Buddhists flocked to Tu Hieu Pagoda hoping to meet Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh.
Buddhists everywhere are eagerly awaiting the moment when Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh will meet all his fellow monks and disciples at Tu Hieu Pagoda (Hue City).
Upon hearing the news that Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh was resting at Tu Hieu Pagoda (Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province), where he entered monastic life at the age of 16, many Buddhists and devotees flocked to the pagoda hoping to meet him. Hundreds of people visited the pagoda daily, including many foreigners.
The retreat is an old house where the Zen master used to practice meditation, situated in isolation and surrounded by greenery. The disciples currently practicing at Tu Hieu Pagoda have planted more flowers around the Zen master's retreat.
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The inner courtyard where Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh is recuperating has been strictly sealed off. Photo:Vo Thanh |
To provide the monk with a quiet space for rest, the temple posted a notice prohibiting unauthorized persons from entering the inner courtyard. Therefore, devotees stand at a distance, hoping to catch the moment the Zen master meditates. The trees and lawns within the Tu Hieu Temple grounds are utilized by Buddhists as resting places and meditation practice areas following the Zen master's teachings.
Lan Anh (25 years old, Hanoi), who has read many books by Thich Nhat Hanh and visited Plum Village (Thailand) several times for meditation, said that reading the Zen master's books has helped her understand life and people better, and made her wiser. A week ago, hearing that the Zen master had returned to Tu Hieu Pagoda to rest, Lan Anh went to Hue to see what the pagoda was like and whether it resembled Plum Village. Every day, Lan Anh meditates in the grounds of Tu Hieu Pagoda.
"Reading the Venerable Master's books helped me understand how to treat people. His meditation methods helped me reflect on myself and think more positively. I was lucky to visit Tu Hieu Pagoda and meet the Venerable Master while meditating," Lan Anh said.
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Buddhist pilgrims visit the place where Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh is resting. Photo:Ngoc Thanh. |
Three days ago, Linh Nhi (27 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) also put aside her business and went to Tu Hieu Pagoda to meet with her fellow Zen practitioners from Mai Village. Every day, after practicing walking meditation, Nhi chooses a corner by the crescent-shaped lake in front of the pagoda to read and wait for the opportunity to meet her teacher.
Two years ago, Linh Nhi happened to read a book by a Zen master being sold at the airport while traveling in Europe. After a week-long retreat at Plum Village (Thailand), she shared that she had gained many insights. "It would be great if I could meet the Zen master, but even if I couldn't, I'm happy to see his image and philosophy through the monks," Linh Nhi said.
A monk at Tu Hieu Pagoda said that on the morning of November 2nd, Dr. Bui Thanh Ha, Deputy Head of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee, visited the pagoda to see Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. The meeting lasted about 10 minutes. After suffering a stroke in 2014, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was unable to speak and could only use gestures to convey his message.
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Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh clasps his hands in return to the Deputy Head of the Government's Religious Affairs Committee. Photo:Vo Thanh |
According to the monk, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is currently in good health. Every morning, he sits in a wheelchair, pushed around the temple by his disciples to admire the scenery. According to the plan, today the Zen Master will meet with all his fellow monks and disciples of Tu Hieu Temple.
Earlier on October 28th, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh returned to Tu Hieu Monastery, where he entered monastic life at the age of 16. In a letter to his fellow monks, the Zen Master expressed his wish to rest at the monastery, living together with his brothers until his passing.
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh was born in 1926 in Thua Thien Hue province and entered monastic life at Tu Hieu Pagoda at the age of 16. He is currently the 8th patriarch of the Tu Hieu lineage and the 42nd patriarch of the Lam Te Zen school. At the age of 40, he left Vietnam, founded the Tiep Hien lineage, and established practice centers and meditation centers throughout the world.
Although residing at Plum Village Monastery in Dordogne, southern France, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh travels the world giving lectures and organizing meditation retreats. He introduced the concept of "engaged Buddhism" in his book Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire.
He has written over 100 books, more than 40 of which are in English. Through his tireless activities, Thich Nhat Hanh has become the second most influential Buddhist leader in the West, after the Dalai Lama, according to assessments by foreign news agencies.
In the workBuddhist worldProfessor John Powers, an Australian Buddhist scholar, selected 13 monks who contributed to the formation and development of Buddhism worldwide over the past 2,500 years, with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh ranking 10th.
