01-TÓM TẮT TIỂU SỬ ĐỨC TRƯỞNG LÃO THÍCH THÔNG LẠC
https://tuvienchonnhu.net/tieu-su-duc-truong-lao-thich-thong-lac-song-ngu-viet-anh/
Đức Trưởng
lão Thích Thông Lạc, Viện trưởng Tu Viện Chơn Như, thế danh là Lê Ngọc An, sinh
ngày 28 – 5 – 1928, tại quê ngoại: 18 Thôn Vườn Trầu, Xã Tân Thới Nhì, Quận Hóc
Môn, Tỉnh Gia Định (Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh ngày nay).
Cha Người là
Lê Văn Huấn, pháp danh Thích Thiện Thành, một thầy thuốc Đông y, xuất thân
trong gia đình Nho học, quê quán tại Trảng Bàng, Tây Ninh.
Mẹ Người là
Nguyễn Thị Nhung, giáo viên Tiểu học sơ cấp, xuất thân trong gia đình Nho học,
con của một Ông Cả Xã Tân Thới Nhì, Quận Hóc Môn, Tỉnh Gia Định.
Lúc nhỏ, Người
đã thích theo cha học hỏi tu hành, nên được cha đặt cho pháp danh Thích Từ Ân.
Năm 1936, vừa tròn 8 tuổi, Người được cha mẹ cho xuất gia theo Hòa thượng Thích
Huệ Tánh tại Chùa Phước Lưu, Thị trấn Trảng Bàng, Tây Ninh, với pháp danh là
THÍCH THÔNG LẠC.
Thời gian đầu,
Người được H.T Huệ Tánh, H.T Long An, H.T Thiện Tài, H.T Thiện Hòa trực tiếp chỉ
dạy kinh điển và Hán học. Hoà thượng Thích Thiện Hòa còn gửi Người vào Trường
Cao đẳng Phật học viện Huệ Nghiêm và Đại học Vạn Hạnh.
Thời gian
sau, Người được các vị Hòa thượng giới thiệu đi dạy trong các trường Bồ Đề. Lúc
bấy giờ, Người đang học tại Đại học Văn khoa Sài Gòn, và tiếp tục hướng tới du
học sang nước ngoài. Bên cạnh đó, có những thời điểm Người còn tham gia hoạt động
trong các phong trào yêu nước, đấu tranh giành độc lập, tự do cho Tổ quốc mình.
Năm 1970,
trong thời gian vừa đi học, vừa dạy học ở các trường tại Thành phố Sài Gòn, thì
được tin cha bệnh nặng, Người trở về Trảng Bàng chăm sóc và nuôi dưỡng cha. Ba
tháng sau, cha Người qua phần. Nhìn thấy cảnh bệnh tật và tử vong của cha, Người
suy nghĩ: “Cuộc đời này chẳng có gì cả, chỉ toàn là đau khổ. Vậy chạy
theo danh lợi để làm gì?…”. Thế là Người rời bỏ danh lợi thế gian,
theo Hòa thượng Thích Thanh Từ tu tập Thiền tông.
Sau ba tháng
an cư kiết hạ tại Thiền Viện Chân Không, Người ra Hòn Sơn ngoài biển Rạch Giá,
Kiên Giang, lên đỉnh Ma Thiên Lãnh, ăn lá cây rừng, uống nước suối, một mình tu
hành suốt thời gian chín tháng. Song, trong lòng vẫn nhớ mẹ không nguôi, nên
Người trở về Trảng Bàng, sống bên mẹ và tiếp tục tu hành.
Mặc dù miệt
mài tu tập, nhưng do không đúng Chánh pháp, nên Người không thấy sự giải thoát.
May thay, khi tìm được bộ kinh Nikaya do Hòa thượng Thích Minh Châu dịch từ tiếng
Pali sang tiếng Việt, Người nghiên cứu rất kỹ lưỡng, rồi tự mình tu tập đúng
Chánh pháp. Vì vậy, Người đã chứng đạt, làm chủ được sự sống chết sau thời gian
6 tháng. Đó là tháng 7 năm 1980.
