Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a country in Southeast Asia with a history of over 4,000 years of civilization. Around 300 BCE, under the reign of King Hùng III, Buddhism was introduced to Âu Lạc from India. Since then Âu Lạc has become the birthplace of many venerable monks and nuns. Among them were those who, as great intellectuals, contributed immensely to the nation’s development.

For example, in the 11th century Lý dynasty, there were Zen Master Vạn Hạnh and National Master Nguyễn Minh Không; in the 13th century Trần dynasty, there were Trúc Lâm First Patriarch Trần Nhân Tông and Zen Master Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ; and more recently, in the 20th century, the Most Venerable Thích Mãn Giác, who worked tirelessly to disseminate Truth teachings.

Buddhism reached its pinnacle in the Lý and Trần dynasties. An excerpt from “A Collection of Unusual Tales,” written by 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; Perfume Pagoda, built at the end of the 17th century; and Đậu Pagoda in the 11th century under Lý dynasty.

The Central region has Celestial Seal Pagoda, built in 1694; Chúc Thánh Pagoda built in the 17th century; 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 Bat Temple, built around the 17th century; Sacred Mountain Cave Temple, built in the 18th century; and Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda at the beginning of the 19th century.

From the 20th century till now, Buddhism in Âu Lạc continues to flourish. The number of Buddhists taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Enlightened Master, Truth, Saintly Assembly) have reached nearly 45 million. The entire nation has about 44,498 monks and nuns, with more than 14,775 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 not only to study Buddhism and find inner peace, but also to be reminded of their ancestors’ virtues, as stated 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.

In today’s program, we would like to introduce a Buddhist pagoda in the Trúc Lâm Zen tradition of Âu Lạc, that is the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen Monastery, originally called the Lân (Unicorn) Pagoda. An Aulacese folk poem goes:

“A hundred years of spiritual practice and merit accumulation will not bring enlightenment, if one has yet to visit Yên Tử.” Yên Tử is a well-known picturesque mountain in Âu Lạc; it also stores a sacred treasure of the Aulacese people, that is the Complex of Vestiges of Yên Tử Pagodas, including 10 pagodas extending 20 kilometers from Bí Thượng Pagoda up to Đồng Temple at a height of 1,065 meters, located in the town of Uông Bí, Quảng Ninh Province. In the 13th century, Âu Lạc was governed by the enlightened King Trần Nhân Tông.

At age 35, His Majesty abdicated the throne to his son and led the life of a renunciate. He went up Yên Tử Mountain to practice spiritually and founded Trúc Lâm Zen School, a lineage that is distinctive to Âu Lạc. He was its First Patriarch with the dharma (spiritual) name “Tamer of Passions and Enlightened King Trần Nhân Tông” (1258-1308). The Trúc Lâm tradition has been transmitted since and preserved by Zen masters till this day. Within the Complex of Vestiges of Yên Tử Pagodas, the most representative one is Đồng Temple at Yên Tử’s sacred peak; next are Hoa Yên Pagoda and Unicorn Pagoda.

Đồng Temple has been acclaimed by the Center for Aulacese Book of Records as the grandest bronze temple in the nation. At Hoa Yên Pagoda, King Trần Nhân Tông embarked on his spiritual practice as a renunciate and established his Zen path. His holy relics are retained in Huệ Quang (Light of Wisdom) Tower. Unicorn Pagoda is the last one of the complex. It was later rebuilt as Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen Monastery and inaugurated on the birth anniversary of Trúc Lâm’s First Patriarch Trần Nhân Tông, December 14, 2002.

The ancient Unicorn Pagoda is at a rather unique location. It is the place where many eminent abbots resided and delivered spiritual discourses. Built on a unicorn-shaped mountain, it is thus called Unicorn Pagoda. In the Eastern culture, the unicorn is a half-dragon, half-animal being that belongs to one of the four supernatural creatures: dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix. The unicorn is considered a very compassionate being with a special power to see through people’s hearts and minds; therefore, they are often placed at a pagoda entrance as if to examine visitors’ intentions.

