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TinhDaoNghiDoi PDF
TinhDaoNghiDoi PDF
1
THCH T-LC
CHU A PHO -T
2007
Thch T-Lc
2
TNH A O, NGHA I
cu a 1hch 1u -Lu c
chu a Pho -1u , 2007
Hc u dnh: 1ra n Na nh 1oa n
1rinh ba y: Iocus Prnt o Copy, San Josc
1hu tu lc n la c: Chu a Pho -1u
Compasson Ncdtaton Ccntcr
17327 Ncckland Avcnuc
Hayward, Callorna 94b41
Ic n thoa : (b10) 481-1b77
Ic n thu: (b10) 481-b202
F-mal: thchtuluc_yahoo.com
Wcbstc: compassontcmplc.org
TNH A O, NGHA I
3
Lo Ngo b
1c ng Chuo ng Cha nh Nc m 9
1hc Nndlulncss cll 17
Nho 0n 1ha y 24
Ha Nuo Na m, Pha ng Pha t No t Nu Cuo 31
Ly 1ra Co n o c Kho 3b
Con Iuo ng 1ruo c Na t 41
1huong Ca , Hc u 1rc b0
Cha nh 1a m: Chu Nc n 1hu 13 bb
Cha nh Iu c: Chu Nc n 1hu b 7b
Cha nh Ho a: Chu Nc n 1hu 1 81
Lc n Iuo ng Chuyc n Ho a 89
Ioa n Kc t Ca y Su c Na nh 93
Ca m 1uo ng \c 1ruo ng \c t Ngu An La c 9b
Hinh A nh Ngo Chu a 1rong Nga y Ia u Xua n 100
1inh Cha 10b
Na t Cha 110
Nc m \u 1rong Cuo c So ng 118
A n Nghia Xn Nguyc n Ic n 129
0ur Crattudc 1o You 140
Co 1ha n \a n Ly Iu 149
No t La n Ic n Lnh Son 178
MUC LUC
Thch T-Lc
4
TNH A O, NGHA I
5
cp sccn nnc nc, |cc gcn cc nct sc nnn cnn |
nicn cnct cniu, 1cn tc |cn tci tct cc cn ccn tc u
ncn cuc nguci tict.
Qucn sccn 1ucc nnn tncnn lc nnc nnung nncn
!ucn nc 1ci tci 1ucc tucng ngc tc gcn |c. Nnung nci
ung 1cn tu nguci 1cc 1c |nicn nguci tict xict |cc xuc
1cng tc trcn trcng. Vc, cung |ncng ucn nnung !cng
cnu 1cn sc !uci 1c cuc nct 1ci nguci nc tci cnuc tung
gcp nct, 1ucc gui rc tu tcng lcc l, cung lc nct trcng
nnung nncn tc giup tci cc tncn it nnicu tung tcn tc tu
tin nci |ni ccn |ut. 1nc ci! Dcc nc !cng tcn tnn
cuc 1nc trcng ucn Icng Icng Nnn Ici, tui ccn
1c |ncc tci nncu. Huc, sc lcn 1icu tct cnc |cn |c, tc
nci nct rc tu, ccn sc tn 1cn cnuc 1c ncc 1cc, tu tncn.
Ducc tc, lc cn ui lcn rci. Xin cncp tc ccn tc cn 1ci,
cn nguci.
1ncng tnucng, nnn cu tucng lcn ticc lcnn tn ct
gcp 1icu lcnn nnung, trc trcu tnc, lcn luc su ticc xc
rc lci |ncng nnu nnn ngni. Vc nci |ict, ngnicp |cc
trc tc uc |cc 1ci nnu tcn ccn 1c, tc t tc, nc tnn
1cc nc ngnic 1ci nc nnn cuu ncng |ncng pnci cni
tnucc |icp nc nc ccn licn nc |cc nnicu 1ci trucc nuc.
Vci |c xuct gic nnu tci, tct nnicn, pncn lcn cnucn
tnn ngnic 1cc 1ci c licn ucn it nnicu 1cn ccnn scng
nci tnicn ncn. V tc, trcng tcp sccn nc, |cn sc |ct
gcp uc nuc lc nnung ncu tcn tu, nnung su ngni licn
ucn 1cn |ucc 1ucng tu Pnct, ncc Pnct tc tnuc tni lci
Pnct, 1cn cn ngnic giuc tnc trc, cung nnung nncn
!ucn tci gcp 1ucc trcn 1ucng nccng pncp, lci sinn nc
LI NGO
Thch T-Lc
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!u tnucn nc ngnicn tci nucng 1i, tci cung xin tnict tnc
lcnn nncn.
Mci |cn, trcng luc rci rcnn, xin nc 1c nct uc tci
|c trcng trcng ccc pncn scu.
1. Nnung |ci c pncn 1cu, tci nucn tcn tncnn nncc
nnc tc gni lci cn ngnic ccc rcng nc tci tnc nncn trcng
cucc scng tu ncnn. Nnc 1nc, nnc 8cn tci nci cc 1ucc
ngc nc.
1ncn tu 1ci ngc nci |uc, ccn rcu |ncng tnicu
1cn lcng ngc nnc cn 1ci, tnc |cn cc |cn
2. Nnung |ci tict gcn nnu tnucng xucn gui cnc gic
1nn Pnct tu, lc nnung tcn tnn cncn tncnn, nnung ucc
ncng tnc tnict nc tci nucn gui cnc tc 1ct tcc tuci trc.
