HT. Thích Như Điển Translated by Ven. Thích Trừng Sỹ
Sincere gratitude to all during the long-term Dharma propagation trip in the United States
Each of us has many trips during our long journey of life and death. Some people go for a short trip and then say goodbye. Some people go halfway and then return. Some people travel a long distance without stopping; including me, I have gone and come many times. Our Dharma Propagation Delegation in the United States this time has the longest trip ever and combines 3 continents, sometimes becoming 4 continents.
These are: Europe, Asia, Australia, and America, spanning 10 major locations in the United States from February 26, 2025 to May 6, 2025, including the following locations: Northern California, Southern California, Dallas, Oklahoma, Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Minneapolis. And at each such place, our Dharma Propagation Delegation divided to give lectures at 2 to 4 different places at temples and at the homes of Buddhists, as well as attend important ceremonies at the following places:
First is the inauguration ceremony of the Vietnamese Buddhist Center in Houston, where the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Hạnh is the founder and Venerable Thích Nguyên Đạt is the abbot. The delegation did not attend all days from March 28-30, 2025, but only arrived on Saturday, March 29, 2025. This is a large temple of Vietnamese Buddhism in the United States.
During the three days of the Great Festival, about over 400 monks and nuns from all continents attended and at least no less than 5,000 Buddhists attended during the Great Festival. Representing Viên Giác Temple in Hannover Germany and Quảng Đức Monastery in Melbourn, Australia, we and Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng went to two golden plaques to celebrate this important event. Taking this opportunity, we met many Venerable monks and nuns and Buddhists from all over the world who came to attend the ceremony. This was a great joy when being away from home and meeting many people who had not had the opportunity to meet after many years of separation.
The second Grand Opening Ceremony is the Liên Hoa Monastery in San Antonio, founded by Senior Venerable Thích Chúc Thiện and the Opening Ceremony lasted for many days, but the two main days were held from April 4 to 6, 2025.
This is arguably the most magnificent Vietnamese monastery in the United States. The temple has all the facilities for accommodation, sightseeing, and staying for several days to practice. For example, the parking lot has no less than 500 spaces. The residence hall has at least 4 floors with more than 200 beds. The main hall, the auditorium, the classrooms, the reception rooms, etc. can accommodate more than a thousand people at a time during public activities.
It can be said that Lien Hoa Monastery is one of the Vietnamese temples in the United States that ranks first and second in all aspects of practicing and propagating the Dharma. Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng and I also congratulated this inauguration ceremony with two golden plaques as a souvenir for the future.
Special thing at this Monastery is that the Venerable Abbot invited all the monks, nuns, and Buddhists of the Northern and Southern traditions, including Asian people and indigenous people, to come to pray for peace in their own languages, and the official ceremony was attended by the Mayor of San Antonio.
In addition, Buddhists from different Liên Hoa Monasteries all over the United States and even from Vietnam came here to attend. Although the inauguration ceremony was very crowded, the atmosphere of practice and cultivation was very warm and constant, hoping that this place will develop even more in the future.
On April 19 and 20, 2025, for the first time, the Vietnamese American Unified Congregation of the United States organized a two-day Grand Ceremony to celebrate the 2649th birthday of Buddha Shakyamuni born in India and the 2569th Buddhist anniversary, with Senior Venerable Thích Chúc Đại, Abbot of Giác Sơn Temple in Virginia, as the Head of the Organizing Committee.
This is the first time in 50 years that Vietnamese people living in the United States have had a Grand Ceremony with flower cars, Buddha palanquins, walking meditation around the lake in front of the White House and the famous Pencil Tower in Washington DC. During the two days of the Grand Ceremony, there were about over 300 monks and nuns from everywhere and nearly 3,000 Buddhists from all over the United States coming there to participate in the Grand Ceremony.
The atmosphere was solemn and bright with Buddhist flags in the Capital of the United States of America. This was the first time such a thing had happened. The most touching was the prayer ceremony for the soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting for the Freedom and Independence of Vietnam during the war, and who have now passed away. Representing our Dharma Propagation Delegation, Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng, the Most Venerable Thích Nhuận Hải, Senior Venerable Thích Pháp Trú, and Senior Venerable Thích Trừng Sỹ were also present at this historic event.
There are countless stories to tell and write about each place individually, although the websites of quangduc.com in (Australia), phapnhan.org in (USA), or Facebook pages in Germany and other places have recorded these unforgettable images, but I want to write this Dharma article to express my deep gratitude to all the Venerable Monks and Nuns of the temples who have supported the Dharma Delegation for the past two months.
At the same time, we also do not forget the positive contributions of offering the Delegation food, accommodation, money, etc. That gratitude is truly immense, how can it be fully written or expressed in words. Let us clasp our hands together to recite the phrase: “Namo Amitabha Buddha” to remember the gratitude of the Venerable Ones and all of you, which is what the Dharma Propagation Delegation must do.
