{"id":13306,"date":"2026-01-25T15:05:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T08:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/?p=13306"},"modified":"2026-01-26T03:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T20:10:40","slug":"in-praise-of-the-virtuous-dharma-propagation-deeds-of-the-most-venerable-thich-nhu-dien","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/in-praise-of-the-virtuous-dharma-propagation-deeds-of-the-most-venerable-thich-nhu-dien\/","title":{"rendered":"In praise of the virtuous Dharma-Propagation Deeds of the Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 130%; color: #ff0000; font-family: impact, sans-serif;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/category\/author\/ht-thich-nhu-dien\/\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">HT. Th\u00edch Nh<span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;\">\u01b0<\/span> \u0110i<span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;\">\u1ec3<\/span>n<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/category\/author\/ven-thich-nguyen-tang\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ven. Th\u00edch Nguy\u00ean T<span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;\">\u1ea1<\/span>ng<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0By <a href=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/category\/author\/ven-thich-trung-sy\/\"><span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Ven. Th\u00edch Tr<span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;\">\u1eeb<\/span>ng S<span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;\">\u1ef9<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13307 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vui.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"895\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vui.jpg 985w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vui-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/vui-768x495.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: impact, sans-serif; font-size: 200%;\">IN PRAISE OF THE VIRTUOUS DHARMA-PROPAGATION DEEDS OF THE MOST VENERABLE TH\u00cdCH NH\u01af \u0110I\u1ec2N<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"utwAkyCYTI\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/tv\/tan-than-cong-hanh-hoang-phap-cua-hoa-thuong-thich-nhu-dien\/\">T\u00e1n th\u00e1n c\u00f4ng h\u1ea1nh ho\u1eb1ng Ph\u00e1p c\u1ee7a H\u00f2a Th\u01b0\u1ee3ng Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;T\u00e1n th\u00e1n c\u00f4ng h\u1ea1nh ho\u1eb1ng Ph\u00e1p c\u1ee7a H\u00f2a Th\u01b0\u1ee3ng Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n&#8221; &#8212; Phap Nhan Temple\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/tv\/tan-than-cong-hanh-hoang-phap-cua-hoa-thuong-thich-nhu-dien\/embed\/#?secret=utwAkyCYTI\" data-secret=\"utwAkyCYTI\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">We sincerely bow in reverence and express our deepest gratitude to the Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 170%;\">Second Vice President of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Europe,<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 170%;\">Vice President of the World Sangha Council,<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 170%;\">President of the Central Translation Committee,<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 170%;\">Secretary-General of the Dharma Propagation Council,<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 170%;\">Founder of Vi\u00ean Gi\u00e1c Pagoda, Hannover, Germany.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">With the aspiration to propagate the true Dharma and with profound compassion for later generations and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, the Most Venerable devoted his entire life tirelessly to the cause of the Dharma and the Nation. Despite his advanced age\u2014nearly eighty years old\u2014the Most Venerable did not shrink from long and arduous travel. With joy, he undertook a journey of more than thirty hours by air from Europe to Melbourne, personally gracing the occasion with his presence to bear witness and to teach at the 23rd Australian Buddhist Dharma Study Retreat, bringing with him in full measure the compassion, wisdom, and dignified deportment of a great pillar of the monastic Sangha.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">This marks the 50th time the Venerable Master has come to Australia to propagate the Dharma, and it is also the second time He has personally graced the Dharma Retreat at Portsea (the first being nine years ago, in 2017). Each time He sets foot in Australia, the Venerable Master leaves a profound impression on the monks, nuns, and lay practitioners as a great Teacher who has devoted His entire life to the Buddha\u2019s teachings, dedicating Himself to education and the long-term work of Dharma propagation.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">At the 23rd Australian Buddhist Dharma Study Retreat, during the solemn and heartfelt Opening Ceremony, the Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n delivered an emotionally moving and historically rich exhortation, taking the assembly back to the very first steps of Vietnamese Buddhism in Australia. The Venerable recalled his first arrival in Australia in 1978, when Vietnamese Buddhism in a foreign land was still in its early stages\u2014simple, humble, and exceedingly modest. At that time, within the Vietnamese monastic community in Australia, there was only a single novice monk, Sadi \u0110\u1ed3ng Trung, who today has become the Most Venerable Abbot of D\u01b0\u1ee3c S\u01b0 Temple in Seattle, USA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13308 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"989\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hy.jpg 989w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hy-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hy-768x496.