1ci 1c trci uc |cc tui |ucn, 1ucc nucng nnung cn tnn
|nc ucn trcng tnci gicn sinn ncct !uci nci nnc Icn
tnuc tnc cu, ncn |c gic, tci nucn 1ucc ticp tuc trcc gui
tcn tu, lcng tnucng ncn tc nnung ucc tcng cuc nnn
cnc tc cnuc tncn cu, cnc nnung nguci |cn cu tc nci,
nnung nguci cung ncct 1cng cnc l tucng scng ngci tnc
nicn uc cncn ngcn 8i 1ri Dung, nccc 1cng c 1cu 1c
trcn tung 1ct tu !c, nc ccn nci uc nnc ngcn trung xc
cccn.
3. Nnung |ci gni lci nnung su ngni, |cn |nccn, tncc
tnuc nc 1ci |ni lcn tcc cci ticn tnuc cuc nguci tict, tc
nnung ticc cnung ucnn tnicn ncn, xuct pnct tu tcn
lcng ti 1cc. Hccc ricng tu ncn, ncnn tcn | cuc nnung
pnut gic nci tucng 1cn |cc sinn tncnn nci pnucng xc
tci nnn cnn cuc ngnicn 1ucng |ni tci tnc, ngucng ncng
cncn tnn |c tc tu nucn ncng tnc 1ucc tnci |inn ticp
!cn.
4. Scu nct lc nci tnicn !u |, Cc 1ncn Vcn I Du
tc Mct Icn Dcn Iinn Scn, tict cccn 1c ngcci nci nuci
TNH A O, NGHA I
7
ncn, 1ucc luu lci nnu | nicn cuc cci nnn trcng trcc
cuc tuci tncnn xucn, lcn 1cu ticn 1ucc nc rcng tcn
nnn tc ticp xuc tci sinn ncct cuc nnc Pnct c nct sc
nucc 1c Au !u cni trcng tnci gicn ngcn ngui.
Hci tucng lci, nnung |ni ccnn |nuc, ngci cn tinn
nicn, tncn ngni ccng cn tc lcn cuc 1cn nc tni cnu xc
gcn, nnct lc tu luc |nci ccng xc cct cnuc Pnc 1u c
Hcucr!. Nnung luc cncnn nnc nc gic tcc sucng pnc
pnct nci cc nucng nc licn tucng 1cn u 8cc c Unicn
Cit, c Hcucr!, tuci xc cnicu ccn 1ucc |ncng cn |ncng?
Ann Ngucn 8., cni 1cn nu 1. nc cnn 1cn, cni Muci
!cc nc 1ci scng rc scc? Nnc 1cn |cc |cn tc gcp ccng
gcp suc, |cc tcn lcng ti 1cc ti 1ci, uc tnct, tct cc 1c
lcn lcng tci xict |cc ccn 1cng tc |ict cn.
On ngnic rct nnicu, tci rct nnicu nguci, c xc tc nct
1ic l cung nnu sct |cn cucc 1ci tu ncnn cuc nnn, nc
nct rc lc tnc, !cng tc rc lc 1ung, lcn scc |c cnc nct
1ucc. Ricng, xin gni lci c 1c lcng ccn cn scu xc cuc
tci 1ci tci cnn 1rcn Mcnn 1., cc Dicu C., tc nnc in
Iccus Print n Ccp c Scn jcsc uc nnung giup 1c tcn
tnn, |ncng tinn tccn, nc nnc 1c, ucn sccn nc nci
1cn tc |cn.
Scu nct, t nncn |ict, cc nncn nnn trcng |icn 1ci
tc tcn nnu nct cct nnc nnci giuc sc ncc ncnn ncng,
ncn xin pnu pnuc, tnict tnc tung lci nci nucng nci pnucc
lcnn lcn ngci 1cn |cc, ccu ngucn |ncp nci tnc gici
cn lcnn, nci lcci cung 1ucc |ucc lcn pncn ti Vc Scnn,
cung 1ucc tcc nicn tinn tnc.
Hcucr!, ngc 15 tncng 10 ncn 200
1nicn 1u-Iuc
ccn 1c
Thch T-Lc
8
TNH A O, NGHA I
9
A
I da fung ngho hay da don sInh hoaf voI Iang
MaI, fh haI muoI nam froI qua, af nhan fhay,
co qua nhIou fhay doI. Tu xom Thuong voI nhung
can nha gIan dj duoc sua dI sua IaI, roI don xom
Ha, xom Trung, xom oaI, chu fh co ngoI phaf
frIon qua foI My, foI !c, ma dIon hnh Ia fu vIon
Ioc !yon, fhIon vIon Thanh Son... da noI Ion phan
nao suc song, anh huong cua phap mon fu fap
Chanh NIom do su ong Nhaf Hanh chI day. o Ia
chua ko, fang doan da Ion don fron 100 vj, cung
fu fap, dam frach cong vIoc huong dan sInh hoaf
fam IInh cho hang ngan fhIon sInh VIof nam va
ngoaI quoc o khap noI. ToI chI Ia mof nguoI hau
hoc, nho duoc chuf co duyon, da vo Iang, an com,
ngho fIong chuong chanh nIom ngan Ion vao mof
buoI sang mua Ho nam 1985. TIong chuong fhanh
fhoaf, fhanh fhoI, moI goI an can, ngho mof Ian
fhoI ma sau bao nhIou nam vaf doI sao doI, van
khong sao quon duoc. ToI cung do fhIof!
