Greetings, Sangha far and wide,
Thay Thanh, Leader of our English-speaking Sangha and Dharma Master, recently visited Vietnam for the 20th year reunion from his Buddhist Monastic Academy. The following is a moving expression of the experience through his own Pictures and Words. Please enjoy!
Reunion with Beautiful Affections
Bao năm xa cách quê hương,
Bây giờ trở lại cảm thương lạ kỳ.
Duyên may trong một chuyến đi,
Gặp được thiện hữu từ bi dẫn đường.
(English Translation)
After so many years away from my homeland,
My return now stirs a strangely tender feeling.
A blessed chance in a single journey,
Led me to compassionate spiritual friends who guided my way.
After many years away from my homeland, my return this time stirred up a deeply touching and indescribable feeling. A fortunate karmic connection in this journey allowed me to meet kind-hearted spiritual friends who compassionately guided my path.
It was truly an auspicious and extraordinary blessing for my journey back to visit my homeland. During this trip, the people I met, visited, conversed with, and even those whom I could not directly visit—all of them are benefactors who have supported me on my path of rediscovering the miraculous presence of life. From the perspective of interbeing and interdependence taught by the Buddha, everything in life has its causes and conditions. So too did this journey of mine. Below are my experiences as I recount to you the causes behind this journey and the beautiful, wholesome karmic connections I encountered.
The Cause of the Journey
Đời của mẹ bài ca tuyệt đẹp,
Nuôi dưỡng con năm tháng rạng ngời,
Mẹ tôi nay đã già rồi,
Mỗi khi khách viếng mắt môi đều cười,
(English Translation)
My mother’s life is a beautiful song,
Nurturing her child through radiant years.
Now my mother has grown old,
Yet whenever guests visit, her eyes and lips still bloom with a smile.
My mother was the source of the bold idea for my trip to Vietnam in 2025. Each time monks, nuns, or familiar Buddhist friends visited her, I noticed how joyful she became, telling stories to everyone. From this, I thought that during this journey I could visit the parents of my Dharma brothers and sisters from Course 5 of the Vietnamese Buddhist Academy (2001–2005), along with various benefactors whose love and support I have gratefully received—and also attend the 20-year reunion “Twenty Years – A Journey of Class V.”
If not for a kind companion during this journey, it would have been difficult for me to visit so many people and places. I am deeply grateful to this dear friend.
The Companion
To travel across the length of our beloved motherland—Vietnam—I was blessed to journey with a Dharma brother from Class 5 of the Academy: Venerable Thông Đạt. Along with him was his trusty “steed,” the Hyundai Tucson, carrying us through the beautiful roads of our homeland.
Venerable Thông Đạt dedicated much time and effort as a driver, guide, and as a loving Dharma companion. He drove nearly 5,000 kilometers to take me through many provinces of Vietnam—Saigon to Bến Tre, then to Đồng Tháp, back to Đồng Nai; from Đồng Nai to Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu, then up and down all the central provinces.
Such kindness is an immense bond—hard to fully express in words. I respectfully acknowledge it with deep gratitude.
Every place I visited was a beautiful memory; every friend I met was a “wonder of the world” and a precious “treasure of humanity.”
Lovely Friends
Having studied with my fellow monks and nuns in Class V of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City (2001–2005) was a remarkable blessing. I have been journeying with truly wonderful “spiritual friends of noble wisdom.”
Although this trip was somewhat tiring due to long distances, I witnessed firsthand the devoted Dharma service of my Dharma siblings. Some continue the ancestral work of temple building, teaching Dharma at various centres; others teach the Buddha’s teachings to future generations at Buddhist schools; still others travel to remote regions to share the Dharma with all people.
This alone warms my heart—being born in the same era, studying together, and spreading loving-kindness throughout Vietnam and abroad—Australia, the U.S., Japan, and many countries in Europe. What a precious blessing for my life.
The Buddha taught in the Ekottarikāgama, volume 3, page 218:
“To be born in this life and be close to the Triple Gem is difficult;
to learn and practice the Buddha’s teachings is difficult;
and to be near good and noble friends (kalyāṇamitra) is one of the great difficulties of human life.”
Yet somehow, due to past wholesome karmic seeds, I have been born human, ordained, and protected by the Triple Gem. I also get to journey with Class V—sharing wholesome energy throughout the world. Oh, what a beautiful and fortunate encounter with such lovely friends!
Alongside the visits to the parents of my Dharma siblings, I also experienced some extraordinary karmic meetings.
Exceptional Karmic Conditions
Nhân duyên được hội ngộ,
Ngôn ngữ khó diễn bày,
Những người ta gặp ngỡ,
Tình cờ hay cơ may?
(English Translation)
Karmic ties bring us together,
Beyond what words can truly express.
Those we meet seem by chance—
Yet who knows if it is a coincidence or destiny’s grace?
Our entire journey was filled with extraordinary karmic encounters.