Cuối năm
1980, mẹ Người thanh thản qua phần, sau ba tháng được Người hướng dẫn tu tập. Từ
đây, Người chuyên tâm vào việc chấn hưng Phật pháp:
– Việc thứ
nhất là trùng tu lại ngôi Chùa Am ngày xưa, lấy tên là TU VIỆN CHƠN NHƯ;
– Việc thứ
hai là chấn chỉnh lại tinh thần, đường lối Chánh pháp của Phật Thích Ca. Từ
những kinh nghiệm tu hành, Người đã biên soạn rất nhiều bộ sách, chuyên giảng dạy
đạo đức nhân bản – nhân quả sống không làm khổ mình, khổ người và khổ chúng
sanh, và những phương pháp tu tập làm chủ SINH, GIÀ, BỆNH, CHẾT cho tu sinh, phật
tử trong và ngoài nước.
Cuộc đời
hành đạo của đức Trưởng Lão trải dài 44 năm đầy gian nan, thử thách. Sóng gió
Chơn Như cũng không ít. Nhưng Người luôn vững tay chèo, với TÂM BẤT ĐỘNG lèo
lái con thuyền Chơn Như đến bờ bình an. Nhờ thế mà Tu Viện Chơn Như vẫn luôn sừng
sững hiên ngang và ngày càng phát triển.
Giờ đây và
muôn ngàn năm sau, ánh sáng của Chánh pháp do đức Trưởng lão Thích Thông Lạc dựng
lại vẫn cứ hiện hữu trên hành tinh này. Trong từ trường bất động, Người vẫn còn
sống mãi!
Kính ghi
Thích Mật Hạnh
2-
Bản dịch Tiếng Anh đã tạc bia:
THE
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Of The Fully Enlightened Master THICH THONG LAC
The
Fully Enlightened Master Thich Thong Lac, secular name Le Ngoc An, the Abbot of
Chon Nhu (Tathata) Monastery, was born on 28 May 1928 at his mother’s native
village of 18 Vuon Trau Village, Tan Thoi Nhi Commune, Hoc Mon District, Gia
Dinh Province (now Ho Chi Minh City).
His father,
Mr. Le Van Huan, Buddhist name Thich Thien Thanh, a Vietnamese traditional
medicine doctor. He was born in a Confucian family from Trang Bang Town, Tay
Ninh Province.
His mother,
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhung, a lower-primary education teacher, was also born in a
Confucian family. Her father was a chief at Tan Thoi Nhi Commune, Hoc Mon
District, Gia Dinh Province.
In early
childhood, the young Master Thich Thong Lac enjoyed accompanying his father to
learn how to practice Buddhism. His father gave him the Buddhist name Thich Tu
An. In 1936, at the age of 8, his parents let him leave home to study and
practice Buddhism under the guidance of the Venerable Thich Hue Tanh at Phuoc
Luu Pagoda in Trang Bang Town, Tay Ninh Province. The Venerable Thich Hue Tanh
gave him the new Buddhist name THICH THONG LAC.
In the
beginning, he was taught canons and Sinology by several masters: the Venerable
Thich Hue Tanh, the Venerable Thich Long An, the Venerable Thich Thien Tai and
the Venerable Thich Thien Hoa. The Venerable Thich Thien Hoa sent him to study
further at Hue Nghiem Buddhist College and the Van Hanh Buddhist University.
Later, he
was encouraged by several Venerables to teach in the Bodhi Schools. During that
time, he also studied at the Saigon University of Literature and prepared to
study abroad. Besides, he also participated in patriotic movements fighting for
independence and freedom of Vietnam, his homeland.
In 1970,
while studying and teaching at various schools in Saigon, his father became
seriously ill, so master Thich Thong Lac returned to Trang Bang to care for and
support him. Three months later, his father passed away. Witnessing his
father’s illness and death, he thought: “This worldly life has
nothing but suffering. So why do we seek fame and fortune in this material
world?…”. He abandoned the worldly aspirations of glory and wealth
to follow the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu to practice meditation.