Unicorn Pagoda is where His Majesty Trần Nhân Tông stopped by on his way to Yên Tử Mountain for spiritual practice. In 1293, he had the Unicorn Pagoda renovated to turn it into a more spacious place for preaching. Legend has it that on his first night stay at the Unicorn Pagoda, King Trần Nhân Tông dreamt that he was riding a golden dragon into an enormous cave.

In front of the cave, there was a blue lake replete with blooming yellow lotuses, their silver-color leaves sparkling light and fragrance infusing the air. Flock after flock of dragons arrived at the pagoda’s frontyard. Upon waking up, he believed that this was the abode of the dragons, so he named it the Dragon Cave Pagoda.

With regard to architecture, Trúc Lâm Yên Tử was constructed like any traditional pagoda. It has an ancient appearance but is spacious, grand, and made of new materials. After the three-door gate, the main structures of Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery include the Main Hall, Patriarch House, and Meditation Hall. Along the two sides are the Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Exhibition House, Guest House, Monk Quarters, Nun Guest House, and the Arhat Hall. All are majestic yet simple, blended well into the mountain and forest of Yên Tử, under the shade of ancient trees and splendid orchids.

The Main Hall is the largest building where a horizontal lacquered board is displayed with the words: “Precious Hall of Great Courage.” Inside there are 3 statues: in the middle is the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, on the right is the statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva, and on the left Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. On the walls are 9 embossments depicting the main stages in the holy life of Shakyamuni Buddha from his birth until his entering Nirvana, showing him witnessing the suffering of sentient beings, vowing to practice spiritually, and giving discourses to disciples and sentient beings.

The architecture and decoration in the Main Hall clearly emphasize the spirit of Theravada Buddhism and the development of Zen espoused by Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Monastery. Next to the Main Hall is the Patriarch House where the Three Patriarchs are worshipped. These are the 3 legendary Zen masters of Trúc Lâm Zen School: First Patriarch Trần Nhân Tông, Second Patriarch Pháp Loa, and Third Patriarch Huyền Quang. The Patriarch House was built on a mountain slope above the Main Hall. Outside, a parallel poem can be seen:

“Buddha left the Jade Palace for the Bodhi tree to attain enlightenment, Enlightened Monarch left his golden throne for Yên Tử to teach sentient beings.”

The poems all praise and honor the First Patriarch Trần Nhân Tông, drawing parallels between him and Shakyamuni Buddha, who, in compassion for sentient beings, left the throne to find the path to liberation and hence founded the Trúc Lâm Zen School.

The third main structure is the two-story Meditation Hall, situated behind the Patriarch House. It nestles by the hillside, partly hidden among the trees.

The first floor is Bodhidharma Hall, the second is a spacious and airy meditation room which can hold up to 300 people at the same time. Alongside the 3 main buildings of the Zen Monastery are other supplementary structures such as the Drum Tower, Bell Tower, Monk Quarters, Guest House and Arhat Hall, all arranged harmoniously.

Particularly in the Arhat Hall, there are 8 wooden statues carved elaborately and vibrantly, as if to depict the various enlightened states of true spiritual practitioners. Across from the Hall, on the way to the Serene Light Tower, are two ancient trees: a banyan tree and a decandrous persimmon tree about 700 years old. These lush trees are standing adjacent to each other, offering cooling shade for a vast part of the temple yard. Amongst the more than 20 fairly intact towers located along the entrance to the temple and within the temple campus itself, Serene Light Tower is where the relics of Zen Master Chân Nguyên are reserved.

Legend has it that one night the Venerable Chân Nguyên’s mother dreamt of an old man gifting her a lotus blossom. Upon waking up, she realized she was with child. Later, she gave birth to a good-looking and exceptionally intelligent son. He grew up, excelled in school, and aspired to become a mandarin. One day, while reading “The Annals” written by Third Patriarch Huyền Quang, he uttered, “Wise people of the past were unrivaled in literary skill, yet they abandoned position and fame as a pair of torn shoes, and deemed wealth and honor as a cage, let alone I am only a mere student! What’s the worth?”