Typical locations are as follows: From February 26, 2025 to March 5, 2025, our delegation arrived in Fremont, at the Hòa Bình Monastery where Venerable nun Hạnh Trí is the abbot. Although she was still sick, when the delegation arrived, she mobilized Buddhists to take care of everything through the four-course offerings. (The food, robes, shelter, and medicine)
Especially at the Quân Âm Monastery, San Jose, where Senior Venerable Minh Bảo is the abbot, although it was Tuesday, March 4, many Buddhists came to listen to the Dharma all day. The atmosphere of practice was truly solemn and respectful through the guidance of Ms. Đồng Từ.
This time there are 6 instructors here: The Most Venerable Thích Thông Triết, Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Đức, Senior Venerable Thích Trừng Sỹ, Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Bảo, Senior Venerable Thích Thánh Trí, and I are in charge.
On March 5, 2025, our delegation moved to Southern California and stayed at Kiều Đàm Di Dharma center, where lay Buddhist devotee Quảng Nguyên Phương, as the group leader, organized the entire week of Dharma cultivation for the practice of the Shurangama Sutra every morning, meditation, listening to the Dharma, etc.
In addition, our delegation divided to give lectures at Quan Âm Temple, Đại Bi Nunnery initiated by the Torch of Wisdom Buddhist Association, Hiền Như Nunnery and visited some temples around the area.
Coming to this locality, Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng coming from Australia and Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tuệ, Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Trí joined the delegation. Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng participated in the Dharma talk with the delegation from March 5 until the last section is Minneapolis on May 5, 2025, then return to his Melbourne residence; Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tuệ only participated once at the location in Southern California and not elsewhere, because Venerable Hạnh Tuệ was busy building Pháp Vương Temple in San Diego. The delegation now has 9 members in total.
From March 11 to March 17, 2025, our Dharma Propagation Delegation flew to the Dallas area, where Phổ Quang Nunnery is located, led by Venerable Nun Hạnh Thiện (younger sister of Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Trí).
Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng gave Dharma talks in Vietnamese and English at Thượng Hạnh Monastery, where Senior Venerable Thích Tâm Thiện is the Abbot. All nine members of the Dharma Propagation Delegation were present there. In addition, the Delegation also went to the shop and home of lay Buddhist devotee Thiện Minh Trí to pray for well-being, attend the offering ceremony for monks, etc. Meanwhile, lay Buddhist devotee Quảng Anh took care of the health of the monks and provided them with a very comfortable place to live.
From March 18 to March 24, 2025, the delegation traveled by private car from Dallas to Oklahoma; where Chánh Pháp Zen Monastery was located, the Most Venerable Thích Thông Triết as the founder and Senior Venerable Trúc Thái Bảo as the abbot. There, the retreat started from the evening of Thursday, March 20th and ended on March 23rd. The number of Buddhists participating in the retreat was around 50, and in this locality, there was also the participation of Senior Venerable Trúc Thái Bảo and Venerable Nun Linh Minh.
There, food and accommodation were fully provided by Senior Venerable Trúc Thái Bảo and Venerable Nun Linh Minh to welcome the Delegation. From March 25 to March 31, 2025, our Delegation flew to Atlanta and stayed at Trúc Lâm Bảo Chí Zen Monastery, where Senior Venerable Thích Đạo Tỉnh was the Abbot, and Vô Biên Hạnh Monastery, where Senior Venerable Thích Quảng Văn was the founder.
There, the Delegation welcomed Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tấn, Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh An and Senior Venerable Thich Hạnh Định coming from Europe, increasing the Delegation to 9 members (except for a few Venerable Ones who did not attend as stated above).
During this time, we separated the delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Vietnamese Buddhist Center in Houston on March 28 and then returned to Trúc Lâm Bảo Chí Monastery for a few more days, to return to Trúc Lâm Temple in Houston on April 1, 2025 to attend important ceremonies there.
This monastery was founded by Master Hạnh Hoa (Dharma name Thien Pham, Dharma title Giác Liên) and has especially helped many American, Mexican, Chinese, and Vietnamese people. This time, there were 20 new Buddhist novice nuns and monks who had just decided to become monks, so Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tấn, Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng, Senior Venerable Thích Trừng Sỹ, Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Trí, and Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Định taught the fine manner and disciplines entirely in English for 3 days from April 2 to April 4, 2025. The Mexican and American novice nuns and monks are very happy.
On Monday (April 7, 2025), approximately 2,000 American and Mexican people came to attend the prayer ceremony, listen to the Dharma, and participate in public Buddhist activities at the temple. Traveling across the United States, it is rare to see a place where up to 50 people volunteer every day like this temple.
From April 4 to 6, 2025, almost all of our Delegation traveled by car through San Antonio to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of Liên Hoa Buddhist Monastery as reported above, and on the afternoon of April 6 returned to Houston to attend the important ceremony on April 7 as mentioned above. In addition, the Delegation also visited the immigration office of Buddhist Quang Việt (Jimmy Nam) and several local Buddhist families.