Nay, dap ung IoI kou goI cua chj Iyn IIno, phan
no nang, quy mon chj, phan khac IaI cam Iong
khong dau non foI xIn vIof nhung dong chu nay
I|e a 0hac a 0ha ah N|e m
Thch T-Lc
10
do chIa xo voI quy an dong fu xa gan.
ToI fhaf daI dof. AI IaI Iam ko nguoc duong dI
fm qua khu bao gIo. Khong chung Su Ong bIof
duoc, IaI bj quy huong nua day. Co dIou phaI noI
ra, foI fhaf Iong fIn fuong su nhIom mau cua fIong
chuong ngay do - Ia Iung don doI - don bay gIo,
vong am van chua duf frong Iong foI, ngay o frong
gIay phuf hIon faI nay. Am ap, vuI fuoI, nhIom
mau, fhanh fhoaf, xIn ban hay fm fhom mof f fu
ngu nua do bIou fhj fIong chuong, foI fIn chac cung
chua du duoc dau.
Ian dau ngho chuong, foI fhay ngo ngang, Ia Ia.
ung IaI, va fhoo dung sach vo ma su ong da day
hom fruoc, doc fham baI ko Iang Iong ngho, Iang
Iong ngho. TIong chuong huyon dIou dua vo nhaf
fam, roI nu cuoI no fron moI. Va, chnh Iuc do,
foI fhay vu fru nhu ngung IaI, chI co fIong chuong
ngan daI hoa nhap voI Iong mnh, Ion IoI, fham
TNH A O, NGHA I
11
vao fan frong fam kham. ToI fhay, mnh fhaf su
co su song, co nIom vuI. ToI moI hIou, co doc bao
nhIou sach vo do Thay vIof ra, co ngho bao nhIou
IoI Thay gIang, cung khong bang mof phuf Iang
Iong ngho chuong!
Tu do vo sau, foI quyof fam fhoo IoI Thay day,
fhuc fap som hom. aI ko Thay ban cho vao ngay
Io Truyon ang:
Tu oan Juong bicn tboai
Luc Jai ban Jo can
oi canb tam bat Jong
Cban giac bat /y tran
Chnh fhaf Ia IoI day bao fhIof fha, mof IoI
nhac nho an can, da khuyon khch, fhuc day foI
suof bao nhIou nam frong cuoc doI fu hanh. May
Ianh dang Ion fIong. Suc manh o fu fhan. Cap vIoc
dung xao xuyon. CIac ngo khong roI fran. ung
cau fhanh Phaf ngoaI fhan, ngoaI fam cua mnh.
ToI co gang hoc hanh Quan Am, Iang ngho fIong
kou kho cua nhung nguoI frong chon fu day, noI
quan bach. CIua dom hom, co nguoI can ho nIom,
can gIup do, foI mang y hau ra dI khong ho ngaI
ngan hay fhoaI fhac. Nhung dIou foI Iam duoc dou
nho su fhuong fuong, day bao cua Thay. ToI fhanh
fam bIof on Thay!
NghI IaI, foI con qua daI, ban a. Khong hIou
sao, Iuc do, fuc Ia vao khoang nam 1984, sang dau
nam 1985, foI IaI bong bof nhu vay. Y nhu dua fro
mang vuI, ham choI du da gan 30 fuoI dau. ToI
muon vo Iang cho bang duoc, frong khI khong bIof
mof fIong Tay va fu co vo fhan noI mnh daf
Thch T-Lc
12
chan don. Nhung foI cu danh IIou, kIou co KIou,
cung IIou nham maf dua chan, fhu xom con Tao
xoay van foI dau. !I chao Ia fhIon nan van nan!
u IaI, co co duyon duoc ngho fIong chuong ban dau
vua ko, Iong fhay man nguyon vo cung.
ay gIo, fro vo chuyon o My. ToI dI fhoo su ong
Iam phu fa fap su, khong Iuong va ngoaI ngach
frong may nam dau. Raf Ia vuI, fhInh fhoang cung
fhay mnh hoI oaI mof chuf. Co dIou, khong phaI
Ia moI chuyon dou xuoI choo maf maI hof dau, ban
a. Co Iuc con bj frach you, frach oan nua do. VuI
nhaf Ia doI voI quy vj fhIon sInh moI fham du khoa
fu Ian dau, oI fhoI Ia nhung chuyon cuoI ra nuoc
maf, co dIou may Ia aI nay dou hoan hy ca. May
nam sau, gap IaI foI, co nguoI nhac maI cau: Iuc do,
frong bua an frong khoa fu o JuIIan, o Housfon, o
SoaffIo, fhay haI foI khong nuof froI mIong ca rof!
Thaf fnh, foI co dam nhu vay dau. ToI chof!
