Visiting the Sponsors of Hoang Phap Pagoda at Its Early Stage

In the morning of Oct 26, 2016, the Venerable Thich Chan Tinh visited Mr. Nguyen Van Chuc, a former brigadier of South Vietnam, living in the city of Sacramento, north California, who has contributed to the construction of Hoang Phap Pagoda in its early stage.

In 1957, Founder Master Monk Ngo Chan Tu decided to buy 6 hectares of land, a favorable terrain, in Tan Hiep Commune, Hoc Mon District, to build Hoang Phap pagoda for practice, turning Dharma wheel and worship activities. In 1965, in the middle of chaos due to warfare, the Master Monk has received 60 evacuated families with 361 inhabitants from Dong Xoai, Thuan Loi, and supported them with shelters, food and facilities for 8 months. After that, he built up the resettlement area including 55 corrugated roofed houses with household goods for the evacuees. In 1968, he founded the Zen Study Ashram to turn the Dharma wheel. War continued to tear the country leaving more and more children separated from their parents and orphans, who needed help, cares, and were poor and illiteracy. Again, the Master Monk with great compassion established Duc Anh Institute in Tan Hiep Commune, Hoc Mon District, to take care of the orphans and children in need from 6 to 8 years old. There were totally about 355 children being taken care of, educated and trained to become good and helpful citizens. In the war situation with lots of difficulties, the construction of the institute has been fulfilled as the shelter for unhappy children thanks to the supports of the leaders, officers and soldiers from the then military divisions 30 and 05.

Before his death, the Founder Master Monk instructed his successor, the Venerable Thich Chan Tinh to meet and express the gratitude to the division commanders and leaders as Mr. Nguyen Van Chuc, Mr. Le Van Nghia, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nghi and others who have been kind enough to lend their hands supporting Hoang Phap Pagoda at its very early stage. Hence during the Dharma preaching trip in US, the Venerable called and visited them to show the gratitude and present them the Dharma gifts.

In the afternoon, the delegation went to visit Lake Tahoe on the border of California and Nevada.

Following are the recorded photographs:

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