April 10 to April 13, 2025 is the Spring Retreat like previous years, this year the number of attendees is somewhat less, but on Friday morning, April 11, there was the ordination ceremony of Ms. Châu Ngọc and another female Buddhist from North Carolina, as well as the Three Refuges and Five Precepts ceremony for an 84-year-old woman from Southern California. The Dharma is truly inconceivable. The delegation also visited Nguyên Hùng’s and Nguyên Ứng’s family to attend the mindfulness lunch offering ceremony on this occasion.
After Jacksonville, the Dharma Propagation Delegation arrived in Philadelphia and stayed at Phật Bảo Temple, founded by the late Most Venerable Thích Thái Siêu and the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Siêu, and Senior Venerable Thích Giác Giới in charge. Because he had to prepare for the common Buddha’s Birthday celebration in Washington D.C. as Deputy Organizing Committee, Senior Venerable Thích Giác Giới organized a Dharma talk on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, but no less than 50 Buddhist devotees around the area attended.
The merit is truly not small. The Most Venerable Thích Thông Triết went to preach the Dharma at Đức Mẹ Hiền Nunnery, Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Định held a prayer ceremony at Phật Bảo Temple on Sunday, April 20, while we drove to Washington D.C. to attend the Buddha’s Birthday celebration as mentioned above and stayed there to go to Virginia on April 21 to stay at Hoa Nghiêm Temple for another week. At Phật Bảo, we also went to Pháp Bảo Temple for a friendly lunch on April 17, as well as preaching the Dharma at Giác Lâm Temple.
Although we did not meet the Most Venerable Thích Kiến Khai and Senior Venerable Thích Chỉnh Long when we came to Hoa Nghiêm Temple this time, there were two monks, Thích Pháp Nhất and Thích Pháp Toàn, as well as lay Buddhist devotee Thiện Đức Trường and the members of the Board of the Temple Directors, who welcomed us very warmly and attentively.
Locally, we also gave Dharma talks at Niêt Bàn Temple, where Senior Venerable Thích Từ Trung is the abbot, and Quan Âm Temple, where Senior Venerable Thích Minh Tâm is the abbot. In addition, we also visited several places in the capital Washington D.C. and went to the homes of Buddhists to have the meal and teach the Dharma. Everywhere we were welcomed very warmly and enthusiastically. We would like to thank all the Venerable Ones and lay Buddhist devotees.
Especially at Hoa Nghiêm Temple in Virginia, we and Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng met Brother Nguyễn Sung, dharma name Nguyên Túc, the leader of Hoa Nghiêm Buddhist Youth Association, who introduced the program of translating into Vietnamese by AI, which is very convenient and fast. Perhaps in the near future, the Council for Propagation of Dharma and the Vietnamese Tripitaka Translation Committee of the Unified Buddhist Congregation of Vietnam will apply this work more quickly, through the active contributions of the Buddhist Family brothers and sisters in the United States.
The final section of the journey from April 29, 2025 to May 6, 2025 in Minneapolis. Our delegation now has only 6 members, including Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Đức, because Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Bảo left the delegation from Houston, because of important Buddhist affairs elsewhere. Senior Venerable Hạnh Tấn and Senior Venerable Hạnh An also returned to Europe, Senior Venerable Thánh Trí also left the delegation in Houston, returning to Washington State to take care of Buddhist affairs there.
From Houston, the Delegation welcomed the Most Venerable Thích Nhuận Hải and from Philadelphia, the Delegation welcomed Senior Venerable Thích Pháp Trú coming from Denmark. Especially in this trip to propagate the Dharma, Singer Gia Huy has volunteered to accompany the delegation to support some musical performances to entertain Buddhists in places such as: Santa Ana, Oklahoma, Houston, Jacksonville, and Minneapolis. The atmosphere is is really the flavor of the Dharma.
Before returning to their Temple residences, the monastic people sat down to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the recent trip and will have a detailed program for the upcoming year 2026.
As the Head of this Dharma Propagation Delegation, we would like to express our deep gratitude to all the Venerable Monks who have traveled with the Delegation continuously for nearly two and a half months. It was not an easy task, but everyone was able to return safely to their respective places of residence, which is extremely memorable. During over two months, we personally visited several separate places and Senior Venerable Thích Nguyên Tạng also went to Canada to visit Quan Âm Temple and some Buddhists in the Montreal area.
For me, of all the trips over the past 76-77 years, this trip is probably the most memorable and peaceful trip throughout such a journey of thousands of kilometers. If it is not “The miraculous Dharma of the Buddha,” then what else can we call it? Isn’t that right, ladies and gentlemen?
I would like to end this Dharma article here because it is too long, lacking or extra, good or bad. I hope that the Venerable Ones and everyone in the Dharma will be pleased to accept.
Finishing writing at 5:00 PM on April 29, 2025 at Tây Phương Monastery in Minneapolis.
