Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented in
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
with subtitles in Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian and Spanish.
Remember
that Âu Lạc is a holy land.
Do you see the map?
Does it look like
an “S”?
Do you see
the Tao symbol?
It has a circle
with the letter “S”
in the middle;
one side is white with a black dot
and the other black with a white dot.
These are called
yin and yang.
Âu Lạc looks like that.
By looking at
the geography,
one can tell that it’s
a sacred land with
extraordinary people.
Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a
country in Southeast Asia
with a history
of over 4,000 years
of civilization.
Since ancient times,
the sacred and beautiful
land of the descendants
of the Dragon King
and Fairy Princess
has been the birthplace
of many enlightened
spiritual practitioners
such as the
Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng,
Great Master
Khuông Việt,
Zen Master Vạn Hạnh,
Zen Master Mãn Giác,
Lý Era’s National Teacher
Nguyễn Minh Không,
Zen Master Từ Đạo Hạnh,
Grand Master Tuệ Trung,
Zen Master Huyền Quang,
Zen Master Pháp Loa,
Trúc Lâm First Patriarch
Trần Nhân Tông,
Zen Master Vũ Khắc Minh,
and Zen Master
Vũ Khắc Trường.
In modern times,
Âu Lạc has been graced
by Buddha Master Tây An,
founder of the Bửu Sơn
Kỳ Hương Order;
Master Ngô Minh Chiêu,
founder of
the Cao Đài religion;
Master Nguyễn Thành Nam,
founder of Đạo Dừa;
Master Huỳnh Phú Sổ,
founder of
Hòa Hảo Buddhism;
First Master
Minh Đăng Quang,
founder of
the Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Association;
and more recently,
Supreme Master Ching Hai,
a world-renowned
spiritual teacher
who imparts
the Quan Yin Method –
all were born
on this holy land.
Buddhism, around 300 BCE,
under the reign
of King Hùng III,
was introduced
to Âu Lạc from India.
Since then Âu Lạc has
been graced by the presence
of many venerable
monks and nuns.
Among them were
great sages who
contributed immensely to
the nation’s development
and worked tirelessly
to disseminate
Truth teachings.
The ancestors of Buddhism
were great Zen masters.
When you go home,
read the book “Vietnamese
Zen Masters,”
written by the Venerable
Thích Thanh Từ.
You will learn how
the Aulacese (Vietnamese)
of the past
practiced spiritually,
who the great
Zen Masters were, and
how enlightened they were.
.
In Âu Lạc, Buddhism reached
its pinnacle in the Lý
and Trần dynasties.
An excerpt from
“A Collection
of Unusual Tales,”
written by eminent scholar Nguyễn Dữ,
describes:
“Those initiated into
monkhood or nunhood
were as many as half of
the general population.
Pagodas were constructed,
more than 10
in large villages,
and about 5, 6
in small villages.”
Pagodas can be found
throughout the nation,
from north to south.
For instance,
northern Âu Lạc has
the One Pillar Pagoda,
built around 1049; the Đậu Pagoda built in the 11th century;
and Perfume Pagoda,
built at the end
of the 17th century.
The Central region has
Celestial Seal Pagoda,
built in 1694;
Từ Đàm Pagoda
built at the end
of the 17th century; and
Heavenly Lady Pagoda,
officially built in 1601.
The Heavenly Lady Pagoda
in the Complex
of Huế Monuments
was recognized by
the United Nations
Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) in 1993 as a
World Cultural Heritage
site.
Southern Âu Lạc has
Sacred Mountain Cave
Temple,
built in the 18th century,
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
at the beginning
of the 19th century, and Tây An Temple
in the 19th century.
From the early 20th century
till now,
Buddhism in Âu Lạc
continues to flourish.
According to statistical data by the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam,the number of Buddhists
taking refuge
in the Three Jewels
(Enlightened Master,
Truth, Saintly Assembly)
have reached
nearly 45 million.
The entire nation has over
44,000 monks and nuns,
with more than
14,000 pagodas, temples
and monasteries.
The temple has become
an endearing image
closely connected
to the life of
the Aulacese people,
who go to the temple
to study profound Buddhist teachings,
find inner peace,
and be reminded
of their ancestors’ virtues,
as conveyed in the verses written by
the Most Venerable
Thích Mãn Giác:
“The temple protects
the spirit of the nation,
It’s our ancestors’ way
of life
since time immemorial.”
