In April 1966 Venerable Thanh Từ built Pháp Lạc Hut (Pháp Lạc thất) on Tương Kỳ Mountain, Vũng Tàu. It was a very simple 4mx4m hut with a thatched roof. He brought along the Tripitaka and had a strong resolution of a zen Buddhist monk who determined to find his priceless Buddha gem. On a full moon day in April, 1968 (the year of the monkey) he made a vow that he would start his solitary retreat, and would not leave the hut unless he found the Way. All his students who followed him to Tương Kỳ Mountain wholeheartedly and patiently waited for the day when they could see him again.
In July 1968 Venerable Thanh Từ attained the True Prajna Nature, with which he then could understand all the implications in what the Buddha taught in sutras as well as in what ancient zen masters transmitted to their successors for thousands of years. From his own meditation and concentration efforts he now attained what he had been looking for.
On December 8, 1968 to his monk and nun students’ and lay followers’ joy and happiness he announced that he would now open his hut to teach them. Pháp Lạc Hut was indeed the soul of the Chân Không Thiền (Zen) Sect (Thiền Chân Không), for it marked an important point in his spiritual life. His long-cherished dream to teach Buddhist meditation which he had quietly kept to himself had come true. From this simple hut he would fulfill his aspiration and responsibilities to Buddhism in Vietnam, and became a bright star in Vietnamese Thiền (Zen) Buddhism in the late 20th century.
Most Venerable Thích Thanh Từ often says, “I am indebted to Buddhist monks nuns and laypeople. Those who know (me) and demand first, I will respond to first; those who haven’t yet, I will respond to later.” He has dedicated all his life to Buddhism, especially the restoration of the Thiền school in the Trần Dynasty, and the facilitation for monks’ and nuns’ Dharma practice. As long as they make good progress in their own practice, Buddhist Dharma will continue and develop. Their spiritual advancement is his happiness, as he usually says, “All my aspirations come from your efforts in Dharma practice. If you find joy and happiness in your practice, and become well-lit torches in the Path, you truly love me. If not, I should think I have not had enough merits to be happy before my demise, for my vow to restore Vietnamese Thiền (Zen) Buddhism, especially the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử School, has not been fulfilled.”
Most Venerable Thích Thanh Từ has officially established the following monasteries to teach meditation, and to disseminate Buddhist Dharma:
Chân Không Thiền Monastery on Tương Kỳ Mountain, Vũng Tàu in April 1971. It was moved to Thường Chiếu in 1986, and in 1995 was re-established in its original location.
Thường Chiếu Thiền Monastery at Long Thành - Đồng Nai, in August, 1974.
Viên Chiếu Thiền Monastery at Long Thành - Đồng Nai, in April, 1975.
Huệ Chiếu Thiền Monastery at Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, in April, 1979.
Linh Chiếu Thiền Monastery at Long Thành - Đồng Nai, in February,1980.
Phổ Chiếu Thiền Monastery at Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, in 1980.
Tịch Chiếu Thiền Monastery at Long Hải, in July, 1987.
Liễu Đức Thiền Monastery, Long Thành - Đồng Nai in 1989.
Trúc Lâm Thiền Monastery in Đà Lạt - Lâm Đồng, in April, 1993.
Lân Temple – Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Thiền Monastery, in 2002.
Tuệ Quang Thiền Monastery at Linh Trung, Thủ Đức, Hồ Chí Minh City.
Hương HảI Thiền Monastery at Long Thành - Đồng Nai in 2000.
Đạo Huệ Thiền Monasteryat Long Thành - Đồng Nai in 2000.
Tuệ Thông Thiền Monastery at Long Thành - Đồng Nai in 2000.
Trúc Lâm Chánh Thiện Thiền Monastery at Sông Phan, Hàm Tân - Bình Thuận in 2009.
Quang Chiếu Thiền Monastery in Forthworth, Texas, Mỹ, in 2000.
Đại Đăng Thiền Monastery in Bonsall, California, USA, in 2001.
Đạo Viên Thiền Monastery, Québec, Canada, in 2002.
Bồ Đề Thiền Monastery, Boston, USA, in 2002.
Diệu Nhân Thiền Monastery, Sacramento, USA, in 2002.
Tiêu Dao Thiền Monastery, Australia.
and many smaller Thiền centers (Thiền Thất, Thiền Trang), such as Ngọc Chiếu (Garden Grove, CA, USA), Bao Chon (New Hampshire,USA), Thường Lạc (France), Hỷ Xả (Australia)…. (This list is subject to change because of the growing number of Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Thiền monasteries in the world)
He contributed to the renovation of the old Phật Quang Temple and Phước Hậu Temple at Trà Ôn, Vĩnh Long. He has been teaching and translating many sutras, Vinayas, and Buddhist history books from Chinese to Vietnamese, and disseminating fundamental Buddhist teachings to monks, nuns and laypeople in many countries.
He traveled to the following countries: Cambodia (1956), India (1965) Sri Lanka (1965),Japan (1965), China (1993), France (1994 and 2002), Switzerland (1994), Indonesia (1996), Canada (1994 and 2002), the USA (1994, 2000, 2001, and 2002), Australia (1996 and 2002).
Sources:
http://www.thientongvietnam.net/thichthanhtu/index.html
http://thuongchieu.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=391
