Thường Chiếu Thiền Monastery was built in August 1974 at Phước Thái, Long Thành District, Ðồng Nai Province. There are over 200 resident monks at the Monastery now. The Abbot is Most Venerable Thích Nhật Quang, the Vice Abbot is Venerable Thích Thông Hạnh, and the Secretary is Venerable (?)Thích Đạo Huy. (Contact information: 061.384.1071, 061.354.2631 (P); email: tvthuongchieu@vnn.vn, daohuy_tc@yahoo.com; postal mail address:
Thích Đạo Huy
Thiền Viện Thường Chiếu
1c, Phước Thái, Long Thành, Đồng Nai.)
Thường Chiếu
Thường Chiếu was the name of a famous Vietnamese Thiền master in the Lý Dynasty. His last name was Phạm, and he was born at Phù Ninh Village. He had been a court subject before he denounced the mundane world and became a monk. He was a conscientious nobleman, and a court subject with high integrity. He looked down upon political power and worldly fame and achievement, and his social status was simply a mirage or a buble to him. Learning that at Tịnh Quả Temple there was a well-known Thiền master named Quảng Nghiêm, he resigned from his post, and went there to become a monk in order to learn Thiền. He successfully practiced and got enlightened at the same temple. Later he became the Abbot of Lục Tổ Temple at Dịch Bảng Village, Thiên Ðức Borough. Many people came for his Dharma teachings, and he soon became a very famous monk. However, his main focus was Dharma practice, self-reflection, and dwelling in the True Mind. He lived in mindfulness, and passed away peacefully. Before he demised, he called all his disciples together, and said:
The Way itself has no form,
and every day ‘tis afresh.
Isn’t home everywhere
in thousands of worlds?
Then he passed away peacefully.
Many generations of his disciples continued the lineage, and later developed it into the glorious Thiền Trúc Lâm-Yên Tử in the Trần Dynasty, which has been a great period shining brightly in the history of Vietnam Buddhism. Centuries later at Phước Thái, Long Thành District, Ðồng Nai Province a monastery was named after this famous Thiền master, Thường Chiếu Thiền Monastery.
Thường Chiếu Thiền Monastery not only reflects an excellent example for later generations; the meaning of its name implies the mission and the goal that Most Venerable Thích Thanh Từ, who founded it, expected his disciples to accomplish: “The fundamental responsibility of the practitioner is to always self-examine and self-reflect” –keep on(shining the torch)looking inward. This is also the motto of the Vietnam Thiền Sect in the late 20th century.
(To be continued)
Sources:
http://www.thientongvietnam.net/
http://www.truclamvietzen.net/
http://www.thientongvietnam.net/cacthienvien/dirs/thuongchieu/index.html
http://www.thuong-chieu.org/uni/TrangChu.htm
