On the morning of March 1, at the An Vietnam Phat Quoc Temple - The Vietnamese pagoda in Bo De Dao Trang - India took place the ceremony of the inauguration ceremony of the First Sangharaja - Supreme Patriarch Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan. Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac - Head of the Central Culture Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha attended the inauguration ceremony and gave a speech here.
The members of Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha accompanied with the international monks of the monasteries in have chanted sutta for blessing in many languages to memorize the merit of the First Sangharaja - Supreme Patriarch Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan and praying for the world peace.
"A memorial kuti to memorize and worship the his Holiness Mahathera Thich Duc Nhuan, the 1st Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with 3 main meanings: first is to pay homage to His Holiness for his services and great contributions to Dhamma, Nation and sentient beings; second is to set a bright example for the posterity to study and follow; third is in order to introduce an outstanding Buddhist clergy of Vietnam Buddhism in which has contributed significantly to spreading Dhamma and spirit of Vietnam Buddhism to the world. Most Ven Thich Tho Lac said.
A keynote on The services and biography of his Holiness Mahathera Thich Duc Nhuan, the 1st Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan (1897-1993), was an outstanding eminent monk of the 20th century. His father is Mr. Pham Cong Toan and his mother is Mrs. Le Thi Vu, his hometown in Nam Dinh province; at the age of 15, he was ordained Samanera with Master Thich Thanh Nghia, chief thero of Dong Dac Pagoda, Ninh Binh province. He had ordained Bhikkhu Patimoksa at the age of 20 and the bodhisattva precepts at the age of 37.
+ The Nature and characteristics of His Holiness. He Being a good-natured person:
Being a smart and studious person and used to study in many famous Buddhist templea in the North of VN at that time;
– Là người thông minh hiếu học: từng tham học các chốn tổ lừng danh tại xứ Bắc lúc bấy giờ;
+ His aims can be summarized within 3 aspects as follows:
- 1st: the compatibility of Studying and Practicing. Studying and Practicing Dhamma have to go together on the foundation of Threefold Teaching (Sila - Samadhi- Panna) as the essential purpose of practicing and preaching.
- 2nd: He is also a Vinaya Cariya. all his thoughts, words, actions and gestures are righteous and solemnly as ruled in Vinaya Pitaka. - 3rd- He is a excellent master who always give prominence to Buddhist education for monks and nuns as his main career. He asserted that if we want to practice Dhamma correctly, we must understand Dhamma correctly, so if we want to understand Dhamma correctly, we must be trained in a good exemplary educational environment.
Receiving directly his services, there are many famous Buddhist monks who successful and attained good achievements in the North Vietnam thank to his education such as Most Vẹn Trung Quán, Tâm Châu, Thanh Kiểm, Quãng thạc, Đức Nghiệp, Thanh Tứ , Thanh Đàm, Thanh Dũng, Thanh Dục, Trí Tịnh, Thanh Minh, Thanh Nhiễu, Bao Nghiem, Gia Quang, Quảng Tùng...; and especially the whole VN Buddhist education system nowadays initiated by Him.
+ He had administrated many temples and Initiator monasteries in Ninh Binh province and Hanoi Capital such as: Kim Lien Patriarch pagoda (Dong Dac Pagoda); Pho Giac Pagoda, Hoang An Patriarch pagoda (Quang Ba Pagoda); Hong Phuc Patriarch pagoda (Hoè Nhai Pagoda) and Quan Su Pagoda (now is the central headquarters of VBS).
+ One of his great and remarkable contribution is the Establishment of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha.
- As head of the supreme Patronage council of the VN national Buddhist unification campaign, he accompanied with the representatives of 9 Buddhist sects to establish the unified Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- At the first national Buddhist congress, he had submitted the 3 main contents proposal to the government in order to develop Buddhism, which is:
1) Religious freefom: Devotees are free to embrace Buddhism;
2) Nekkhama Freedom: people are free to join in the monastic life of Sangha according to their vows;
3) VBS has right to establish the Buddhist educational systems (Undergraduate, Intermediate, Elementary level) to teach Dhamma for monks and nuns.
- On the First National Buddhist Congress, Most Ven TDN was honourably appointed to the highest position- the 1st Supreme Patriarch of the Patronage Council, Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha during whole 3 terms, total 15 years until his death.
+ His holiness Thich Duc Nhuan passed away on November 11, 1993; at the age of 97.
His greatest legacy left to us is morality, studiosity, humility and simplicity; to develop Buddhist education, Dhamma Preaching and esp. contribution to the establishment of VBS.
II. The inauguration ceremony of memorial Kuti in the name of his Holiness Mahathera Thich Duc Nhuan, the 1st Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- to memorize about the enormous merits of the first his Holiness Supreme Patriarch most Ven Thich Duc Nhuan, today, most Venerable Thich Huyen Dieu, the chief Thero , abbot of the An Viet Nam Phât Quốc Tu Pagoda, has built up a memorial kuti to memorize and worship the his Holiness Mahathera Thich Duc Nhuan, the 1st Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with 3 main meanings, that is:
1) To pay homage to His Holiness for his services and great contributions to Dhamma, Nation and sentient beings;
2) To set a bright example for the posterity to study and follow;
3) In order to introduce an outstanding Buddhist clergy of Vietnam Buddhism in which has contributed significantly to spreading Dhamma and spirit of Vietnam Buddhism to the world.
On behalf of his disciples and students of the 1st his Holiness Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch in general and VBS in particulars, I would like to express my deed gratitude to Most Venerable Thich Huyen Dieu has honour of building up the memorial Kuti in name of His Holiness - the 1st Supreme Patriarch of VNS. This work reminds us for those who are living away from home, wherever we go in the homeland of Buddha, DO always remember the gratitude to the Patriarch ancestors & make an effort to practicing to repay Triple Gems's Merits.
The establishment of the Memorial Kuti in the name of his Holiness Mahathera Thich Duc Nhuan, the 1st Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha & worshiping the 1st Supreme patriarch is considered as the Dhamma connection of VN Buddhism domestic and abroad then creating a worldwide lineage around the world.
The inauguration ceremony of memorial Kuti in the name of his Holiness Mahathera Thich Duc Nhuan, the 1st Sangharaja Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
Here are some recorded images:
Nguồn: Vanhoaphatgiaovietnam.net