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Aulacese (Vietnamese) Buddhist Temple: Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda (In Aulacese)
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Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented in
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
with subtitles in Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian and Spanish.
Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a
country in Southeast Asia
with a history
of over 4,000 years
of civilization.
Around 300 BCE,
under the reign
of King Hùng III,
Buddhism was introduced
to Âu Lạc from India.
Since then Âu Lạc has
become the birthplace
of many venerable
monks and nuns.
Among them were
great intellectuals, who
contributed immensely to
the nation’s development.
For example,
in the 11th century
Lý dynasty, there were
Zen Master Vạn Hạnh
and National Master
Nguyễn Minh Không;
in the 13th century
Trần dynasty, there were
Trúc Lâm First Patriarch
Trần Nhân Tông
and Zen Master
Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ;
and more recently,
in the 20th century,
the Most Venerable
Thích Mãn Giác,
who worked tirelessly
to disseminate
Truth teachings.
Buddhism reached
its pinnacle in the Lý
and Trần dynasties.
An excerpt from
“A Collection
of Unusual Tales,”
written by Nguyễn Dữ,
describes:
“Those initiated into
monkhood or nunhood
were as many as half of
the general population.
Pagodas were constructed,
more than 10
in large villages,
and about 5, 6
in small villages.”
Pagodas can be found
throughout the nation,
from north to south.
For instance,
northern Âu Lạc has
the One Pillar Pagoda,
built around 1049;
Perfume Pagoda,
built at the end
of the 17th century;
and Đậu Pagoda
in the 11th century
under Lý dynasty.
The Central region has
Celestial Seal Pagoda,
built in 1694;
Từ Đàm Pagoda
built at the end
of the 17th century; and
Heavenly Lady Pagoda,
officially built in 1601.
The Heavenly Lady Pagoda
in the Complex
of Huế Monuments
was recognized by
the United Nations
Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) in 1993 as a
World Cultural Heritage
site.
Southern Âu Lạc has
Sacred Mountain Cave
Temple,
built in the 18th century,
and Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
at the beginning
of the 19th century.
From the 20th century
till now,
Buddhism in Âu Lạc
continues to flourish.
The number of Buddhists
taking refuge
in the Three Jewels
(Enlightened Master,
Truth, Saintly Assembly)
have reached
nearly 45 million.
The entire nation has about
44,498 monks and nuns,
with more than
14,775 pagodas, temples
and monasteries.
The temple has become
an endearing image
closely connected
to the life of
the Aulacese people,
who go to the temple
not only to study Buddhism
and find inner peace,
but also to be reminded
of their ancestors’ virtues,
as stated by
the Most Venerable
Thích Mãn Giác:
“The temple protects
the spirit of the nation,
It’s our ancestors’ way
of life
since time immemorial.”
During a lecture
at the Việt Nam Temple
in Los Angeles,
California, USA
on March 24, 1991,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
expounded on
the purpose and
significance of a temple.
A temple is
an important place.
Why is it important?
It’s important
not because it’s big
but because
it reminds everyone
not to forget his or her
spiritual aspiration.
Therefore, a temple is
a place for you to come
to study Buddhism,
to stand and walk
more dignified.
You must find the monks
to study Truth teachings
so that your mind
develops further.
But you must protect
the temple.
For example,
if you’ve been going there
for a long time,
the temple would inevitably
have wear and tear,
so you should contribute
your effort and material
resources to upkeep it.
First, the temple represents
the long-standing culture
of Âu Lạc (Vietnam);
it represents a great
religion in the world.
Second, it’s there so that
you can have a refuge
for the spirit, and
third, for our children
to have a place to continue
the virtuous traditions
of the Aulacese
(Vietnamese) people.
We are deeply grateful to
Supreme Master Ching Hai
for her
treasured words
and boundless grace
for the nation and
the righteous and pious
people of Âu Lạc.
On the first day
of the lunar month,
I visit the temple.
I go with my mother
to buy lotus flowers.
I go to the temple
to offer all my soul
and sincere reverence
to Buddha.
The scent
of aloe wood incense
permeates the air.
