Our teacher! The one who gives us passion, an influencer

In current social life, there are many famous people with both fame and scandals, who have specific influence on society, could we call them influencers? After many concerns, I’m wondering “who is an influencer?” I suddenly remember our teacher, the leader of Hoang Phap Pagoda, all your actions and your moral conduct are the passion, the motivation to many people, to make their dreams of coming back to a good life come true.

 

 

Dear Master! It has been more than twenty years since the day I started finding the right path. On that day, when I was just fifteen, I was so naïve and innocent, but I had enough blessings to visit Hoang Phap Pagoda with my mother. I thought it was just a random visit, but a few years after when I was eighteen, I decided to be at the Pagoda for one year to contribute to the fruit of the good deeds. When I came to the pagoda, it was very confusing and strange to me. But how blessed it was, as Hoang Phap under your guidance was very logical. The content of studying was so impressive. That was why I got on very well. And how surprising, when we as Buddhists were allowed to enjoy our meals together with the Monks, also to be shared the Buddha-Drama or any news at that time by you, to bring Buddha-Drama closer to everyone. The breakfast was the big meal of the big Hoang Phap Family with enough physical food, Drama and the love to us.  How great it was! Then time passed by, I had to get back to my own life of learning. But that one year was a year full of happiness and became my motivation for learning the right way of my life.

 

At that time, I did not understand who can be an influence? How could I be so passionate and influenced? 

And seven years later, when I had grown up and finished my career, I collected enough blessings to come back to Hoang Phap Pagoda for deep learning – full-time studying at Hoang Phap. Since then, a new page of my life has turned.

 

Years after years, from eighteen years old to twenty-five years old, and then to thirty, my youth is called “Hoang Phap”! Every beginning of the day,  I was bathed in milk of Dharma by the Master, after that by the Monks, which made Bodhidharma in me grow. I visited the Pagoda for the first day because I found it peaceful, respected and deliverance Monks. It was out of my expectation that: Such an aspirant Master like you made normal persons like me become extraordinary. It means that I sacrifice my youth to study Buddhism. It also means that I left my ego behind to reach out to the great world, and more extraordinary is that I wanted to become Buddha. It might sound so brave “becoming Buddha”, but under your guidance, I know that I must have prayers to become Buddha as well as to relieve human beings from suffering. Why? Because the Buddha’s Dharma is to bring human beings from being vague, hurtful to the station of happiness and joy.

 

 

Especially, the Buddhists bring the Buddhism Dharma to destined human beings, there is you – Master Thich Chan Tinh. You always motivate, help the monks to study opportunities, learn how to present, organize events, write books… We as practitioners are given opportunities to study as well. You then always think of new studying courses for many generations… and write many books, comics, poetry… hopes to bring Buddhism to our kind lives. There are many more programs and ways that I cannot describe it all, but if it’s beneficial you will apply it. Time passes by, there are many people that can read, hear, and learn from you – a never tiring sample in studying and spreading the light of Buddhism to everywhere. 

 

 

Today, at the dining hall of Hoang Phap Pagoda, our kind father who is over sixty year olds always motivates us. “Learners must have great spirits, great prayers, which make great power” or “Don’t study like floating water hyacinth, don’t study while waiting deaths”.

 

 

Feelings run through my veins! When I look at your grey hair, weak legs and wrinkles on your face, yet your spirit is still sharp and great. You overcame many challenges, even you were harmed by others… but your direction is always straight ahead, to lead by example for everyone. We must try our best, overcome every challenge, and live independently. You always teach us “When it is blurred, our Teacher is with you. You can walk by yourself when you are enlightened”. You always think for everyone, and want everyone to walk by themselves strongly. 

 

 

How amazing you are! We wondered why we were destined to meet you – Ambassador of Tathàgata – whose life is the answer for “Living a good life, with good morality is real, is what everyone can do.” Therefore, I found out that I need to change myself, not to disappoint you! Now I know what an influencer is! You make us motivated, passionate in doing impossible things. A normal person becomes extraordinary. I appreciate you, a kind father who helped make my life more meaningful and beautiful. I also believe that it’s not me but everyone meeting you will feel the same. “Someone with great spirit must have great endurance to be able to do extraordinary things.” – by Thich Chan Tinh.

 

With kind regards to our master – an influencer!

 

Best regards,

 

 

Phuoc Hue.  

Translated into English by Nguyen Thi Mai Thao