During a lecture
at the Việt Nam Temple
in Los Angeles,
California, USA
on March 24, 1991,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
expounded on
the purpose and
significance of a temple.
A temple is
an important place.
Why is it important?
It’s important
not because it’s big
but because
it reminds everyone
not to forget his or her
spiritual aspiration.
Therefore, a temple is
a place for you to come
to study Buddhism,
to stand and walk
more dignified.
You must find the monks
to study Truth teachings
so that your mind
develops further.
But you must protect
the temple.
For example,
if you’ve been going there
for a long time,
the temple would inevitably
have wear and tear,
so you should contribute
your effort and material
resources to upkeep it.
First, the temple represents
the long-standing culture
of Âu Lạc (Vietnam);
it represents a great
religion in the world.
Second, it’s there so that
you can have a refuge
for the spirit, and
third, for our children
to have a place to continue
the virtuous traditions
of the Aulacese
(Vietnamese) people.
We are deeply grateful to
Supreme Master Ching Hai
for her
treasured words
and boundless grace
for the nation and the righteous and pious
people of Âu Lạc.
On the first day
of the lunar month,
I visit the temple.
I go with my mother
to buy lotus flowers.
I go to the temple
to offer all my soul
and sincere reverence
to Buddha.
The scent
of aloe wood incense
permeates the air.
In my earnest prayer,
I dream of Buddha.
The Most Compassionate
appears composedly serene.
I dream
that Buddha is smiling.
The rhythm
of scripture reciting
reverberates in my heart,
blending with the sounds
of tocsin and brass bells.
The love I feel
from the Father of old
is deeply imprinted
in my innocent mind.
I pray to Buddha to bless me
so that I can become
an obedient child.
From now on,
I’ll stop indulging in play.
I’m determined and vow
to study diligently.
From now on,
I’ll stop indulging in play.
I’m determined and vow
to study diligently.
From now on,
I’ll stop indulging in play.
I’m determined and vow
to study diligently.
Gentle viewers,
in today’s program
we invite you
to visit three pagodas
well regarded as
famous and ancient
Buddhist temples
in Âu Lạc.
Namely
Ngọc Viên Monastery,
Tây An Temple,
and Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền
Pagoda.
The Mekong River
Delta area
in southwestern Âu Lạc,
Vĩnh Long Province
is the homeland
of the First Patriarch
Minh Đăng Quang.
This is where
Ngọc Viên Temple
is located.
Ngọc Viên Temple is also
the Patriarchal Temple
and the Center
of Dharma Propagation
of the Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Association
in Âu Lạc (Vietnam).
Born in 1923,
since childhood
Patriarch Minh Đăng Quang
had yearned
to seek the Truth.
At age 21,
after meditating earnestly
seven days and nights,
he attained enlightened.
From then on,
he established
the Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Association,
encouraging
spiritual practice and
teaching people tirelessly.
Ngọc Viên Monastery
was founded by
Patriarch Minh Đăng Quang
in 1948.
After having been
renovated several times,
it is now a temple
with an octagonal
architectural style
symbolizing
the Noble Eightfold Path
of Buddhism,
the way to liberation
and enlightenment.
These are right view,
right thought,
right speech, right action,
right livelihood,
right effort,
right mindfulness,
and right concentration.
Inside the main hall,
there is a tower for
worshipping the statue
of Shakyamuni Buddha.
The tower’s foundation
has three levels,
symbolizing
the Three Jewels: Buddha
(Enlightened Being),
Dharma (Truth Teaching),
and Sangha
(Spiritual Community).
The tower’s four sides
are open, representing
the Four Immeasurable
Minds of Buddhism:
loving kindness,
compassion, joy,
and equanimity.
Around the tower
are four great pillars
supported by lotus flowers,
as a reminder to build
the foundation of life
with our body, speech,
and mind
as pure as the lotus.
Behind the tower
is an altar
for the Book of Truth
and Patriarch
Minh Đăng Quang’s
picture.
Above his picture is
the image of a lotus flower
upholding the lamp
of Truth which
the Patriarch had chosen
as the symbol
of the Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Order.
Its meaning is
that the true teachings
of the Buddhas,
through the symbol
of the lotus flower,
will illuminate the way
by the light of Truth
for those
with spiritual affinity.