First wonder: Returning to the ancestral temple
Though both of us descend from the lineage of Tổ Chúc Thánh, Master Minh Hải Pháp Bảo, Venerable Thông Đạt—after nearly 30 years of ordination—had never visited the ancestral monastery, Chùa Chúc Thánh in Hội An. By karmic blessing, we were able to return together to pay homage to the Patriarch and offer incense in gratitude to the venerable ones who compassionately stayed in Hội An to teach the people. We bowed with sincerity to the honoured Patriarch whose legacy allowed the Lâm Tế Chúc Thánh lineage to flourish across the ten directions.
Second wonder: Returning to my own ancestral roots
I received ordination lineage from my late master Lê An – Phước Bình – Hành Trụ of Đông Hưng Temple, who originated from Phú Yên. Therefore, passing through that region, we visited chùa Phước Sơn and chùa Triều Tôn to pay homage to the ancestral teachers. Then we went to chùa Từ Quang (Đá Trắng), another ancestral seat of the Chúc Thánh lineage in Phú Yên. There, when entering the ancestral hall, Venerable Thông Đạt recognised one of the images as “Ông Bảy,” a beloved elder lay devotee who helped build chùa Bảo Huệ—where Venerable Thông Đạt now resides as abbot. This elder had left Đồng Nai for Phú Yên to ordain and later safeguarded the ancestral temple until Venerable Chúc Thuận assumed responsibility.
Kính xin đảnh lễ Tổ Sư
Bao đời gìn giữ tâm từ Phật trao,
Khơi đèn trí tuệ lớp sau,
Báo đền ân Phật truyền trao pháp mầu.
(English Translation)
I respectfully bow before the Patriarch,
Who, through countless generations, preserved the Buddha’s loving heart,
Kindling the lamp of wisdom for those who follow,
Repaying the Buddha’s grace by transmitting the wondrous Dharma.
During this journey, I also met benefactors, monks, nuns, and the parents of my classmates. I cherish these wholesome causes and conditions. Yet, I could not visit everyone.
Friends I Could Not Visit
Người hẹn nhân duyên này,
Pháp vận hành hay hay!
(English translation)
Those who await this karmic meeting—
How wondrously the Dharma turns!
I had planned to visit the parents of my Class V brothers and sisters, but due to various reasons, I missed some appointments. I hope my dear friends will kindly forgive this shortcoming. Some stories remain untold; some gratitude remains unreturned. Those I could not visit include the parents of my classmates—the ones who offered to life virtuous monks and nuns who carry the Buddha’s teachings into the future.
To those I missed, I extend my sincere apology. With your love and understanding, I hope to return soon to visit, drink tea, and express my heartfelt gratitude.
Karmic Reunion
The journey back to Vietnam in 2025 gave me the chance to meet people who seemed unfamiliar but were, in truth, karmically connected to me—either directly or indirectly, in this life or countless past lives. According to Buddhist teachings, we have known one another over infinite lifetimes, but due to differing karmic conditions, we have travelled different paths.
Through my friends, I met their parents, and I dedicate merit to all whose parents still live and recite the Buddha’s teachings. I also send condolences to those who have lost one or both parents. May all be peaceful in the flow of rebirth. Their ordained children will continue to support them with merit.
A Blessing in Place of an Apology
Cứ đến cứ đi cứ việc thăm,
Sáng đi chiều nghỉ tối lại nằm,
Mọi việc xong xuôi về bên mẹ,
Cuộc đời như thế quá uyên thâm.
(English translation)
Going and coming, visiting as we do,
Morning travels, evening rests, night brings sleep.
When all is finished, I return to my mother’s side—
Such is life, profound and quietly deep.
May blessings reach all those who shared their affection and support. “Twenty Years of Reunion” is a beautiful memory that I will carry to share with friends abroad who yearn for genuine connection. Here, I received sincere affection from all who understood my journey.
May the Triple Gem bear witness. May you kindly embrace my shortcomings in body, speech, and mind. I wish peace and blessings to all noble friends, parents of my classmates, and the benefactors who supported me during this pilgrimage. I dedicate this merit to my beloved mother—Mẹ Nguyên Phước—wishing her health, strength, wisdom, and boundless loving-kindness spreading in all directions.
Conclusion
This journey overflowed with the love of my mother and my Dharma companions. Dear friends offered kind words and encouragement. How wonderful it is for a human life to encounter such wholesome karmic conditions, watering the seeds of goodness within me.
I offer a prayer of peace to all friends and “patrons of fortune” whom I could not visit. May another favourable karmic connection allow me to return with time and strength to see you and express my gratitude in this short human life.
Nhân sinh hữu hạn tháng ngày,
Tình thương bao phủ khắp đầy không gian.
Nguyện xin làm kiếp mây ngàn,
Vân du khắp chốn vô vàn sẻ chia.
(English translation)
Human life has only a limited span,
Yet love can fill and soften all of space.
May I become a drifting cloud in the vast sky,
Wandering everywhere, sharing kindness without end.
I cherish this journey filled with the love of so many.
Respectfully.
Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh
Dong Hung Temple