Tran Nhan Tong as a Model of Post-Secular Spiritual Leadership: Truc Lam Buddhism’s Global Contribution to Leadership Theory and Contemporary Buddhist Thought

Abstract

In a context where the world is facing a leadership crisis, declining social trust, and the strong resurgence of religion in public life, there is an urgent need to find leadership models that combine ethics, spirituality, and political power. In recent decades, post-secular theory has challenged the classical secularization thesis by acknowledging the reemergence of religion in the public sphere. However, studies of post-secular leadership have primarily focused on Western or South Asian Christian contexts, while the East Asian Buddhist experiences have yet to be fully theorized. This article addresses the gap by interpreting Tran Nhan Tong (1258 - 1308), the founder of Truc Lam Buddhism, as a representative model of post-secular spiritual leadership. Instead of viewing him merely as a historical monarch or a national religious figure, the study argues that he represents a distinctive model of leadership in which political power, Buddhist enlightenment, and social ethics are organically integrated. Based on post-secular theory, studies of spiritual leadership, and Buddhist political philosophy, this article demonstrates that he transcended the dichotomy between secular power and religious withdrawal. The philosophy of “Living in the world while enjoying the Dharma” establishes a non dualistic framework in which governance is practiced without attachment to power, while enlightenment is realized through social responsibility. Therefore, the Truc Lam model makes a significant contribution to contemporary discussions on ethical leadership, post-secular governance, and engaged Buddhism.

Keywords: Tran Nhan Tong, Truc Lam Buddhism, post-secular spiritual leadership, Engaged Enlightenment, contemporary Buddhist studies, leadership theory

DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/60-03

Publication date: April 28^th 2026