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 989px) 100vw, 989px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">From that humble beginning, the Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n guided the assembly to reflect on nearly half a century of the establishment and development of Vietnamese Buddhism in Australia. From the early days of limited facilities, personnel, and resources for Dharma propagation, gradually building amidst countless difficulties in a foreign land, to the present day, a strong, organized, and vibrant Vietnamese Buddhist community has been firmly established. Across the states, many solemn monasteries have been established, the number of monks and nuns continuing to grow, with rich and well-ordered practices and study, becoming a stable spiritual refuge for the Vietnamese community living far from their homeland.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">After the opening ceremony, when the Venerable Master proceeded to the dining hall to receive his meal, a deeply moving and heartfelt moment unfolded. An elderly lay practitioner, Dharma name Di\u1ec7u T\u1eeb, from Ph\u00e1p Quang Temple in Brisbane, Queensland (under the guidance of the Most Venerable Abbot Th\u00edch Nh\u1eadt T\u00e2n), respectfully paid homage, offered dana to the Venerable Master, and shared joyous and meaningful news. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">With emotion, lay practitioner Di\u1ec7u T\u1eeb said: In 1978, during the Venerable Master\u2019s first Dharma propagation visit to Australia, she had the good fortune to hear his teaching in Queensland, exactly 47 years ago. That simple remark acted like a bridge across time, connecting the early days of hardship with the bright present, illuminating the value of a lifetime steadfastly sowing the seeds of the true Dharma. That was not only the joy of the fortunate lay practitioner from long ago, but also a vivid testimony to the Venerable Master\u2019s enduring, continuous, and far-reaching work of Dharma propagation\u2014an endeavor that has quietly nurtured faith and illuminated the spiritual path for countless generations of Vietnamese Buddhists in Australia for nearly half a century.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13309 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ba.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"956\" height=\"956\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ba.jpg 956w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ba-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ba-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ba-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The Venerable Master\u2019s exhortation was not only a historical recollection but also a profound reminder of karmic connections and the meritorious deeds of generations of predecessors, who silently sacrificed and persevered to preserve the light of the True Dharma in a foreign land. At the same time, it served as a great encouragement for the present generation of practitioners, inspiring each to cherish the achievements of today, continue the aspirations of their predecessors, and join together to uphold and develop Vietnamese Buddhism in Australia with unity, harmony, and a spirit of service.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">At the 23rd Australian Buddhist Dharma Study Retreat in Portsea, alongside the solemn Dharma talks and practice sessions, the Third Dharma Q&amp;A Session, held on Tuesday, 30 December 2025, left a particularly deep and lasting impression on the entire assembly. The session was presided over by the Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n, with the guidance and participation of the venerable monastics in answering questions.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The Most Venerable Th\u00edch T\u00e2m Minh, Senior Venerable Th\u00edch Nguy\u00ean T\u1ea1ng, Head of the Retreat Organizing Committee, Senior Venerable Th\u00edch \u0110\u1ea1o Nguy\u00ean, Senior Venerable Th\u00edch Th\u01b0\u1eddng T\u00edn, Senior Venerable Th\u00edch Vi\u00ean T\u1ecbnh, Venerable Huy\u1ec1n Th\u1ecd, Senior Venerable Nun Th\u1ea3o Li\u00ean, and Venerable Nun Hu\u1ec7 Minh. This is a harmonious and pure assembly, the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the monastic Sangha, serving as a spiritual refuge and source of guidance for the assembly in both study and practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13310 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a-768x473.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">With a calm, humble, and profound demeanor, the Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n coordinated the session and personally answered the majority of questions in simple and clear language, yet rich with the depth of Buddhist teachings and practical meditation experience. Each response was not merely aimed at clarifying right and wrong, but also guided the questioner back to the source of right view, helping listeners reflect on themselves in their daily practice and study.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">What was particularly remarkable about this Q&amp;A session was the richness and breadth of its content. The sixty-one questions raised were not abstract or removed from daily life, but ranged across:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Fundamental teachings: the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, the Precepts, Concentration, Wisdom, the Four Noble Truths, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the four stages of sainthood;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Advanced Buddhist studies: Ultimate truth and conventional truth, Ultimate Emptiness and Emptiness of Inherent Nature, The Dharma Insight of the Undying, and the study of consciousness and mind, the \u015ar\u0101vaka Pi\u1e6daka, major sutras such as the Diamond Sutra, Lotus Sutra, \u015a\u016bra\u1e45gama Sutra, and the K\u1e63itigarbha Sutra.