Chuyon Ia, foI fhuong duoc cu Iam frI chung, fuc
Ia fhInh chuong chanh nIom khI Thay gIang hay khI
fho fhuc frong Im Iang. AI fhuong fh fhInh fhoang
bIou khong foI nu cuoI fhong cam, con khong fh
caf IoI: ngo bo fhay cung duoc do chu. |ToI chac
chu nay co nhIou nghIa Iam). Con quy ngaI chua
quon voI fIong chuong, fh IaI nua dua nua fhaf
phaf bIou: fhay ac qua, fuI moI nuof mIong com
chua xuong can co, fhnh Inh ngho fIong chuong
muon nghof fho, duf hoI Iuon do. Nha ra khong
duoc ma nuof vao fh so chung ban cuoI. Chuong oI
Ia chuong! May ma fnh frang do chI xay ra f Ian
fhoI, chu khong foI da baI fo bo ngho Iau roI!
TNH A O, NGHA I
13
Trong mof khoa fu danh cho nguoI xuaf gIa faI
fu vIon KIm Son, foI nho IoI Thay day raf mach
Iac, ro rang. Rang, ba con Phaf fu mnh chua quon
voI IoI song co chanh nIom, fInh fhuc. Ho Ion fIong
chuong roI. Chu fIong chuong moI fhaf Ia IoI goI
cua uf dua mnh fro vo gIay phuf hIon faI, do co
duoc an vuI, co duoc fhanh fhoI. V fho, mnh phaI
fhuong ho, hIou ho do fu fu dan daf ho vao con
duong fhuc fap. Nhaf Ia phaI kIon nhan. IoI Thay
day duong nhIon Ia dung nhu vay, khong fhom bof
g duoc nua |ban co ca gan dong gop y kIon g khac
khong7). Tho ma co mof fhIou so chung sanh con
mo mo, cu Io dI khI ngho chuong, Iam foI phaI vaf
va don kho so khI fhI hanh nhIom vu. Nhung cung
may, da so, nhaf Ia Iop fro, fh raf gIoI, raf u cam
fhong caI ngho baf dac dI cua foI. MoI khI fhay foI
cham raI cam duI chuong Ion, cuoI nho, Ia may om
da chuan bj roI. NgoI Im. Co om con nhac nho nhau
bang cach fh fham: fhay TI sap fhInh chuong roI
ka. Khoan uong nuoc da! TIong chuong vong Ion,
bao nhIou buon phIon Iang xuong. Tjnh do day roI,
ban oI! om oI!
Sau nay, Thay soan fhom nhIou baI ko bang
fIong VIof raf hay va sau sac. Nhu baI:
Nguycn ticng cbuong nay oang pbap gioi
Xa xoi tam toi cung Jcu ngbc
Nbung ai /ac buoc mau Jung /ai
Tlnb giac bon mc tbay nco oc.
MoI ban hay Iang ngho doI Ian, hay ngung dI
moI suy fu, fnh foan rIong fu. ToI fIn chac, ban so
fhay rang vIoc fhuc fap fIong chuong chanh nIom
Thch T-Lc
14
co fho dua chung fa don cho an vuI, fhang fIon cuoc
song. ToI khong quang cao co fhu Iao dau!
o fao non fhanh am fInh fhuc fh co duoc caI
chuong Ia quy Iam roI, bang khong fh ban co fho
dung vaf g cung duoc. an hoI: vhaf do you moan,
man, vaf g Ia vaf g7 Co Ian, foI da dung mof caI
nap soong do fhay cho chuong do, ban fhan mon
a. Cung co hIou qua nhu fhuong. Hom do, foI don
fhanh pho Iargo, fIou bang Norfh akofa, frong
mof chuyon sInh hoaf voI fro mo coI, vj fhanh
nIon khong co fhan nhan |unaccompanIod mInors).
Chuong frnh sInh hoaf mua ho nay do mof co quan
xa hoI cua hoI fhanh TIn Ianh dja phuong fo chuc.
TroI xuI daf khIon Iam sao, sau khI sInh hoaf xong,
mof chj nguoI Cong gIao ngo y moI foI don nha
Iam Io cau nguyon va dung bua chay. ToI khong
dom fhoo chuong, mo cung khong, khong co phap
kh nao ca. ToI quynh
qua nhung mnh Io
daI mang danh Ia
fruong fu Nhu IaI
chang Io chju fhua.
ToI nhan IoI don
nha. ToI moI ba con
ngoI yon, fm mof
chIoc dua, roI dung
caI nap con nong hoI
cua chIoc soong chj
vua Iuoc rau do danh
nhjp nIom uf va
ngoI fjnh nIom voI
nhau frong khoang
TNH A O, NGHA I
15
nam, muoI phuf fruoc khI noI chuyon Phaf phap.
Qua fhaf, fIong chuong phaf ra khong duoc fhanh
cho Iam nhung aI nay dou vuI Iong, chap nhan ngoI
yon. uoI sInh hoaf kof fhuc, ca nhan foI hoc duoc
mof baI hoc nho, fh ra: o dau, co fam Ia co Phaf.
Sau nay, anh CIam doc phu frach chuong frnh co
gho fham chua Hayvard, foI gIoI fhIou voI anh
fap ch fho oII of MIndfuInoss. Iuc do, anh moI
hIou ra, v sao co moI IIon quan gIua chuong va
chanh nIom. ToI cung Iam gan gIaI fhch: chuong
Ia phuong fIon, chanh nIom moI Ia cuu canh. Can
co chuong do fhIof Iap chanh nIom, va mof khI da
co chanh nIom fh chung fa chan fhanh, fha fhIof
bIof on fIong chuong.
Ticng cbuong tam tnb.
ToI Ia chuong daI hong, noI chua cao fron nuI.
Ticng cbuong nbac nbo.
