Temple bells on Song Tu Tay island

At exactly 6:00 a.m. on April 15, 2012, on Song Tu Tay Island in the Truong Sa archipelago, one of the farthest places of the Fatherland, the temple bell rang. The first ceremony of the monks of Song Tu Tay Pagoda took place in a sacred and solemn atmosphere. The bell rang as if praying for peace for the "windy and stormy" sea and once again affirming the sacred and inviolable sovereignty over the beloved sea and islands of the Fatherland. For generations, wherever there are Vietnamese people, there are Vietnamese pagodas.

The life of the soldiers and people on Song Tu Tay island is now more complete when welcoming the first monks from the mainland to practice religion; that is, Venerable Thich Tam Hien, Venerable Thich Thanh Thanh... This is also the first time the monks have come to Truong Sa archipelago. Although coming from two different pagodas on the mainland, when coming to Song Tu Tay, both of them have the same sacred and honorable feeling when setting foot on the land of Vietnam in the middle of the vast ocean. That feeling was doubled when the first ceremony was fully attended by representatives of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, representatives of the Vietnam People's Navy and many Buddhists from all over the country as well as monks from other pagodas on Truong Sa archipelago.

The first ceremony at Song Tu Tay Pagoda.

The chanting sound echoed among the incense as if shortening the distance between the island and the mainland. At the ceremony, Venerable Thich Tam Hien could not hide his emotion at the concern of the people throughout the country who contributed their efforts to build a pagoda imbued with Vietnamese identity, both as close as any Vietnamese pagoda and majestic and magnificent among the waves. During the first ceremony, the monks prayed for world peace, prayed for the safety of the islanders, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the whole country to maintain the country's sovereignty. That was also a meaningful way for a practitioner to enter the world. With 42 years of practicing, perhaps this was the most meaningful trip, because as the Venerable said: "If the country is peaceful, the people will be peaceful." That is a saying from our ancestors, a link between religion and life of Buddhism as well as the Vietnamese people. As soon as he knew he had the honor to preside over the temple in Song Tu Tay, the Venerable wished to come to this land, along with practicing, the Venerable and Venerable Thich Thanh Thanh would help Buddhists turn to religion, pray for the heroes and soldiers who sacrificed to protect the islands that their ancestors had passed down. That is not only the responsibility of each citizen, but also the responsibility of the monks.

Sharing the same sentiment with the Venerable, Venerable Thich Thanh Thanh, with a radiant face, confided that he was very moved by the image of the pagoda that surpassed his imagination. Looking at the spacious pagoda built by the solidarity and contributions of the people of the whole country, he no longer saw the distance between the mainland and the distant island. He vowed to join the Venerable in practicing steadfastly in the midst of storms and waves, joining hands with the whole country to maintain sovereignty over the beloved sea and islands. For monks, the more difficult and arduous the place is, the better it is for their practice. Moreover, the charity work of the pagoda is not only material charity, but also contributes to bringing peace and a bright mind to each person on the island.

After attending the first ceremony at Song Tu Tay Pagoda, Mr. Tran Son Hai, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee and Rear Admiral Tran Dinh Xuyen both expressed their gratitude for the determination of the monks when they made a vow to come to Truong Sa archipelago. They believed that the people of Khanh Hoa province in particular and the people of the whole country in general would continue to contribute to the improvement of the pagodas in Truong Sa archipelago to make them more and more spacious. At the same time, they believed that more and more Vietnamese people would have the opportunity to visit this remote land of the Fatherland.

In the afternoon of the same day, Venerable Thich Tam Hien and Venerable Thich Thanh Thanh went to the wharf to see off the delegation of cadres and people returning to the ship, and to see off the remaining monks continuing their journey to practice on other islands. The ship gradually moved further and further away from Song Tu Tay, but in the middle of the blue sea, the curved roof of the Vietnamese pagoda could still be seen. The pagoda roof seemed to protect the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, affirming the strong spirit of solidarity that no force could break.

From now on, although the East Sea has many storms, the temple bells still forever ring between the sea and sky of the Vietnamese people.

According to VNA