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Practical aspects of daily practice: transforming karma, maintaining loving-kindness and compassion when harmed, meditation practice, letting go of attachment, greed, anger, and delusion, contemplation of the body, and contemplation of the mind;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Buddhist rituals and activities: Guiding and chanting for the dying, funeral rites, ritual offerings for the deceased, midday offerings, Eight Precepts Observance, proper conduct and decorum, and merit accumulated through communal work;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Everyday concerns: filial devotion to living and deceased parents, family conflicts, loss of loved ones, maintaining faith in the face of illness, suffering, and impermanence;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Contemporary issues and intersections: science and Buddhism, travel, pilgrimage, study and practice, social media and merit-making, Buddhist symbols in today\u2019s society.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13311 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/622120646_1957545261808921_1176963744670927766_n-1024x496.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/622120646_1957545261808921_1176963744670927766_n-1024x496.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/622120646_1957545261808921_1176963744670927766_n-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/622120646_1957545261808921_1176963744670927766_n-768x372.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/622120646_1957545261808921_1176963744670927766_n-1536x744.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/622120646_1957545261808921_1176963744670927766_n.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Before answering each question, the Most Venerable Master did not rush to respond based on pre-existing knowledge; instead, he always guided the assembly back to the root of the matter, emphasizing that study and practice are not for the mere accumulation of knowledge, but for transforming body and mind, living more peacefully oneself, and benefiting others. For this reason, although the answers were diverse, they all converged on right view, right mindfulness, and right action.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Many Buddhist followers were deeply moved to realize that the answers given during the Q&amp;A session were not only for the person who asked the question, but seemed to speak on behalf of the concerns, doubts, and aspirations of many others in the assembly\u2014even those quietly performing temple duties, who were not physically present, still fully shared in the joy of the Dharma.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The Third Dharma Q&amp;A Session, therefore, was not merely a lecture on Buddhist teachings, but a living Dharma assembly\u2014where wisdom was illuminated by loving-kindness and compassion, where the scriptures were connected to daily life, and where the great assembly\u2019s faith in the Triple Gem was strengthened, helping them remain steadfast on the path of practice amidst a changing and unsettled society.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The teachings offered during that Q&amp;A session were the crystallization of a lifetime of practice, study, and tireless service by the Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n and the venerable monastic Sangha. They represent a priceless spiritual legacy, transmitted with the full sincerity, humility, and sense of responsibility of the teacher toward the next generation of practitioners.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Although the Third Buddhist Dharma Q&amp;A Session has come to a close, the resonance of wisdom and Dharma joy continues to spread, becoming a precious spiritual provision for each practitioner on the path of cultivation\u2014encouraging them to turn inward to illuminate themselves, live in accordance with the spirit of the Precepts, Concentration, and Wisdom, and gradually transform suffering in their present lives.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Especially on the evening of December 30, 2025, during the Lantern Offering Ceremony in commemoration of the sacred day of Amit\u0101bha Buddha, and in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the formation and development of the Vietnamese refugee community in Australia, the Most Venerable Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n was respectfully invited to deliver a solemn Dharma address imbued with deep historical significance.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Amidst the sacred atmosphere of lantern light and the joyous spirit of the assembly, the Most Venerable skilfully introduced a major topic in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism: the position and origins of the Pure Land School in the homeland of \u0110\u1ea1i Vi\u1ec7t. At the same time, he respectfully acknowledged the Patriarch \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng as a distinguished predecessor who was closely connected to the establishment of Vietnamese Pure Land Buddhism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13312 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ml.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ml.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ml-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ml-768x494.