Austin Buddhist Community Ven. Thích Trừng Sỹ
WORDS OF GRATITUDE FROM THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, DHARMA DISCIPLES, AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE LATE MOST VENERABLE THÍCH PHÁP QUANG AT THE FUNERAL OF OUR REVERED MASTER
Namo The Original Teacher Shakyamuni Buddhaya
Respectfully, to the Most Venerable Elders presiding,
The Most Venerable Thích Trí Đức of Bích Tùng Lan Nhã, Bastrop
The Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Hạnh and The Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Đại of the Vietnamese Buddhist Center (Chùa Việt Nam), Houston,
The Most Venerable Thích Huyền Việt of Liên Hoa Buddhist Temple, Houston
The Most Venerable Thích Chơn Lễ of Tường Quang Buddhist Temple, Houston,
The Most Venerable Thích Minh Đức of Phước Long Buddhist Temple, Connecticut,
The Most Venerable Sakya Minh Quang and the Most Venerable Thích Pháp Chánh of Thiện Tường Root Temple, Chicago
The Most Venerable Thích Tịnh Trí, Phù Vân Temple, Houston,
Together with the Venerable Senior Monks and Nuns,
Dear fellow Buddhist devotees,
and all distinguished guests,
THE FRAGRANCE OF VIRTUE
The fragrance of Zen gently fills the air,
The garden of the heart, where Dharma’s rare
And wondrous truth shines softly night and day.
Though bridges part and distances hold sway,
The lotus heart still blooms in colors bright,
Adding its grace to life with quiet light.
Though storms may rise and tides both ebb and flow,
Devotion to the Triple Gem we vow—
With reverence upheld through all our days.
.
I vow, from now until the rest of my life,
To do good, avoid evil, and help all people, East and West.
I vow to live in this place,
To propagate the True Dharma, so that peace and well-being may flourish here.
By Thích Trừng Sỹ
In recent days, the Funeral of the Late Most Venerable Thích Pháp Quang, organized by the Austin Buddhist Community, was successfully held on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 3rd and 4th, 2026, at Cook-Warden Funeral Home.
Here, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, the Dharma disciples, and our family, we sincerely express our deepest gratitude to the Most Venerable Elder Monks, the Venerable Senior Monks, the Revered Monks and Nuns, as well as to the Buddhist compatriots and devotees in the Austin area, surrounding regions, and from many other places such as Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Massachusetts, Vietnam, and beyond, who joyfully attended and supported the funeral of our Revered Teacher to its completion.
Indeed, in the spirit of fellow Dharma practitioners and in the bonds of fellow Buddhist devotees, Your Excellencies did not hesitate despite advanced age or frail health, nor were they deterred by the long journeys. Our fellow Buddhist devotees did not let work or daily responsibilities prevent them. All of you dedicated your precious time to come together, offering compassionate energy and prayers so that the Enlightened Spirit of our Revered Master may reach the serene state of Nirvana.
Here, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, the Disciples, Dharma relatives, and Family members of the Bodhi Am Hermitage and Pháp Nhãn Temple, we respectfully express our deepest gratitude to all the Venerable Sangha and our fellow Buddhist devotees for their generous contributions and offerings of effort, time, financial support, material gifts, and spiritual support, etc. We sincerely offer our heartfelt thanks to all.
Throughout the organization of the Funeral Rites for our Late Revered Master, we could not avoid certain oversights or shortcomings in our reception. Should there be any mistakes or deficiencies, we humbly ask for Your kind forgiveness and understanding.
Namo Bodhisattva of the Treasury of Joy.
Part 2: The General Meeting at Bodhi Am Hermitage, Elgin, Texas
After the Funeral was completed, the Venerable Sangha and our fellow Buddhist devotees gathered at Bodhi Am Hermitage to perform the enshrinement of the Enlightened Spirit of the Most Venerable Thích Pháp Quang. Then, the meeting was then held on the afternoon of February 4, 2026, under the guidance and presence of the Venerable Sangha, together with the Organizing Committee, the Disciples, Dharma relatives, and Family members.
The Secretariat and Treasurer reported that the total income and expenses included donations received from temples and delegations for the funeral. Under the guidance of the Venerable Masters, during the meeting, the Organizing Committee unanimously agreed to transfer the remaining monetary offerings to the Disciples and Dharma relatives for deposit in a bank account, to be used for various Buddhist activities at Bodhi Am Hermitage, such as holding weekly memorial services on Wednesdays, the one-year anniversary, the three-year memorial, etc., in honor of the late Most Venerable Thích Pháp Quang.
Weekly Seventh-Day Memorial Service held on Wednesdays
At 10:00 AM, the Fourth Seven-Day Memorial Service will be held on February 11, 2026.
At 10:00 AM, the Fifth Seven-Day Memorial Service will be held on February 18, 2026.
At 10:00 AM, the Sixth Seven-Day Memorial Service will be held on February 25, 2026.
At 10:00 AM, the Final Forty-Nine Day Memorial Service will be held on March 4, 2026.
We sincerely invite the Venerable Sangha, as well as fellow lay Buddhists, to kindly spare some time to come to Bodhi Am Hermitage, located at 125 Bilmar Street, Elgin, Texas, to join in memorial prayers for the complete and perfect fulfillment of the Most Venerable Thích Pháp Quang’s Enlightened Spirit. In light of what has been presented above, we respectfully submit this for Your kind acknowledgment. We sincerely offer our heartfelt gratitude to all.
Finally, on behalf of the Organizing Committee, the Dharma disciples, and the family of the Late Most Venerable Master, we respectfully express our deepest gratitude to the Most Venerable Elders, the venerable monks and nuns, and all fellow Buddhist devotees. We wish you abundant health, peace of body and mind, and the successful completion of all your Buddhist endeavors.
In life, we must remember gratitude;
Grateful to the Triple Gem, to Teacher, Mother, and Father,
Grateful to the generosity of donors and benefactors;
Grateful to a peaceful society and nation,
Grateful to all fellow beings and sentient life,
Ever striving to repay the kindness of all.
By Ven. Thích Trừng Sỹ
