Theravada in Vietnam

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vudcnh
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by vudcnh »

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ati/tip ... .than.html

So I guess that keeping sila is really important for a meditation practice and is the thing that require the most will. Other things come more naturally when that is set in place. Is that what you are implying, Paul ?
Thanks for your concern and answers. It's much appreciated.
:reading:
paul
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by paul »

So based on the reading you link, I should focus on my conduct and behavior to achieve a remorseless state before I can process to other lofty ideal.
Do you attend any kathina here, do you practice with a group or you do it alone?
I wonder what practice in wilderness mean? I have little experience with this. Like a weekend trip to the forest?

I will answer your PM questions on the forum, as they may be of value to others. Keep the discussion on the forum.


From your previous information it can be seen that the influence of conventional reality is too dominant in your life causing some mental disturbance and you need to rein it in, as samsara is a hallucination and if you afford it too much credibility it must naturally lead to suffering. This is not just doctrine, it’s a cosmic law, but because people are blinded by the appearance of authority in CR, they don’t see that the things they are doing are leading to suffering, and this delusion must be penetrated. The way this is achieved is to separate lifestyle from conventional reality as far as possible, and to develop a mentality which isolates CR and downgrades its influence, to treat it for what it is, a functional network based on name with no inherent reality apart from the maintenance of the body. This is what renunciation means and it is a basic Theravada attitude, included in the second link of the noble eightfold path.

“The Buddha describes his teaching as running contrary to the way of the world. The way of the world is the way of desire, and the unenlightened who follow this way flow with the current of desire, seeking happiness by pursuing the objects in which they imagine they will find fulfillment. The Buddha's message of renunciation states exactly the opposite: the pull of desire is to be resisted and eventually abandoned. Desire is to be abandoned not because it is morally evil but because it is a root of suffering.[17] Thus renunciation, turning away from craving and its drive for gratification, becomes the key to happiness, to freedom from the hold of attachment.”—-‘The Noble Eightfold Path’, Bikkhu Bodhi.

Internally this involves transferring the source of gratification from feelings of the flesh to feelings not of the flesh, and the initial way of doing that is to substitute the experience of wilderness for perceptions related to human society as instructed in MN 121. The way individuals implement this by restructuring their lives will depend on their insight into how necessary and urgent it is. As AN 11.2 says, virtue (renunciation) causes the factors of samadhi to arise spontaneously, and a tranquil mind is a necessary basis for insight.

I don’t need to practice with any group these days, but earlier I went through a stage of living in monasteries in Sri Lanka and Thailand. One of the most valuable practical benefits I derived from that is the observation of the monastic routine, including noble silence and the eating schedule, both of which I continue to pursue in lay life. Noble silence means not talking unless you have some definite information to impart, which takes a little for others to get used to, but it’s a necessary implementation in order to maintain mindfulness.
sgns
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by sgns »

In the US there are a handful of Vietnamese-American Theravada communities. From what I understand the most senior monastic in these communities is Bhante Khippapanno, who grew up in Southern Vietnam and practiced for many years with Munindra and Mahasi, and later U Tejaniya.

Here's a link to the Binh Anson's writing about Vietnamese Theravada in English, to supplement the one pilgrim posted--
https://www.budsas.org/ebud/vn_thera.htm

Binh also put together a list of Theravada Vietnamese temples outside of Vietnam:

Chùa Pháp Vân, Pomona, California
Thích Ca Thiền Viện, Riverside, California
Như Lai Thiền Viện, San Jose, California
Chùa Phật Pháp, St Petersburg, Florida
Pháp Đăng Thiền Viện, Spring Hill, Florida
Chùa Pháp Luân, Houston, Texas
Chùa Đạo Quang, Garland, Texas
Chùa Hương Đạo, Fort Worth, Texas
Chùa Liên Hoa, Irving, Texas
Chùa Bửu Môn, Port Arthur, Texas
Chùa Kỳ Viên, Washington DC
Bát Nhã Thiền Viện, Montréal, Québec
Chùa Kỳ Viên, Paris, France
Chùa Phật Bảo, Paris, France

I learned about Binh Anson through reading the Angry Asian Buddhist blog, written by Aaron Lee who recently passed away. He wrote a handful of posts about Vietnamese Theravada (read all the way through, as this tag also has some Mahayana) http://dharmafolk.org/tag/vietnamese/
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pilgrim
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by pilgrim »

There is also a small but thriving bhkkhuni sangha in Vietnam.
https://www.facebook.com/Nivienvienkhong/
http://www.khemarama.com/
http://www.trungtamhotong.org/
vudcnh
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by vudcnh »