Ngho fIong foI xIn nguoI hay no nu cuoI.
Ticng cbuong moi goi.
TIong chuong huyon dIou dua vo nhaf fam.
Va cuoI cung, chuong, nhu IoI cua uf, chu To
day bao chung fa: Van fran fhanh fjnh chung vIon
fhong. Nhaf fhIof chung sanh fhanh Chanh gIac.
Ngho duoc fIong chuong, buong xa fran Iao doI
canh, gIu fam fhanh fjnh fh cuu duoc mnh roI,
ma con gIup duoc nguoI khac nua. Ca haI dou co
fho gIup fa daf foI cho an vuI, gIaI fhoaf.
Ky nIom haI muoI nam, ngay fhanh Iap Iang
MaI, Phap quoc, mof fhoI gIan chua daI Iam nhung
chac chan du daI, du rong, du chIou sau do ky uc
Thch T-Lc
16
chung fa Iuu Iuyon nhung fhan fnh om dom cua
nhung van co fuong, nhung buoI fhIon hanh, nhung
Ian cung Iam vIoc don dop, vo sInh o xom Thuong
frong khoa fu mua ho 1985. Hnh anh Thay fuoI
fan va day nghj Iuc. Hnh anh cac an, da frang,
da vang, da don, da ngam ngam saf canh bon
nhau, va 1,250 cay man no hoa, kof fraI, dong gop
vao bIou frung suc song sung man cho doI. Happy
AnnIvorsary, PIum VIIIago. Con xIn cuI dau saf daf
Iay fa on Thay, xIn cam on Iang da, mof fhoI va
maI maI, cho con nIom fIn va nang Iuc hoaf dong
frong cac cong fac nuoI duong fuoI fro, Iam dop cho
doI. n
TNH A O, NGHA I
17
It is very obvious for the people who are familiar with
Plum Village activities to see that there are great changes
in the last 20 years. Plum Village started out with a few
fixer-upper houses at the Upper Hamlet, it expanded
to Lower Hamlet, Middle Hamlet, West Hamlet in
France, then to the monasteries in the United States and
Australia. Venerable Master Nhat Hanhs Mindfulness
teaching depicts clearly through the existence of Deer
Park in California and Green Mountain Dharma Center
in Vermont...
There are over 100 monastic members now practicing
together throughout these locations to assist the Venerable
Master in teaching Mindful Training to disciples all over
the world.
I have the good fortune to attend the summer retreat at
Plum Village in 1985 and listened to the morning bell.
The sound of the bell was so light, uplifting, and inviting.
After so many years, I still remember that morning bell.
To respond to Lyn Fines kind request, and to share my
heart-felt feeling about the mindfulness bell, I am writing
this article to share my experience with you.
Ihe H|aJfalaess 8ell
translated by Chau Yoder
Thch T-Lc
18
Maybe I should not write about the past, if our dear Thay
knows about this, I may have to kneel for repentance,
but I really have a strong faith in that sound, it still clearly
rings in my heart now. It was warm, joyful, miraculous
and light. Id like to invite you to describe the sounds of
the bell with more words, but I also believe that all the
words that we could think of would not be enough to
fully describe the miraculous of the sound of the bell.
When I heard the sound of the bell the first time, I felt
strange. I stopped at the sound of the bell and followed
Thays instruction like a cookbook, with a little smile:
Listen, listen to the wonderful sound of the bell, it brings
you back to your true self. Right at that moment, I felt
as if the whole world has stopped, and there was only
the long sound of the bell that penetrated in my soul. I
felt that I indeed had a life with joy. I knew then that
no matter how many books that I could read, it would
not equal to this moment of listening to the sounds of
the bell.
Since that day, I determined to follow Thays teaching
and diligently practiced the gatha that Thay gave me at
the Lamp Transmission Ceremony:
The beautiful clouds of Loving Kindness always
manifest themselves in auspicious signs.
The six great powers should be generated from the
six faculties.
If while facing events, the mind remains
undisturbed,
Then True Enlightenment does not
need to exclude objects of the senses.
TNH A O, NGHA I
19
Truly it was a great teaching. Thays love and kindness
has encouraged me in my monastic life in the past years.
I learned not to wish to become a Buddha outside of
my mind and body. I tried my best to learn the way of
the Boddhisatva Avalokiteshvara by listening deeply to
the cries of suffering friends. I dont hesitate to go out
in the middle of the night to pray for the dying or to
provide support to the ones who need help. Thays love
and support has given me the courage to do these tasks.
I have my deep gratitude toward Thay for his support
and teaching.
I dont know why I
was so naive about
the trip to Plum
Village in summer
1985. It was like
a child who was
so fond of playing,
even though I was
almost 30 years
old. I did not speak
any French and I
was all alone but I determined to go there. It was a
tough trip with lots of worrying. However, it was worth it
to hear the first sound of the bell.
Now Id like to tell you some stories of the retreats in
the United States. I followed Thay the first few years to
practice mindful living. It was a lot of fun, sometimes I
felt a little important. However, it was not all that smooth,
sometimes I would get some complaints. Especially
with the first time retreatants, there were so many funny
stories. Some people would come to me years later
Thch T-Lc
20
and said: during the retreat at Julian, at Houston, at
Seattle...you invited the bell right in the middle of my
swallowing; I could not spit it out or swallowing the food
at that moment. Luckily there were not too many of
those situations or else I would have to retire from the
job of a bell-inviter.