He discarded his pen and ink slab, went straight to a temple to practice spiritually, and later became a well-known Zen master, credited with restoring the precious tradition of Trúc Lâm Zen School. In 1692, he was conferred by the Lê royal court as Venerable Enlightened Headmonk. In the front yard of the monastery, a 6.5- ton globe made of red granite.

Under this globe, a water pumping system is installed in the granite pedestal. When water is pumped, the globe raises itself from the granite pedestal and revolves. The globe is a rare giant solid rock offered by Mr. Đinh Văn Túy, a stone craftsman. With handicrafts, Mr. Túy made this globe with an amazing precision for if the globe isn’t crafted in exactness, it can neither raise itself from the granite pedestal nor revolve when water is pumped under it.

The globe has been affirmed by the Center for Aulacese Book of Records: “The Wish-fulfilling Globe is the largest in Âu Lạc.” During the making and transporting of this Wish-fulfilling Globe to the front yard of the monastery, there were many miracles.

The following are some stories which have been conveyed: As a stone carver, Mr. Túy wished to make a stone globe as an offering to the temple to honor Buddha’s grace. Unable to find a rock to his satisfaction, Mr. Túy went to stay in the temple, ate vegetarian, and prayed. After a while, he found a pink rock that weighed 10 tons. He retrieved the rock core of 8 tons in weight, then ground it day and night for 18 months to obtain a 6.5- ton globe.

When I produced this big globe, a lot of people wanted to buy it because it was a rare thing. For example, in Hải Dương, people wanted to buy this globe for the 50th anniversary of the city. I told them that I already promised to offer it to Buddha. They said that they’d like to borrow it to display, then I could come to get it later after I finished making another globe.

I accepted their request but when we removed the globe from the machine, the steering and the chain were broken; the globe fell down onto the machine and ruined the base. I was so scared. I told them I couldn’t give it to them because I already promised to offer it to Buddha. Luckily, the temple decided to place it in the front yard, and something very miraculous happened. That year there was a very bad drought, but after the globe was transferred to the monastery, it started raining. It rained continuously and abundantly.

In most of the shrines and temples in Âu Lạc, the horizontal boards and parallel poems are in Chinese characters. At Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen Monastery, besides some old horizontal boards written in Chinese, everything else is written in the Aulacese national language, which is easy for people to read and understand.

This practice thus helps fulfill the multitude’s wish to explore Buddhism. For example, the parallel poems in the Drum and Bell Towers encourage people to reflect upon the great subject of being liberated from the cycle of transmigrations. The Drum Tower has these verses:

“Dharma (Truth teachings) drum resounds, erasing Ignorance; one becomes the Awakened. Prayers waken hearts, obliterating Delusion; one achieves Enlightenment.” Entering the Bell Tower, one sees these verses:

“Peals of bell urge worldly people to wake up soon from their illusory dream. Recitals of scripture gently advise Truth seekers to return to the shore of enlightenment.” There are many other parallel poems engraved throughout the pagoda. Their beautiful words and profound meanings enable readers to contemplate and receive Truth teachings in their native language. At the majestic monastery – the ancient Unicorn Pagoda – monks practice spiritually and, at the same time, uphold and develop Trúc Lâm Zen School, which is unique to Âu Lạc.

As evening falls, Yên Tử seems to be floating in the clouds; at yonder, kitchen smoke is adrift peacefully. Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery is at times visible, at times concealed in the gossamer mist, as the sound of the bell reverberates amongst thousands of trees. The pagoda nestles humbly in the immensity of Yên Tử’s mountain and forest, yet contained within it is a latent strength, essence of the Aulacese spirit.

Thank you for watching today’s program introducing Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen Monastery, a Buddhist center in Âu Lạc. May your life be filled with peace, wisdom and virtue.

Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television. Coming up next is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, right after Noteworthy News. So long for now.