Dai Co Viet ashram: Birthday Homage to the Venerable Master

 Namo Shakyamuni Buddha,

With utmost reverence, we bow and respectfully pay homage to our compassionate and benevolent Master, humbly requesting your kind acceptance and blessings!

 

Today, in the gentle chill of early spring as a new year begins, under the sacred roof of the Dai Co Viet  ashram, disciples and Dharma descendants solemnly kneel before the majestic presence of the Buddha. In this sacred moment, we respectfully offer our heartfelt New Year’s greetings and birthday homage to our beloved Master at the dawn of the new spring.

 

Respectfully to our Venerable Master,

As the four seasons of heat and cold continue to pass through the course of human life, within the boundless space and endless flow of time, your disciples and Dharma descendants are like the prodigal children, long wandering through the dust of worldly existence, yet still unable to return to our true mind. If not for your boundless compassion and immeasurable kindness, dear Master, how could we find peace and safety within the right Dharma?

  

Your disciples respectfully express our deep gratitude for your boundless compassion, dear Master. Over the past ten years, you have guided us along the path of learning Dharma. You are the Teacher who has shown us through the mist, illuminating the path ahead. Your kindness and grace are beyond measure.

 

Respectfully to our Venerable Master,

Our birth came from our parents, but dear Master, who has shaped our path to liberation. In moments of suffering and uncertainty on the journey of life, we, your disciples, along with all Buddhists, seek refuge in you, our Master, to receive your compassionate guidance, encouragement, and comfort.

 

Oh, how endearing and affectionate the words "Master" sound! You are the silent ferryman who has overcome countless storms and obstacles, always steady and strong in guiding us across the turbulent waves, bringing us safely to the shore of happiness.

 

Through the years, enduring the sun and rain,
The boatman, our Master, has guided many,
Across the river, leaving behind a smile,

And with love, we offer our heartfelt thanks to you, our beloved Teacher!

 

Respectfully to our Venerable Master,

With each passing day, you bear the weight of propagating the Buddha Dharma, yet never does your heart rest from the duty of guiding sentient beings. You tirelessly labor with unwavering resolve to build and sustain the Buddha Dharma, dedicating yourself entirely to the legacy of our venerable ancestors to serve the Dharma and lead all beings to liberation. How noble and sublime you are! Master, you practice the Pure Land teachings with deep resolve, establishing the ashram to transmit the teachings and guide sentient beings.

 

Today, as the cool breeze of the northern region ushers in the New Year, especially in the distant lands of Yen Bai in the Northwest, we, your disciples and Dharma heirs, are blessed with the rare fortune of welcoming you, our beloved Master, back to the Đại Cồ Việt  ashram  (Ngã Hai Monastery) in Yen Bai. We humbly bow in reverence, offering our heartfelt birthday greetings to you, Master.

 

As the pine tree stands firm, its roots are intertwined with the universe,
As the moon and stars shine with gentle light across the world,
May your blessings be vast, as boundless as the Eastern Sea,
And your longevity will be as towering as Mount Tai's peak.

 

I vow to always remember the teachings of our revered ancestors:

 

Even a single word is a gift from the Master,
Even half a word is a deep blessing.
When I journey through the turbulent ocean of life,
Your words, Master, will be the precious pearls lighting my way.

 

No matter how many words we, your disciples and Dharma heirs, may write or speak about you, dear Master, none can compare to the tireless efforts and immense kindness you have shown to all of us—both monastic and lay disciples.

 

Now, with our hearts full of reverence, we, your disciples and Dharma heirs, turn our thoughts towards you, our beloved Master, as we joyfully celebrate your birthday.

 

Once again, in this sacred moment, we, your disciples and Dharma heirs, earnestly pray for the Buddha's blessings from all ten directions to always bestow upon our beloved Master long-lasting health, perfect wisdom, boundless compassion, and to continue being the source of encouragement for all the Fourfold Assembly. May you continue to transmit the right Dharma to us, so that we may uphold and propagate the Buddha's teachings, guiding us along the path of awakening and liberation. 

 

Namo Bodhisattva of Witnessing and Blessings,

Namo Maha Bodhisattva of Eternal Life and Longevity

 

Disciple Thích Tâm Thể

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Minh Trang