:candle:
I have met the nun that lead Khemarama. She was in Hanoi last week. Her name is Dhammanand.
I also have met Binh Anson, an incredible lay man who is doing great work.
I think ( tho not sure) the occasion of meeting Binh Anson was when ven khippapano arrive.
So in term of punna, I guess I have good blessings of seeing those people for a short while in the past.
There is much interest here and more monks and nuns are staying in the north.
Tho the Buddhist lay groups are quite chaotic and not very harmonious.
I saw one of my dhamma friend who not belong to this cultish group, they recite some weird mantra and go to the North of Thailand.
The seeds are being planted. May it grow to big tall tree.
vudcnh
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by vudcnh »

:reading:
Thank you, Paul.
Yet another great answer.
Concise and to the point.
:namaste:
paul
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by paul »

Buddhism contributes to national defence, construction and development:
http://en.nhandan.org.vn/politics/item/ ... vesak.html
paul
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by paul »

Khmer-Krom conference:
http://unpo.org/article/20747
User1249x
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by User1249x »

paul
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by paul »

Sangha praised for contributing to national construction:
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/party-officia ... 131460.vnp
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robertk
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by robertk »

I am flying to Hanoi tonight to meet with Sujin Boriharnwanaket and many others, to discuss Abhidhamma and the development of insight in daily life.Will stay for 3 nights. Discussions in English and Vietnamese.
If anyone wants to join let me know.
kalyanamitta
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by kalyanamitta »

Curious if anyone here could kindly recommend temples in Vietnam to visit for practice purposes. I will be in Vietnam for one month near the end of June and most of July, starting in Hanoi and ending in Ho Chi Minh City, traveling by land. I have previously practiced in Thai, Korean, and Taiwanese temples for intensive retreat and currently reside as a layperson in traditional monastic setting. I would be grateful to learn from the Vietnamese perspective as well.

Does anyone know of temples in Vietnam open to courteous foreign practitioners (either for day-visit or for short-term retreat) with no Vietnamese language ability?

Thank you kindly.

:buddha1:
:buddha1: Buddhism, contemplative practice, philosophy: https://unityinplurality.blogspot.com/ :buddha1:
paul
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Location: Cambodia

Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by paul »

All temples in Vietnam are open for day visits as spiritual tourism is the main form of practice of the populace, and tourism falls under the government directive of ‘construction’. So Truc Lam temple Bach Ma at the least is open to day visits:
https://www.alotrip.com/guide-vietnam-a ... -monastery

Truc Lam temple Da Lat (a mountainous and cooler area) offers longer retreats and instruction:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trúc_Lâm_Temple

I can arrange a (paid) translator for you whom you can keep in contact with by phone if necessary.
paul
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Re: Theravada in Vietnam

Post by paul »

Truc Lam monastery
VII. Visitors' Guidelines



Most of visitors fall into one of these three categories: incense offering, sightseeing, and stay-over guests. All should preserve courtesy, respect, and seriousness in their presence at monasteries. 

1 Visitors who sightsee or make insense offerings The monasteries have 2 areas: Inner section and outer section. Visitors can access to outer section. Only when they want to learn or make a research on the practicing method of the monastery, they can get into the inner section with the guest host after being authorized.
2 Stay-over guests – Short period of time If visitors would like to stay with their relative(s), who currently lives at the monastery, or pursue a research, they should be allowed to stay upto 7 days.
3 Stay-over guests – Long period of time Only two types of guests could stay upto 3 months:
1 learning and practicing
2 prolong practicing. An exception is raised when they require more time to complete their practice. This should be reviewed by the Master.
4 Female laities or nuns could not stay overnight at monasteries for monks and vice versa.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Truc Lam Monastery Schedule

Daily:

Time Indication Activity
3:30 a.m. Bell resounding
(3 series of pounding) Wakeup,recite verses,
meditation begins
5:30 a.m. Bell resounding
(a series of pounding) Meditation ends
6:15 a.m. Metal plate resounding
(3 times) Light breakfast
7:30 a.m. Metal plate resounding
(3 times) Duty begins
11:00 a.m. Gong-like resounding
(a series of pounding) Duty ends
12 noon Metal plate resounding
(3 times) Lunch
1:00 p.m. Bell resounding
(3 times) Nap time
2:00 p.m. Bell resounding
(3 series of pounding) Wakeup
2:30 p.m. Bell resounding
(3 times) Meditation begins
4:30 p.m. Bell resounding
(a series of pounding) Nap time
5:00 p.m. Metal plate Resounding
(3 times) Light dinner
6:00 p.m. Bell resounding
(3 times) Repentance
7:30 p.m. Bell Resounding
(3 times) Recite the verses of meditation,
meditation begins
9:30 p.m. Bell resounding
(a series of pounding) Meditation ends
10:00 p.m. Bell resounding
(3 times) Sleep time
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