Behind the main hall
is a library that stores
the Buddhist Tripitaka
(holy text)
as well as the scriptures
of Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Association.
The lecture hall
preserves photographs
and autographs of
Patriarch Minh Đăng Quang
and later patriarchs.
In front of
the Patriarch’s hermitage
is a banyan tree planted
by the Patriarch himself
when Ngọc Viên Monastery
was first constructed.
Recently,
many young banyan trees
have sprung from
the original tree’s roots,
offering more shade
to the serene temple.
The Monastery has
many hermitages
made of simple thatches
for the resident bhikshus
(monks) to meditate
or for visiting monks
to stay overnight,
according to the spirit
of minimal need
and modest living
taught by the Patriarch.
Ngọc Viên Monastery
is also a place
to study Buddhism
and to train
future generations
on the path of compassion,
wisdom, and courage.
At their activities club
on every Sunday,
youth often chant many
sutras and verses such as
“Don’t Kill the Animals”
from the book
“Chanting Rites”
of the Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Association.
All animals aren’t
any different than us.
They also desire life
and avoid danger.
They have parents
and relatives.
They form groups for
activities and diligent work.
Do not kill them
for our food.
Ngọc Viên Monastery,
the first monastery
of Aulacese (Vietnamese)
Sangha Bhikshu
Buddhist Association,
is a significant historical
vestige of Patriarch
Minh Đăng Quang’s
initial period of
founding a spiritual path
for Aulacese people
to further develop their
inherent moral values.
In the southwest of Âu Lạc,
Tây An Temple
is situated at the foot
of Sam Mountain,
Châu Đốc District,
An Giang Province.
The folk verses
“Every evening swallows
soar at the mountain
in the west
How deeply we esteem
Buddha Master Tây An’s
great virtue!”
bespeak the Sage’s
compassion and wisdom.
Buddha Master Tây An
cured the sick
and helped people
make use of the wild land
for farming
to sustain themselves
on the path
of spiritual practice.
He founded
Bửu Sơn Kỳ Hương Order
and taught people
to study Buddhism
and cultivate their virtue,
following Shakyamuni
Buddha’s teaching
for self improvement.
He also emphasized the
practice of four gratitudes
which are gratitude to
one’s parents,
one’s country,
the Three Jewels
(Buddha, Dharma, Sangha),
and fellow citizens
and humankind.
Author Sơn Nam wrote,
“One may say that
Buddha Master Tây An
was the first person
who brought awareness
that the Declining Age
is about to end
to begin the Golden Age,
when Maitreya Buddha
will descend on Earth
to form the Dragon
Flower Assembly.”
Although Buddha Master
Tây An passed on
in 1856 at the age of 49,
his great legacy
continues to this day.
Built circa 1847,
Tây An Temple is
the first temple in Âu Lạc
that combines Indian art
and Aulacese
traditional architecture.
The temple has
three towers with brilliant
yet harmonious colors.
In the middle is
the highest tower which has
Shakyamuni Buddha’s
statue.
On the two sides
are a bell tower
and a drum tower.
At the three-door gate
is the statue of a mother
carrying her child
based on the legend
of Quan Yin Thị Kính,
a Bodhisattva (Saint)
who was a perfect example
of compassion
and patient endurance.
On the front steps
are two elephant statues:
a six-ivory white elephant
and a two-ivory
black elephant.
At the entrance
to the main hall,
there is a drawing
of Shakyamuni Buddha
meditating
under the bodhi tree,
and in the front
are two lion statues
signifying spiritual power.
In the main hall,
there are hundreds
of statues of Buddhas,
Bodhisattvas, Arhats,
Deities and Fairies.
The statues
of Four Heavenly Kings
and The Eight
Vajra (Diamond) Deities,
holding weapons
in their hands
to protect the Dharma,
look very stately.
At the back are statues of
Tây An Pagoda’s abbots,
including the Venerable
Thích Bửu Thọ,
who passed away in 1972
when he was
79 years old.
A highly respected monk,
he greatly contributed
to the renovating
of the pagoda.
Behind the main hall
on the left
is Buddha Master
Tây An’s tomb area,
surrounded with the tower
of the later abbots.
