Teacher! The lighthouse of my life

Dear Master! It's been more than 20 years since I knew the pagoda and it's been officially 10 years since I was at Hoang Phap Pagoda to rely on and practice regularly. On that day, I came and asked to do good deeds at the pagoda because I saw that life was really painful such as fighting and competing. Even my family and relatives cannot escape the claws of the three poisons of greed, anger and ignorance. Returning to the pagoda helps my mind strangely peaceful! Then going back and forth to the pagoda for about 10 years, I was watered in my heart with drops of compassion so that the flower garden of my heart slowly sprouted and bloomed.

Additionally, after all this time, I have decided to turn a new page in life. In other words, I went to the pagoda to practice and get results. Also, I left behind many things that people follow such as fame, fortune, status, etc. As a result, every day I live and work with the masses under the guidance of a Master. Oh! What happiness! During those years, I witnessed many ups and downs, prosperity and decline of the pagoda named Hoang Phap. In fact, the Master must bear and navigate that burden alone, worrying about how the Buddha Dharma can live forever and sentient beings can be peaceful. 

He is always like that! He always thinks about others without taking advantage. Every day I can see and feel the compassion of the Buddha through the Master, Middle name:  Chan, last name: Tinh. Oh Buddha! Such a great monk! Dear Master, when I am close to you, I believe that the Buddha is real and the monks who practice according to the Buddha's truth still exist. Why? Because it is through the Master's body, speech, and virtue that he has touched calloused souls as well as people who are indifferent to life. He has lighted the belief that the Dharma still exists, that love and compassion still exist here. 

Master! Why is the Master so good and kind? It makes me - an ordinary person- want to learn to be a noble person. It is because the rest of the masses and I are always loved and cared for by the Master. Not only are Monastic monks loved and cared for, but we who are lay devotees also have a share. Especially, Master is especially fair. I have never met anyone like that, even my parents are not as fair as Master. 

 There is another important thing! Through all these years, I have never seen a Master raising his voice or saying harsh words to anyone, and he always thanks or repents in front of the public. He is always kind and gentle with everyone, and especially he is always humble. I remember Master often said, ”I practice and hope that I can fully keep the five basic precepts, so I will be happy, but in order to get other fruits, I must have full Paramitas as well”. When I learned to practice, I respected Master even more because in order to maintain the purity of the five precepts, I had to control my body and mind, protect the six senses, and maintain dignity. This is not the matter of someone who speaks well, but it is someone who truly wants to seek the truth and desires to improve his body and mind with a noble ideal of "becoming a Buddha on top, and saving sentient beings" then. 

More surprisingly, in 2018, Master held a "Disciple Appreciation" ceremony - a truly "unique" ceremony because in life, people always show gratitude to those above them, the younger people to the older ones, and subordinates to superiors. However, the Master did something very special and rare. A warm ceremony took place accompanied by words of "Please tell me my mistakes". Oh! How is this possible! I cannot believe it! Yet Master - our good Father - has done that to his children, not only monastics but also lay Buddhists. An emotion is difficult to describe in words. What a wonderful Master! Oh Buddha! I thank Buddha for bringing him to this world. Therefore, we can have a place to rely on and always maintain faith in the Three Jewels and cause and effect in this life. 

Until today, the 6th Season of Gratitude is taking place. Actually, I am very happy because through the 6 seasons of Gratitude, I have been welcomed by the Master and the public. When I saw the report of Master Tam Cung..., I silently told myself that I would write a few lines to offer the Master my feelings.

Master! Do you know through 6 seasons of Gratitude, I have realized more clearly the Master's personal and verbal teachings to everyone, "Consider the inferior people as benefactors instead of servants." Moreover, the Master also wants to spread it to the leadership classes such as directors, abbots, ... so that everyone can see this humanity and make society increasingly love and respect each other. Up to now, Master is one of the few people I have met and lived with whose personality and morality shine through time and space! I'm not exaggerating because the Master always respects everyone, treats them gently and fairly, and never looks down or speaks harshly to anyone. That is why I have studied and served the Three Jewels at Hoang Phap Pagoda for more than 10 years. In fact, the longer I stay, the more deeply I feel Master's grace.  

It reminds me of the Dhammapada: 

 "The scent of fragrant flowers

 Doesn’t fly against the wind,

 But the scent of virtuous people

 Flies against the wind,

 There are only true people

 Radiating in all directions” 

 Master! You are the lighthouse of my life! Thanks to Him, everyone and I have the ideal and path for our lives in order to learn and live as virtuous and noble people. Thank the Master for everything!  

Best regards 

Phước Huệ

Translated into English by Huynh Thi Khanh Phung