African Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century

For the local people, the temple is no longer a foreign concept of the East, but has become a warm, shared home. When they come to the temple, they find peace of mind-something easily taken away by the daily struggles of life. They learn to face suffering with mindfulness, to love and forgive. More than just a place of worship, the temple is where people learn literacy, trades, and how to live in harmony with the community. The temple serves as a spiritual anchor, a place that nurtures the virtuous souls of the local people. Whether following the Theravada or Mahayana tradition, whether led by local monks or sponsored by international organizations, Buddhism here has been and continues to be a gift that contributes noble humanitarian values, alleviating suffering and bringing hope to those facing hardship. This thirty-five-day journey across nine countries was not only a charitable 'Giving Love - Receiving Smiles' trip, but a testament to a new, vibrant Buddhist spirit, full of energy and a yearning for peace. From Dharma talks, chanting, walking meditation, warm vegetarian meals at temples, donating essential supplies to sweet chocolates given to children in impoverished villages-every step left a mark of sacred connection between hearts beating with the same compassion of Buddhist followers.As a Buddhist nun belonging to the Mahayana tradition (a later-developed form of Buddhism), and writing for the first time about Theravada Buddhism in Africa with the title, African Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century (Vietnamese version: Phật Giáo Châu Phi Thế kỷ XXI), the author acknowledges that her knowledge and observations are certainly flawed and cannot fully capture the beauty and spirit of Buddhism in this region. She respectfully requests guidance and instruction from esteemed masters and scholars so that the next edition can be more complete.In particular, in this technological era, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to artificial intelligence (AI) for its invaluable assistance in organizing ideas, researching information, and enriching the language, enabling this manuscript to be released to readers as planned.Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the venerable monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers in the United States, Africa, Vietnam, and many other places, who directly or indirectly, have supported with financial contributions, ideas, images, and heartfelt generosity to make this pilgrimage, charity, and book, African Buddhism in the Twenty-First Century, a reality. This work is like an incense offering, praising the noble souls who have been and are continuing to illuminate and offer the lamp of wisdom in Africa.This is a pilgrimage diary introducing Buddhism in African countries and a profound tribute to the venerable monks who bravely sowed the seeds of enlightenment in a barren land. May each page be a bridge, inviting readers to visit these places, to join hands with the young novice monks and nuns, the children, and together write a new chapter for African Buddhism.Dr. Bhikṣuṇī TN Giới Hương