After a
three-month rain retreat at Chan Khong Meditation Monastery, he went to Hon Son
Islet, off Rach Gia Coast, Kien Giang Province and stayed on Ma Thien Lanh
Peak. He ate forest leaves, drank stream water, and fully devoted himself to
solitary practice for nine months. However, he missed his mother so much he
could not be consoled, so he went back to his home town of Trang Bang to live
with her and continue his cultivation.
Despite his
determined and continual practice, he could not achieve the freedom from all
the suffering, because he had not been taught the true original teachings of
the Sakyamuni Buddha. Fortunately, he got a copy of the Nikaya Sutra translated
by the Venerable Thich Minh Chau from Pali into Vietnamese. After studying and
understanding thoroughly the content of the Nikaya Sutra, he began to
independently practice the unique method of the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original
teachings. In July 1980, after six month’s practice, he attained full
enlightenment and was able to master life and death.
At the end
of 1980, his mother departed this life peacefully, after practicing the
original Sakyamuni Buddha Dharma under his guidance for three month. Since
then, the master gave his whole mind to the revival of Buddhism:
– The first
activity was to restore the ancient AM Pagoda with the new name CHON NHU
Monastery.
– The second
was to revive the spirit and direction of the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original
teachings. Building upon the experience of his Buddhist practice, he wrote a
great number of books specializing in teaching the morality of humanity based
on the law of cause-and-effect, the way to live without causing suffering to
oneself, other people and other sentient beings, and the only path to master
BIRTH, AGING, SICKNESS, and DEATH. His books were read by Buddhist followers in
Vietnam and overseas.
The Master
Thich Thong Lac’s life of practicing and spreading Buddhism lasted over 44
years and was full of hardship and challenges. There were also many ups and
downs at Chon Nhu Monastery, but he always kept on rowing firmly in a state of
INNER PEACE (no desire, no anger, no ignorance). He piloted the Chon Nhu boat
to the shore safe and sound. As a result, Chon Nhu Monastery has stood proudly
and imposingly, and developed unceasingly.
At zero hour
of 2nd January 2013 (i.e. the 21st day of the eleventh month of the Vietnamese
lunar year of the Dragon), the Fully Enlightened Master Thich Thong Lac dropped
his physical body and entered into Nirvana, after having entrusted the future
generations with the mission to preserve the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original
teachings. With his zeal for this cause, “Chon Nhu will always remain a
place for re-establish morality based on humanity and the law of
cause-and-effect, the way of living without causing suffering to oneself, other
people and other sentient beings. This place will always be remembered as a
landmark in the history of the Vietnamese people and all humankind!”.
Now and for
thousands of years to come, the light of the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original
teachings restored by the Fully Enlightened Master Thich Thong Lac will
brightly shine on this planet. In the serene magnetic field (no suffering) here
and everywhere, long live Master Thich Thong Lac!
With respect
and regards,
Thich Mat Hanh
3- Bản
dịch Tiếng Anh của chuyên gia:
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Of The Fully Enlightened Master THICH THONG LAC
The
Fully Enlightened Master and Abbot of the Chon Nhu (Tathata) Monastery Thich
Thong Lac, whose secular name is Le Ngoc An, was born on 28 May 1928 in his
mother’s village of 18 Vuon Trau Village, Tan Thoi Nhi Commune, Hoc Mon
District, Gia Dinh Province (now Ho Chi Minh City).
His father,
Le Van Huan, whose Buddhist name is Thich Thien Thanh, was a doctor dedicated
to Vietnamese traditional medicine. He was born into a Confucian family from
Trang Bang Town, Tay Ninh Province.
His mother,
Nguyen Thi Nhung, a primary school teacher, was also born into a Confucian
family. Her father was a chief at Tan Thoi Nhi Commune, Hoc Mon District, Gia
Dinh Province.
During his
early childhood, Master Thich Thong Lac enjoyed learning Buddhist practices
from his father, who gave him the Buddhist name Thich Tu An. In 1936, at the
age of 8, his parents allowed him leave home to study and practice Buddhism
under the guidance of the Venerable Thich Hue Tanh at the Phuoc Luu Pagoda in
Trang Bang Town, Tay Ninh Province. The Venerable Thich Hue Tanh gave him the
new Buddhist name THICH THONG LAC.