In my earnest prayer,
I dream of Buddha.
The Most Compassionate
appears composedly serene.
I dream
that Buddha is smiling.
The rhythm
of scripture reciting
reverberates in my heart,
blending with the sounds
of tocsin and brass bells.
The love I feel
from the Father of old
is deeply imprinted
in my innocent mind.
I pray to Buddha to bless me
so that I can become
an obedient child.
From now on,
I’ll stop indulging in play.
I’m determined and vow
to study diligently.
From now on,
I’ll stop indulging in play.
I’m determined and vow
to study diligently.
From now on,
I’ll stop indulging in play.
I’m determined and vow
to study diligently.
You’ve just enjoyed
“Going to the Temple,”
a Buddhist song
widely known among
the Aulacese (Vietnamese),
composed by
Dương Thiện Hiền
and performed by
famed singer Lệ Thu.
“Buddha abounds in love
This pagoda is thus named
Vĩnh Tràng (Eternal)
Monks care
for their country
Their hearts are like
Tiền Giang River.”
The above four verses
by poet Xuân Thủy
are dedicated to
a famous ancient temple
in southern Âu Lạc,
which has been listed
as a historical
and cultural vestige
of national significance:
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda.
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
is located in Mỹ Tho City,
Tiền Giang Province.
It was created out
of wood by
architects and sculptors
in the late 19th century,
containing carved images
which convey
a mythical mood and
reflect a royal ambience.
From afar, the roof
of Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
has five majestic towers,
which stand out
under the blue sky.
Do you know why the
Pagoda has five towers?
As far as I know,
these five towers symbolize
the five basic elements
which are metal, wood,
water, fire and earth.
According to
Eastern philosophy,
everything in the universe
originates from
the five basic elements.
In the past, the pagoda
was only a simple hut
built in about
the early 19th century
under the reign
of King Minh Mạng.
In 1849,
when the Venerable
Thích Huệ Đăng
came to preside over,
he rebuilt it
into a large pagoda
named Vĩnh Trường,
implying good wishes
for the pagoda to be
“eternal like
mountains and rivers,
everlasting like
Heaven and Earth.”
Later, due to
local pronunciation,
people became accustomed
to calling it Vĩnh Tràng.
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
was built in a grand,
sophisticated
and architecturally
diverse manner,
combining European
and Asian styles.
There are features of
the European Renaissance,
the Roman dome,
the French motley marbles,
and Japanese enamel tiles.
From afar, it looks like
the ancient Angkor Wat
of Cambodia.
In the front of the pagoda,
there are two triple door
gates, built very skillfully
in the style
of ancient castles by
the craftsmen from Huế.
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda’s
triple door gates
are unique in the art of
grafting porcelain pieces
into mosaic pictures
with harmonious colors,
illustrating
Buddhist legends,
folk tales, themes such as
four precious plants
(apricot, orchid,
chrysanthemum,
and bamboo)
and four sacred beings
(dragon, unicorn,
tortoise, and phoenix),
and images of flowers.
Parallel verses, also
embossed with glistening
colorful porcelain pieces,
are truly spectacular.
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda has
4 connected compartments.
The front hall,
the main hall,
the patriarch hall,
and the back hall
are all built from cement
and precious wood
with vibrant architecture
and sculptures.
Inside the temple is
a sparkling golden color,
generated by the gilding
on embossed images
and statues of Buddhas.
Most notable
are the pairs of
large, round dragon pillars
in the main hall.
The main hall is
solemnly decorated with
many treasurable statues
made out of bronze,
wood, and terra cotta;
all are brightly gilded.
In the center are the altars
of Shakyamuni Buddha,
Amitabha Buddha,
Quan Yin Bodhisattva,
and Mahasthamaprapta
Bodhisattva.
On both sides
are two statues
of Dharma Guardians,
the Ten Kings of Hades,
and the Earth-store
Bodhisattva.
On two walls
of the main hall are
the altars of the 18 Arhats.
These life-like statues
of the Arhats
are carved from
precious and rare wood.