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The Most Venerable emphasized that in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism, the Zen School has a relatively clear lineage, beginning with Vin\u012btaruci in the year 580. In contrast, the Pure Land School, although the practice followed by the vast majority of Vietnamese Buddhists for many centuries, has never had an officially recognized First Patriarch. This represents a significant gap in the history of Buddhism in Vietnam, which needs to be examined seriously, objectively, and based on historical records.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Based on the important research of the Most Venerable Th\u00edch M\u1eadt Th\u1ec3, Zen Master Th\u00edch Nh\u1ea5t H\u1ea1nh (Nguy\u1ec5n Lang), and especially Professor Dr. L\u00ea M\u1ea1nh Th\u00e1t, the Most Venerable affirmed that Buddhism was transmitted directly from India to Giao Ch\u00e2u, Vietnam, at a very early date, at least as early as the first century, even before it reached China. However, when the Pure Land School first appeared in Vietnam and who introduced it remained unclear, until the case of Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng was carefully examined.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">According to ancient sources such as Liang Gao Seng Zhuan and the Ph\u1eadt Quang Great Buddhist Encyclopedia, Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng was a Chinese monk, born in the late fourth century and passed away in 455. Between 420 and 455, he came to Giao Ch\u00e2u and served as Abbot at Ti\u00ean S\u01a1n Temple on Ti\u00ean Du Mountain (present-day B\u1eafc Ninh), where he propagated the Dharma and practiced for thirty-five years.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The decisive point is that he devotedly recited the Sukh\u0101vat\u012bvy\u016bha S\u016btra and the Contemplation S\u016btra of Infinite Life, practiced the Sixteen Contemplations, and made the aspiration for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. When he self-immolated as an offering in 455, the local people reportedly saw his entire body radiating light, riding a golden deer toward the West\u2014a vivid symbol of the Pure Land, fully in accordance with the ideas and realized experiences presented in the Contemplation S\u016btra of Infinite Life.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">From the perspective of the lineage of thought, this is particularly significant. Before Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng, N\u0101g\u0101rjuna (2nd century) is regarded as the First Patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism in India, and Vasubandhu (4th\u20135th century) as the Second Patriarch, based on the three Pure Land S\u016btras and treatises on rebirth. The period of Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng\u2019s propagation coincides entirely with the era when Pure Land thought was being transmitted from India to China and East Asia, demonstrating a coherent historical and doctrinal continuity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13313 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cv.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cv.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cv-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cv-768x498.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Compared with Japan, where Buddhism recognizes Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Loan as the Third Patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism\u2014although he was not a direct disciple of Vasubandhu but only inherited the thought through the s\u016btras and treatises\u2014the recognition of Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng as the First Patriarch of Vietnamese Pure Land Buddhism, and simultaneously as the Third Patriarch following N\u0101g\u0101rjuna and Vasubandhu, is entirely well-founded. It is not an arbitrary attribution, but is based on historical records, canonical texts, and concrete practice.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">If Vietnam has recognized Vin\u012btaruci, a foreign monk, as the First Patriarch of Vietnamese Zen, then there is no reason not to acknowledge Venerable \u0110\u00e0m Ho\u1eb1ng\u2014who spent thirty-five years in Giao Ch\u00e2u, propagating the Dharma and leaving a clear Pure Land legacy\u2014as the First Patriarch of Vietnamese Pure Land Buddhism. This recognition is not intended to create an additional title, but rather to restore the rightful historical position of a distinguished predecessor, help Vietnamese Pure Land practitioners identify the origins of their path, and open the way for continued research to complete the lineage of Vietnamese Pure Land Buddhism in the future.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">I (the one recording this note of gratitude) personally believe that this is a well-founded scholarly proposal, one that should continue to be supplemented and discussed, yet is sufficiently solid to be regarded as an important first step in the effort to restore the history of the Pure Land School in the homeland of \u0110\u1ea1i Vi\u1ec7t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13314 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1.jpg 960w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">The Most Venerable is not only a venerable patriarch to be respected, but also a great Spiritual Teacher, who has spent his life quietly sowing wisdom, patiently nurturing monastic talents, making the propagation of the Dharma for the benefit of sentient beings the purpose of his life, and carrying loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom as his constant companions along every step of the path.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">After the Portsea Retreat concluded successfully, the Most Venerable continued his tireless dedication. He joyfully stayed at Qu\u1ea3ng \u0110\u1ee9c Monastery for two days, continuing to plant the seeds of the joy of Dharma, inspire the spiritual path, and offer teachings filled with compassion to the sangha. Afterward, the Most Venerable traveled by bus to Mildura, gracing the monastery of Venerable Nun Thanh Ch\u00e2n to witness and support the Dharma activities, bringing the spirit and light of the true Dharma to this remote and distant region.