Author: Thích Phước Đạt

Viên Minh Translated to English  Read in Vietnamese

It was not by chance that during Trần Dynasty in Vietnam – which was called Đại Việt in that era - the tradition of reciting the Buddha’s name remained as a method of spiritual practice in many of the monasteries. Although during this period of the birth of Trúc Lâm Zen tradition, of which meditation was the main staple to behold the Buddha nature and attain enlightenment (v. kiến tánh thành Phật), it is remarkable that the Buddha recitation was still assured and recommended widely by the Trúc Lâm Zen masters in all areas and levels of practice, and that people were encouraged to continuously practice at all time, and in all places and situations of life. (Translator’s note: “Trúc Lâm” – literally translated to “Bamboo Forest” and “thiền” is Zen in Japanese or Ch’an in Chinese. According to Zen master Thích Thanh Từ, Thiền Trúc Lâm is the predominant Zen tradition during the Trần dynasty, and is known widely as Vietnamese Zen sect.)