The world's biggest on-mountain Buddhist lecture hall - A convergence and propagation of Buddhist spiritual values
1st floor: The first floor of the Great Lecture Hall is a sacred place where you can venerate the statue of the Buddha entering Nirvana. Before the statue, reverently prostrate to him, praying for his guidance and protection for steadfast steps in the journey toward true happiness.
2nd floor: At this sacred site enshrined the statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Respectfully bow to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas if you aspire for yourself and your family to take refuge in the Three Jewels, diligently listen to the Buddha's teachings, deepen right view, expand wisdom, settle the mind in concentration, and live a peaceful and happy life.
The Great Lecture Hall at Ba Vang Pagoda is a monumental structure, remarkable not only for its architecture but also for its profound significance. It embodies the aspiration of Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh, the Abbot and his Sangha to "seek for the Buddhahood and save sentient beings.”
In 2014, Ba Vang Pagoda was recognized for being the on-mountain pagoda with the largest main hall in Indochina. However, by 2015, the Main Hall could no longer accommodate the growing number of people coming to study the Buddha Dharma. On some days, there were as many as 40,000 to 50,000 people gathered at the Pagoda. Therefore, the Abbot decided to build the Great Lecture Hall which can hold up to 15,000 people. This construction was also later recognized with the title "World's largest on-mountain lecture hall" by the WorldKings (World Record Union) and the World Record Association (WRA).
In front of the Great Lecture Hall stands a model reenacting the Buddha's birth. The first floor of the building portrays the scene of the Buddha entering Nirvana in the Sala grove more than 2,500 years ago. The close arrangement of these two significant events - the birth and Parinirvana of the Buddha symbolizes a profound message: the journey from birth to death is fleeting, emphasizing the need to realize the truth of impermanence.
The second floor serves as a place for preaching the Dharma through Thay's lectures. These lectures aim to remind everyone that, upon understanding the truth of impermanence, they should learn and practice the Buddha's teachings to realize the truth, transcend the cycle of birth and death, attaining absolute happiness and peace.
Adorning the walls of the Hall's second floor are paintings symbolizing Buddhism from 22 countries around the world, reflecting Buddhism's spirit of unity and its global reach, transcending nations and ethnicities.