During a monastic retreat at Kim Son Monastery, Thay
told us clearly that most of the practitioners have not yet
learned how to live in mindfulness, so they do not know
how to stop at the sound of the bell. The sound of the
bell is really the calling from the Buddha for us to return
to the present moment, to have joy and peace. We have
to love and understand the practitioners to slowly bring
them into the right way of practice. For sure we would
have to be patient. Thays teaching is definitely correct;
I dare you to say anything differently.
There was a small percentage of folks who were still
ignorant about the effectiveness of the sound of the bell,
and they ignored the bells which created difficulty for
me to carry out my duty. However, there were lots of
people who practiced very well, especially some children
were very attentative. They would get ready the minute
they saw me holding the wooden inviter and smiling.
They sat quietly. Sometimes they even reminded each
other: Thay TL is about to invite the bell. Dont drink
yet. The bell rang and it quiet all sorrow. Pure land is
here, my dear friends.
Later, Thay created many gathas that are wonderful,
such as:
May the sound of the bell penetrate deeply into the
cosmos.
TNH A O, NGHA I
21
In even the darkest places, may living beings hear it
clearly.
So that understanding comes to their hearts,
And without hardship they transcend the cycle of
birth and death.
Id like to invite you to listen to the sounds of the bell a
couple of times and stop all thinking. I can assure you
that if you practice mindfully with the sounds of the bell,
they could bring you peace and transform your life for
the better. Id like to remind you that I do not advertise
this for money.
It is very fortunate when we have a bell, but if you dont
have a bell, you can use some other tools. You may say,
What do you mean, man! But really, it is true; one
time I used a lid of a pan for a bell, and it was also very
effective. One day I went to Fargo of North Dakota to
attend an event with a group of unaccompanied minors.
A local Lutheran church organized this program. After
the group activities, there was a Christian lady who
invited me to go to her house to pray and to have a
vegetarian meal. I did not bring any bell with me, but I
went ahead and accepted her invitation. As a student of
the Buddha, I had a creative idea and used a chopstick
with a lid to create the rhythm for our chanting. I asked
everyone to sit quietly for about ten minutes before the
Dharma talk. The sound of the lid was not as great but
everyone agreed to sit quietly. From that experience I
learned a little lesson: Buddha is everywhere that there
is a heart. A couple of years ago, the director of this
program came to the Hayward Buddhist Center and I
showed him the Mindfulness Bell magazine. From this
magazine, he understood why there is a connection
Thch T-Lc
22
between mindful practices and
the sounds of the bell. I also
tried my best to explain: The
bell is the mean, mindfulness is
the savior. We need the bells
to create a way to practice
mindfulness. Once we have
mindfulness, then we appreciate
the sounds of the bell.
The sound of the bell
communicates from its heart
to us: I am the grand bell, that
pagoda up in the mountain.
The sound of the bell reminds
us: Listen to the sound of my
bell, please smile.
The sound of the bell invites us: The wonderful sound of
the bell unites our body and mind as one.
And finally, as Buddha and our ancestors taught us:
When we listen to the sounds of the bell, we can let go
of our suffering, keep our mind calm. It helps us and
others to have more joy and reduce suffering.
Happy 20th Anniversary, Plum Village! 20 years are not
too long but it is long enough for us to remind each
other of our friendships, of the good time in walking
meditation, or the time of mindful working at Upper
Hamlet during the summer retreat of 1985. Thays
image is fresh and full of life! The picture of friends from
all colors, sit next to each other, and 1250 plum trees
blooming and bringing life energy to us.
TNH A O, NGHA I
23
Happy Anniversary, Plum Village!
I respectfully bow my head on earth to thank Thay,
and thank Plum Village for cultivating my faith and
providing me with strength to work on nurturing youths
and beautifying lives. n
Thch T-Lc
24
8cn tcnn cuc 1nc tcn ngnicn |ncc ngc cc tci
cninn nnn nnung tcn tn 1c tnucng ncn tc |cc
!ung nguci. Dc lc nncn xct cuc tci tc 1nc scu tnci
gicn nc tci nc ncn cc nnicu !ip 1ucc 1nc cni |cc
ccn |c tc gici luct, tc tncnn u nnc cnuc nc nguci
ncc tcng pnci tucn tnu.
L
uc do, nam 1981, foI Ia chu dIou o chua Tu
Quang, San IransIsco, con Thay, Hoa fhuong
KIm Quang, moI fu fraI fy nan don fam ngu frong
chua. Sau do, do su gIoI fhIou va sap xop cua vj
bon su cua foI ma sau nay fro fhanh Su Ong VIon
fruong KIm Son, Thay vo Iam Phaf su faI chua KIm
Quang, fhu phu fIou bang CaIIfornIa. HaI vj von Ia
ban dong mon, cung hoc o IInh Quang ngoaI Huo
Iuc fruoc.
An fuong fhu nhaf ma foI ghI nho vo Thay Ia
du baf cu o dau, chon Ia hay noI quon, Thay dou
fho hIon va nou cao fInh fhan hoa hop frong suy
nghI va frong hanh dong. AI cung con nho aI Io
Phaf an foan mIon ac CaIIfornIa ma Thay Ianh
frong frach fo chuc, Ia co hoI hIom co do faf ca cac
Chua, Tu VIon frong vung cung Iam vIoc voI nhau
Nhc 0a Iha
TNH A O, NGHA I
25
frong fInh fhan Hoa Hop cua Phaf Phap.