Each Arhat has
his own treasure
symbolizing the senses
which are called
the six sense organs
in Buddhist teaching,
including the eyes,
the ears, the nose,
the tongue, the body,
and the mind.
Thư, come take look at
these Arhat statues!
Are they the 18 Arhats?
Yes.
These were Buddha’s
18 disciples who attained
Arhathood and gained
six miraculous powers.
I saw them being worshiped
at many temples.
It’s because
they remain in the world to
guard the True Teaching
and benefit sentient beings.
The bronze statue
of the Jade Emperor
is life-size, but
unlike the past tradition,
the Jade Emperor here
has no
Southern and Northern
Hemisphere Deities
holding the register
of birth and death;
instead, there are
Good and Evil Deities.
In addition, the pagoda
has many meticulously
carved pieces such as
that of the Eight Fairies
riding animals,
the Sun Deity
and Moon Deity;
all were created
by local craftsmen
in about 1907-1908.
I heard
that the Eight Fairies
are enlightened
spiritual practitioners,
but why do they have
the Sun Deity
and Moon Deity here?
I think we Aulacese,
since ancient times,
have realized
that the Sun and Moon
are beings
of high spiritual level;
therefore we worship them.
The lacquered boards
and parallel verses
in the pagoda
were sculptured
with embossed letters.
Also, the pagoda still keeps
more than 20 valuable
watercolor paintings
characteristic
of Aulacese culture,
such as images of
“apricot, orchid,
chrysanthemum, bamboo”
and idyllic sceneries.
It’s beautiful!
But I wonder
what spiritual meaning
this precious set of
“apricot, orchid,
chrysanthemum, bamboo”
has in order for it
to be placed here.
For sure it has meaning.
These four plants
symbolize the four qualities
of a noble person;
for example, apricot
symbolizes elegance,
orchid for modesty,
chrysanthemum
for honesty, and
bamboo for patience.
I see.
A spiritual practitioner
needs to possess
these virtues.
Connecting the main hall
and the patriarch hall
is a rock garden
in the middle.
This rock garden portrays
effervescent scenery
characteristic of Âu Lạc,
conveying the ancestors’
wish to bring nature
inside each abode.
Looking out
from the rock garden
toward the back
of the main hall,
at the front of
the patriarch hall
one can see the Roman style
of architecture with lines
of French motley marbles
decorated on the roof and
ceremonial cement pillars.
Around the pagoda
is a garden
with many rare plants,
scented flowers
and century-old
shade-giving trees, creating
a wonderful harmony
between the natural setting
and the structure,
making the pagoda
more antique, solemn,
and majestic.
In the front of the pagoda,
there is a statue
of Shakyamuni Buddha
meditating
under the bodhi tree.
On the right
are the lotus pond and
Quan Yin Bodhisattva
statue.
On both sides, there are
many ancient towers
of the late Venerables.
At the back of the pagoda
are the meeting hall
and bookstore.
Recently, two more
towering statues
of Amitabha
and Maitreya Buddhas
were constructed.
The Amitabha Buddha
statue is 24 meters high,
standing majestically
in the middle of
the spacious garden,
portraying Lord Buddha
taking care of
sentient beings
in all realms.
The Maitreya Buddha
statue is 20 meters high;
underneath
is a large and airy space
with lighting
and decorative lamps
designed with
a very Zen ambience.
These two Buddhas are
also the most worshipped
in Asian countries
because of their
compassionate vows.
In 1984,
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
was recognized by Âu Lạc
as a nationally
historical vestige.
In May 2007,
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
was recognized
by the Aulacese Book
of Records
as the first temple
in Âu Lạc
to have combined
European and Asian
architectural styles.
Today,
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda
has been further enhanced.
It is a solemn place
for Buddhists
to come to worship
and be reminded of
the boundless love
of the Buddhas,
Bodhisattvas and Saints
who continuously bless
and elevate all beings.
Thank you
for watching today’s
program introducing
Vĩnh Tràng Pagoda,
a famous ancient temple
in southern Âu Lạc.
May you be graced
with peace, wisdom
and virtue always.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up next is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
right after
Noteworthy News.
So long for now.
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