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">Continuing his Dharma propagation journey, the Most Venerable went to Phap Hoa Patriarchal Monastery in Adelaide, South Australia, where he respectfully offered incense in remembrance of the Late Most Venerable Elder Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 Hu\u1ec7, his revered benefactor and former spiritual teacher at B\u1ed3 \u0110\u1ec1 School in H\u1ed9i An. There, on the evening of January 7, 2026, The Most Venerable delivered a profound and Dharma-filled discourse, continuing to transmit the precious teachings and to nurture faith and the aspiration for practice among the local Sangha and lay Buddhists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13315 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/621813008_1957545875142193_1538306036477093242_n-1024x792.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/621813008_1957545875142193_1538306036477093242_n-1024x792.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/621813008_1957545875142193_1538306036477093242_n-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/621813008_1957545875142193_1538306036477093242_n-768x594.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/621813008_1957545875142193_1538306036477093242_n-1536x1188.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/621813008_1957545875142193_1538306036477093242_n.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">On January 8, 2026, the Most Venerable flew back to Sydney to visit his elder biological brother, the Most Venerable Elder Th\u00edch B\u1ea3o L\u1ea1c, and the community at Phap Bao Monastery, continuing to nurture fraternal bonds and to encourage and guide the younger generation of practitioners. On January 22, 2026, the Most Venerable once again departed for Thailand and India to undertake further Buddhist duties, before returning to Germany, thus bringing to completion a long, continuous, and unceasing journey of Dharma propagation.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">This journey stands as a living testament to a lifetime of devoted commitment\u2014taking the path of Dharma propagation as a means to benefit sentient beings, making the True Dharma the very lifeblood of life, and embracing the welfare of all beings as the ultimate vow. Wherever there is a need for Buddhist activities, wherever there are disciples earnestly seeking the True Dharma, there is the humble presence, exemplary conduct, and tireless aspiration of the Most Venerable, leaving an indelible mark of his dedication.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 170%;\">We humbly bow in reverence, sincerely appreciating and praising the boundless merits of the Most Venerable Founder of Vi\u00ean Gi\u00e1c Temple. We dedicate all these wholesome merits in aspiration, wishing that the Most Venerable may enjoy ease and well-being in body and mind, long-lasting spiritual life, and the ever-illuminating light of wisdom, forever remaining a torch of the True Dharma to guide the path of practice for future generations of practitioners and all sentient beings with whom we have karmic connection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 170%;\">Namo The Original Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; color: #000000; font-size: 150%;\">On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the 23rd Portsea Retreat<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 170%;\">Head of the Organizing Committee<\/span><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 170%;\">Bhikkhu Th\u00edch Nguy\u00ean T\u1ea1ng<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13326 \" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ngu.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"829\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ngu.jpg 873w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ngu-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ngu-768x486.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 829px) 100vw, 829px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13316 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/z7465347637439_e16f1db766e79d09cec1c322facc3fb6-1024x797.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/z7465347637439_e16f1db766e79d09cec1c322facc3fb6-1024x797.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/z7465347637439_e16f1db766e79d09cec1c322facc3fb6-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/z7465347637439_e16f1db766e79d09cec1c322facc3fb6-768x598.jpg 768w, https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/z7465347637439_e16f1db766e79d09cec1c322facc3fb6.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HT. Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ven. Th\u00edch Nguy\u00ean T\u1ea1ng\u00a0 \u00a0By Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9 IN PRAISE OF THE VIRTUOUS DHARMA-PROPAGATION DEEDS OF THE MOST VENERABLE TH\u00cdCH NH\u01af \u0110I\u1ec2N T\u00e1n th\u00e1n c\u00f4ng h\u1ea1nh ho\u1eb1ng Ph\u00e1p c\u1ee7a H\u00f2a Th\u01b0\u1ee3ng Th\u00edch Nh\u01b0 \u0110i\u1ec3n We sincerely bow in reverence and express our deepest gratitude to the Most Venerable Th\u00edch [&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":13307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[231,224,247,536,801,331],"tags":[802],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13306"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13306"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13327,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13306\/revisions\/13327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}