KhI Iam vIoc, Thay co chu dch ro rang, va frong
cuoc song, Thay do Io ca fanh ro rof. o Ia nghIom
khac voI ban fhan nhung bao dung voI nguoI khac.
ThInh fhoang, foI co ngho Thay ray Ia may chu
|frong do co foI) nhung Ia ray do day do chu khong
co y ghof bo. NoI fhaf ra, ban dau, fanh Thay co
kho khan fhIof nhung, sau may nam co fho chung
foI da fhuan hoa, non fhaI do Thay fhay doI raf
nhIou. o Ia dIou foI Iay Iam mung va nho maI
frong Iong.
Hom nay, gan don Io TIou Tuong Thay, foI ngoI
vIof IaI nhung dong chu nay, chI muon noI Ion Iong
bIof on Thay da may Ian day bao cho rIong foI, va
bao nhIou nam, fron cuong vj mof Tuyon Iuaf su,
Thay da ban bo nIom fIn vao chanh phap cho dan
hau fan, frong do co foI.
HoI fuong Iuc Thay moI qua My may ngay, Thay
da an can cho foI haI fam hnh Thay chup o dao
voI baI fho ghI o pha sau. aI fho day fnh dao va
noI Ion ch nguyon cua nguoI xuaf gIa:
Buoc cban Ju boa Ta ba
Tam Jung got ngam troi Ga /ang nay
Cbicu tbu mat bicn cban may
Lang nbn bai an Joi cay bong /ong
Tbicn tbu oan oat sac kbong
Cam tbuong bicn kbo bcnb bong sanb /inb
Ngay mai bcn giac Jang trnb
Tbuycn tu xin cbo cbung sanb /cn bo.
ToI caf gIu fam hnh co baI fho do hon 15 nam,
Thch T-Lc
26
cho don ngay Thay
bonh, nam o bonh vIon
KaIsor gan chua KIm
Quang. Trong dom
phIon foI fruc, frong
nom Thay, foI moI co
djp doc IaI baI fho
cho rIong mnh va foI
khoc fham. KhI nhn
qua cua knh cua phong
bonh, fhay Thay nam
do, chua bIof monh ho
fho nao, foI IInh cam
rang roI day Phaf su faI dja phuong so gap kho
khan vo nhIou maf mof khI Thay vang bong. V
qua fhaf, Thay Ia nguoI kha knh, co fho gIup hoa
gIaI nhung baf dong, gIup san Iap nhung dj bIof.
KhI Thay noI, moI nguoI dou Iang ngho, frong do,
co fhay on su cua foI, hoa fhuong KIm Son. Iuc
nao, anh om chung foI cung duoc nhac nho: ngay
o faf dau nam, vao fhang CIong am Ijch, faf ca
Tang NI, hoc chung xuaf gIa nho vo chua KIm
Quang do, fruoc, on IaI gIoI Iuaf, sau nua, bay fo
Iong cung knh, bIof on doI voI vj Thay nIon fruong
da hy sInh, dan daf cho dan hau fan.
Hoa fhuong KIm Quang xuaf fhan fu fo dnh
Thap Thap o nh jnh, mof ngoI gIa Iam noI
fIong co quy cu, dao fao nhIou fho ho Tang TaI
cho Phaf gIao VIof nam hIon daI. Co duyon may,
frong daI gIoI dan Iam To faI fu vIon Ioc !yon
vua roI, chung foI duoc Hoa fhuong ThIon Nhon ko
cho ngho su fch va danh xung cua ngoI To dnh noI
TNH A O, NGHA I
27
fIong nay. Ton day du Ia Sac fu Thap Thap I a
fu. AI cung Iay Iam Ia, Iuc moI xay chua da co fhap
dau ma IaI daf fon Ia Thap Thap, ngoI chua co don
muoI ngoI fhap hay sao7 Hoa fhuong, cham raI, fu
fon, moI gIaI fhch rang: so dI co fon nhu vay Ia
fu nguyon do, faI vung daf do, Iuc fruoc co 10 ngoI
fhap Cham da bj chIon franh pha huy. Chu Ton
duc moI dong Iong fu bI, muon gIoo duyon do cuu
do chung sanh, hoa gIaI phan nao nghIop chuong
non da dung gach Iay fu 10 ngoI fhap Cham do
naf do do xay ngoI chanh dIon chua Thap Thap.
o nhan duyon nhu vay, non daf fon Ia Thap Thap
I a, va fhoo Ijch su chua do fo Nguyon ThIou
Hoan ch fhanh Iap. Chua fhaf fhoang dang. Hoa
fhuong ko IaI ky nIom fhoI Iam dIou o chua, frua
nao On cung ra nam fron san gach do danh gIac
frua. Iam dIou ngay xua cung da fhIof, duoc fu
do fhuong fhuc caI fhu dac bIof cua rIong mnh!
Khong bIof hoa fhuong KIm Quang co Ian nao duoc
nom muI vj cua caI fhu noI fron hay khong7
HoI fuong IaI fhoI gIan duoc Thay chI gIao vo
gIoI Iuaf, hay duoc du phan vao cac sInh hoaf Phaf
su o mIon ac CaIIfornIa do Thay dch fhan fo
chuc, rIong foI chang quon nhung dIou duoc Thay
nhoc Iong chI bao cung nhu nhung vIoc Thay da
fhuc hIon ma nay fro fhanh nhung dIou dang nho
voI bao nguoI.
