this is a belief that can connects different faiths such as ancestor worship and Buddhism. If it is fully understood in such a way, what many regard as superstition will be eliminated and purified.