When the young monk arrived in Huế, he did not know which pagoda to stay at. With the help of some rickshaw men, he learned that at Tây Thiên Pagoda, there were some monks from the South. It turned out the Abbot of the pagoda was Most Venerable Giác Nhiên, the Second Patriarch of the United Vietnam Buddhist Sanga. It was there that he met two monks who years later would became Most Venerables Thiện Hòa, and Thiện Hoa. Most Venerable Giác Tâm from Duyên Giác Pagoda , Bến Tre Province, had already graduated, and now was teaching the Lankavatara Sutra. After the class was adjourned, Most Venerable Giác Tâm asked him to read what had just been taught again. He read and explained the text so clearly that Most Venerable Giác Tâm encouraged him to get formal training, which the former would happily help to prepare the paperwork for the latter's admission. Because the young monk had no sponsor, the school granted him some fellowship, so he could get support while studying. When he was admitted into the class, it was almost at the end of the curriculum for the Elementary Level. There were only a few months left before the entrance examination to the Intermediate Level. He could learn most subjects without much difficulty, except for the
Vijnaptimatrasiddhi-sastra (Duy
Thức), which he had no idea about. He had to borrow notebooks from classmates, and learned by himself. Gradually he could understand it. When there was a test about
Vijnaptimatrasiddhi-sastra, he got the highest grade in his class. No wonder the Most Venerable who was in charge of academic affairs was interested in him, while his friends felt awed. At the oral exam, Dr. Lê Đình Thám asked the young monk and candidate to open the book randomly in order to explain the content of the page he got. He could not explain the page well, since he had not learned about it. The doctor said, "Although this student came later than his classmates, he will be useful."
In the end, the young monk was ranked 7th in his class.
In the end, the young monk was ranked 7th in his class.
Early in 1941 the young monk received the ten precepts in Huế under the Most Venerable Abbot of Quốc Ân Pagoda. After that he continued to learn and completed the Intermediate Level and graduated near the end of 1942. In 1945 he graduated the Advanced Level. That same year the Annam Buddhist Studies School (An Nam Phật Học) moved to Kim Sơn Monastery (Tòng Lâm Kim Sơn). He was assigned Head Supervisor of the School. Because of the famine both in Huế and in the North, the School Board decided to move 40 of its students of the Elementary and Intermediate Levels to the South, under his supervision. Most Venerables Thiện Hoa and Trí Quang were to found a new school, the goal of which was to build the Lưỡng Xuyên Buddhist Studies School (Lưỡng Xuyên Phật Học).
(To be continued)
Source:
Hương Sen Vạn Đức