The majestic
natural scenery amidst with
a tranquil atmosphere
inside the temple
give visitors a chance
to remember the virtue
and shining examples
of ancient sages
as well as
to study the Truth
with Buddhist monks
who are devoted to
their spiritual practice
and a pure vegan lifestyle.
Upon leaving the temple,
devotees carry with them
the noble ideal of leading
a virtuous spiritual life
in service of others.
Another famous pagoda
in southern Âu Lạc
is Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền,
located on
Thị Vãi Mountain (also
called Nun Mountain),
in Bà Rịa –
Vũng Tàu Province.
According to documents
preserved at the pagoda,
the first nun
who practiced spiritually
at this mountain once
helped Lord Nguyễn Ánh
escape danger.
After ascending the throne
in 1802
as King Gia Long,
in gratitude to the nun
who saved his life,
His Majesty mandated
the pagoda renovation
and conferred
nun Diệu Thiện the title
“Sacred Mountain
Holy Mother,”
with the pagoda
being named
“Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền.”
The next abbot
was the Venerable
Thích Từ Thuận,
an enlightened monk
who helped many people,
and in particular,
with immense compassion,
he had converted a tiger
to practice spiritually
beside him.
The mountain now still
has the vestige
of the tiger's lair,
only about 100 meters
from the pagoda.
Since 2000, the Venerable
Thích Trí Quảng
continuously renovated
the pagodas as well as
other beautiful sites
on Thị Vãi Mountain.
The three main pagodas
on the mountain
are Liên Trì Pagoda,
Hồng Phúc Pagoda,
and Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền
Pagoda.
From Liên Trì Pagoda
at the foot
of Thị Vãi Mountain,
devotees must climb
1,340 stone steps to reach
Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền
Pagoda.
At Hồng Phúc Pagoda
(also called
Central Pagoda), there is
a temple worshipping
Maitreya Bodhisattva
sitting on a lotus flower,
which is placed
on a dragon’s back.
From here,
pilgrims continue
to the Upper Pagoda,
namely
Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền.
Here, there are
outdoor statues of
Vajra (Diamond) Deity,
Four Great
Heavenly Kings, and
Quan Yin Bodhisattva.
The main hall
of Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền
Pagoda faces south;
its decoration
is filled with reverence.
At the center
is Shakyamuni Buddha
statue;
in the front are statues
of Baby Buddha
and Maitreya Buddha.
On the two sides
are statues of
Manjusri Bodhisattva,
Samantabhadra
Bodhisattva,
Quan Yin Bodhisattva,
and
Earth-store Bodhisattva.
In the back hall is
the altar of
Patriarch Bodhidharma.
All were enlightened
spiritual practitioners
who manifested on Earth
to save sentient beings.
The pagoda has
a fragrant lotus lake
with the Vairocana Shrine
behind it
and a sand mine above.
Graced by the blessings
of God and Buddha
as well as
nature’s support,
the sand at the lake
has been a great advantage
to the pagoda
in construction projects
on the mountain.
In front of the lotus lake
is the Life-and-Death
Long Bridge.
Walking across the bridge
to admire
the pure lotus flowers,
pilgrims have the feeling
that they are standing
on the miraculous lotus
of True Dharma,
which takes the devout
beyond the cycle
of transmigration
to return to the shore
of awakening.
Behind
the Vairocana Shrine is
the Ultimate Bliss Garden,
where there is a statue
of Amitabha Buddha
with his head
leaning on a big stone.
Behind the main hall
is a road leading to
the Quan Yin altar
and Nirvana Peak.
On the mountain,
there are still caves
where abbots of the past
practiced spiritually
in seclusion.
Throughout the years,
in the mountainous
landscape, beside
sacred statues of Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas,
and a solemn atmosphere
of spiritual practice,
Linh Sơn Bửu Thiền
Pagoda has been offering
pilgrims tranquil moments
to remember their source
of eternal bliss.
Thank you
for your company
on today’s program
presenting some ancient
temples in southern
Âu Lạc (Vietnam).
We wish you
and your family
peace and joy.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
right after
Noteworthy News.
Farewell for now.
Thank you
for your company
on today’s program
presenting some ancient
temples in southern
Âu Lạc (Vietnam).
We wish you
and your family
peace and joy.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
right after
Noteworthy News.
Farewell for now.
The Unsurpassed
Dharma King
is matchless throughout
the three realms
and beyond
Teacher of gods
and humans.