1. Thay fung day: frong Io o faf, khong non
Ian chuoI ma non ngoI nghIom frang do ngho gIoI.
Iou nay, Thay nhac khoo Iam. Chung foI cam
duoc caI uy cua Thay, fhay so nou pham IoI. Thay
gIaI fhch rang, khI ngho gIoI, mnh phaI nhaf fam,
Thch T-Lc
28
chu dung Iam vIoc g khac khIon noI fam xao Iang.
ToI fhay IoI day hop Iy non fu do, moI khI ngho
gIoI, foI do xau chuoI fruoc maf, ngoI yon va Iang
ngho.
2. Thay chu fruong rang khI fhI hanh Phaf su,
vIoc g can Iam fh Iam khong ngaI kho khan hay
fon ph. Ion hnh Io Phaf an foan MIon vao
khoang nam 1988, Thay da chuan chI 5,000 my
kIm do fhIof fr vong hao quang faI Io daI. Iuc dau,
aI cung ngan ngaI v ph fon Ion. Thay noI, dang
Iam fh Iam, so co Ho Phap Io IIou. Ma dung nhu
vay, daI Io hoan fhanh fof dop, mof phan cung nho
co Io daI frang nghIom va ngoan muc.
3. Tuy bo ngoaI fhuong xuyon nghIom khac, doI
khI, Thay cung fo ra raf do daI va vuI fnh. Iuc
fruoc, chua Tu Quang co chIoc xo hIou NOVA. oc
fhoo am fIong VIof fh fhanh haI chu no va va.
Hom do, fruoc khI bo faf, Thay moI noI dua foI
rang: chu ma IaI chIoc xo nay fh so khong bao gIo
gap faI nan. ToI chung hung, nghI bung, sao ma
Thay faI du vay! Thay moI gIaI fhch rang, |quy vj
non nho Ia kha nang fIong Anh cua Thay khong
co cao sIou dau) no Ia KHONC, va va Ia !NC,
fuc Ia khong dung. HaI chIoc xo ma khong dung
nhau fh Iam sao co faI nan! Chung foI ngoI ngho
Thay noI xong, khI hIou y Ia cuoI Ian chIong, do
don Iuon! Thay cung co Iuc vuI fnh nhu vay do, chu
khong phaI Iuc nao cung nghIom nghj dau. Chang
qua cung v hoan canh nhan duyon fhoI. CIoI Iuaf
khIon nguoI co frach nhIom cam gIu phaI nghIom
khac, chaf cho do duy fr ky cuong cua fang gIoI va
pham hanh cua moI ca nhan nhung khong co nghIa
TNH A O, NGHA I
29
Ia buoc con nguoI phaI kho can, fhIou fnh fhuong
hay khong rong Iuong.
Con nua, dIou khIon foI fam Ianh fham sau Ia
khI duoc Thay phan fch, gIang gIaI cho ngho vo
y nghIa phap fu cua chnh mnh do on HoI Chu
ban cho frong Io fho gIoI Sa dI nam 1983. IoI day
can ko, fhau fnh daf Iy Iam nguoI fho nhan fhau
fhj duoc uoc vong cua bac fon fruong fruyon frao
va bon phan fron duong dao ma mnh hof Iong
ganh vac. Ngho ra, foI bIof on Thay. Tu do, sanh
fam cung knh, fhuong mon Thay hon. Ngay dau
Thay nga bonh, ngho fIn, foI voI chay vo chua KIm
Quang. Iof mnh, fhan phan nho nhoI non chI am
fham ra chanh dIon, duoI chan Phaf, ngoI yon cau
nguyon cho Thay qua con hIom nghoo do fIop fuc
Ioo IaI con fhuyon Phaf Phap, dom IaI IoI Iac cho
moI nguoI. Nhung nhan duyon voI coI Ta a da
hof, Thay khong qua khoI.
Thch T-Lc
30
Knh bach gIac IInh Thay:
Con khoc mof mnh va fhay, qua fhaf, fhIou
Thay, fhIou raf nhIou, Thay oI !
XIn Thay IInh fhIong phu ho cho fhay ThIon .
an fam, vung Iong fIop fuc Phaf su, xay dung ngoI
chua fhan you frong su doan kof, hop suc cua fu
chung xa gan.
XIn Thay fIop fuc ban bo Tnh Thuong cho quy
Phaf fu, cho CPT KIm Quang, da nhIou nam fham
nhuan on duc cua Thay, qua IoI day: Cac con sInh
hoaf cho dang hoang, dI dau cung dang hoang, Iam
g cung dang hoang v mnh Ia nguoI con Phaf.
Su fho hIo n mo I cha n fnh cu a fu chu ng do I
vo I Tha y duo c foa n an Huynh fruo ng, oa n
sInh CPT KIm Quang fhay Io I frong ca u do I
xua f pha f fu fa m can:
On Tbay giao Juong Jan con Jai
Ngba trong nguycn xin mai Jap Jcn.
ThIon fhu van vaf sac khong, fron coI fran
gIan gIa fam, fhan fu daI cua Thay khong con nua
nhung chung con nguyon fhoo guong sang, va nho
maI on Thay. n
TNH A O, NGHA I
31