In the
beginning, he was taught canons and Sinology by several masters: the Venerable
Thich Hue Tanh, the Venerable Thich Long An, the Venerable Thich Thien Tai, and
the Venerable Thich Thien Hoa. The Venerable Thich Thien Hoa sent him to the
Hue Nghiem Buddhist College and the Van Hanh Buddhist University to further his
education.
Later, he
was encouraged by several other Venerables to teach in Bodhi Schools. During
that time, he also studied at the Saigon University of Literature, prepared to
study abroad. Besides, he also participated in patriotic movements fighting for
independence and freedom of Vietnam, his homeland.
In 1970,
while studying and teaching at various Saigon schools, his father became
seriously ill, so he returned to Trang Bang to care for him. Three months
later, his father passed away. Witnessing his father’s illness and death, he
thought, “This worldly life is nothing but suffering. So why do we seek fame
and fortune in this material world?” He abandoned all worldly aspirations of
glory and wealth and decided to follow the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu in the
practice of meditation.
After a
three-month rain retreat in the Chan Khong Meditation Monastery, he went to Hon
Son Islet, off the Rach Gia Coast, Kien Giang Province, and stayed at the
summit of Ma Thien Lanh. He ate forest leaves, drank stream water, and fully
devoted himself to solitary meditation for nine months. However, he missed his
mother to the extent that he could not be consoled, so he went back to his home
town of Trang Bang to live with her and continue his cultivation.
Despite his
determined and continual practice, he could not free himself from all earthly
suffering because he had not been taught the true, original teachings of the
Sakyamuni Buddha. Fortunately, he obtained a copy of the Nikaya Sutra,
translated from Pali into Vietnamese by the Venerable Thich Minh Chau. After
thoroughly studying and understanding its contents, he began to independently
practice the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original teachings according to its unique
precepts. Six months later, in July 1980, he attained full enlightenment and
was able to master life and death.
At the end
of 1980, his mother passed away peacefully, after practicing the original
Sakyamuni Buddha Dharma under his guidance for three month. From then on, the
master surrendered his whole being to the revival of Buddhism:
– The first
activity was to restore the ancient AM (Hermitate) Pagoda with the new name
CHON NHU Monastery.
– The second
was to revive the spirit and direction of the original teachings of Sakyamuni
Buddha. Building upon the experience of his Buddhist practice, he wrote a great
number of books on human morality from the perspective of the law of
cause-and-effect, the way to live without causing suffering to oneself, other
people, and other sentient beings, and the only path to master BIRTH, AGING,
SICKNESS, and DEATH. His books were read by Buddhists in Vietnam and overseas.
Master Thich
Thong Lac’s spent more than 44 years of his life practicing and spreading
Buddhism and overcoming hardships and challenges. There were also many ups and
downs at Chon Nhu Monastery, but he always kept on rowing firmly in a state of
INNER PEACE (no desire, no anger, no ignorance). He piloted the Chon Nhu boat
to the shore safe and sound. As a result, Chon Nhu Monastery has stood proudly
and imposingly, and developed unceasingly.
At midnight
of 2 January 2013 (the 21st day of the eleventh month of the Vietnamese lunar
year of the Dragon), the Fully Enlightened Master Thich Thong Lac departed this
earthly existence and entered Nirvana, after having entrusted future
generations with the mission to preserve the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original
teachings. With his zeal for this cause, “Chon Nhu will always remain a place
for reestablishing morality based on humanity and the law of cause-and-effect,
the way of living without causing suffering to oneself, other people, and other
sentient beings. This place will always be remembered as a landmark in the
history of the Vietnamese people and all humankind!”
Now and for
thousands of years to come, the light of the Sakyamuni Buddha’s original
teachings, restored by the Fully Enlightened Master Thich Thong Lac, will shine
brightly on this planet. In the serene magnetic field (no suffering) here and
everywhere, long live Master Thich Thong Lac!
With respect
and regards,
Thich Mat Hanh
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