Lac Duong Campfire

Namo Shakyamuni Buddha!

Respectfully to the Venerable Master – Most Venerable Thich Chan Tinh,

I am Buddhist Huynh Duong, Dharma name Lien Duong. Today, I write this letter to express my reflections and the lessons I have learned. This is also like a personal harvest after our trip to visit your hermitage in Da Lat. First of all, I sincerely express my gratitude to you, Venerable Master, and to the venerable monks who offered the opportunities for us to take part in this meaningful journey. To me, what you have given is far more than just a trip—you have offered me refuge and given me a spiritual rebirth in the Dharma of the World-Honored One. Every time I think of Hoang Phap Monastery, my heart overflows with emotions. It feels like my spiritual homeland—a place where I was born into the Dharma and took my first steps, learning how to eat, speak, walk, stand, lie down, and sit in mindfulness, so as not to bring discomfort to others or myself. Each day, my heart is nourished by the “morning Dharma milk” shared by the Venerable Master and the Sangha. This nourishment brings me deep joy and gratitude.

 

Reflecting back on the trip, the most unforgettable moment for me was the night of the campfire. The Venerable Master shared the profound Symbolism of fire—that fire represents wisdom which burns away ignorance. That flame warms not only our bodies, but also the cold, barren hearts that are lacking in love and compassion. I, too, was once someone with a cold heart. But under the sacred roof of Hoang Phap Monastery, I came to feel the warmth of loving hearts touching and awakening my own. It’s a kind of love that’s hard to describe in words—a love that simply wants to help others live better, grow in goodness, and rise higher, without any expectations or attempts to force others to follow one’s own desires. The next lesson I learned was the spirit of responsible service. When serving at the temple, we should not think that we are doing it for the monks or for the Triple Gem, but rather for ourselves. It is thanks to the opportunities created by the monks that we, the laypeople, are able to practice, study, and serve at the temple, thereby cultivating blessings, wisdom, and virtue for our own growth. Through the Master’s conduct, he has truly “passed on the light,” spreading the flames of wisdom and compassion to others. He often teaches us things that seem basic but are actually core practices—such as keeping the Five Precepts, washing dishes, and cleaning up before we leave—so that we may become moral, kind, and civilized individuals. And perhaps the greatest lesson I have received from the Master is the lesson of giving—giving fairly, with humility and modesty. It reminds me of a line from the Sutra on Giving, which says: 

 

“Whoever gives shelter,
He gives everything.
Whoever teaches the Dharma,
He gives immortality.”

 — Samyutta Nikaya

 

The Master has not only given me everything—food, clothing, shelter, and medicine—but, most preciously, he has given me the Dharma. Through his teachings, I have come to understand how to live in a way that brings about true immortality. I believe that immortality here does not mean never dying, but rather that after this body of four elements dissolves, the good deeds we have done—the benefit we bring to others—continue to carry meaning and leave behind lasting value. As the Master once wrote in a poem:

 

This body is like dust—brief and fleeting,

Yet transforms into a golden legacy of merit for a thousand years.

 

Because I have encountered the Dharma and received guidance from the Master, I have found my ideal—to live a celibate life dedicated to benefiting others and myself. The moments of warmth, the heartfelt connections, and the lessons I gained from this trip have become part of my spiritual provisions. They will accompany me and strengthen my resolve as I continue on the path of the Dharma.

 

 In the end, I find there are no words that can fully express my gratitude. I simply and sincerely thank you, Master. With all the sincerity in my heart, I offer these reflections as a humble expression of gratitude to the Triple Gem. I pray that you always enjoy good health, a light and peaceful body, ever-radiant wisdom, and great success in your Buddha work. May all sentient beings across the three realms and four kinds of birth be free from suffering and soon encounter and practice the Dharma.

 

 

Liên Dương - chùa Hoằng Pháp

 

Translated into by Thái Nhược Đơn