- THE SOLEMN ATMOSPHERE AT THE BUDDHIST CENTER
Under the warm morning sun of San Leandro, the multi-colored flowers at Thien Tinh Buddhist Center seemed to rejoice in welcoming the Most Venerable Monks, Nuns, and lay devotees from all over to attend the First Death Anniversary (Lễ Tiểu Tường) of the late Most Venerable Thich Viên Thành.
The ceremony took place in a warm and solemn atmosphere, marking one year since he departed from this temporary realm.
The Dharma disciples and the Abbess,
Bhikṣuṇī TN Lam Lien, kneeling to offer memorial prayers.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of over 50 Venerable Monks and Nuns and hundreds of Buddhists from the local community and surrounding areas, including:
VENERABLE MONKS:
- Most Venerable Thich Tinh Tu (Abbot of Kim Son Monastery)
- Most Venerable Thich Tinh Dieu (Vice Abbot of Kim Son Monastery)
- Most Venerable Thich Vien Ly (Chairman of the Executive Council of the Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Sangha, Abbot of Dieu Ngu Temple and Dieu Phap Temple)
- Most Venerable Thich Thong Dat (Abbot of Dai Nhat Nhu Lai Temple)
- Most Venerable Thich Tu Luc (Abbot of Pho Tu Temple, Hayward)
- Most Venerable Thich Nhuan Hai (Vice Chairman of External Affairs and Commissioner of the General Department of Legal Affairs of the Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Sangha, Abbot of Vien Ngo Monastery, Atlanta, Georgia)
- Venerable Thich Minh Nguyen (Commissioner of the General Department of Culture of the Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Sangha, Abbot of Phuoc Son Temple, Modesto, California)
- Venerable Thich Nhu Tu (Tu Lam Temple, San Jose, California) and many other venerable monks.
VENERABLE NUNS:
- Most Venerable Nun Dong Kinh (Vo Ưu Monastery, San Martin, California)
- Most Venerable Nun Tien Lien (Ngoc Minh Temple, San Diego)
- Most Venerable Nun Gioi Huong (Commissioner of the General Department of Nun Affairs of the Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Sangha, Abbess of Huong Sen Temple)
- Most Venerable Nun Tien Lien (Ngoc Hoa Temple, San Jose)
- Venerable Nun Nhat Lan (Giac Minh Temple, Palo Alto, California) and many other venerable nuns.
From right: Most Venerable Thich Vien Ly, Bhikṣuṇī TN Gioi Huong, Bhikṣuṇī TN Lam Lien, and Samaneri Vien Dieu
in front of the Memorial Hall of the late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thành.
- A LIFE OF DEVOTED SERVICE
In the memorial speech, Bhikṣuṇī TN Lam Lien (Abbess of Thien Tinh Buddhist Center, disciple of the late Most Venerable, and Vice Commissioner of the General Department of Nun Affairs of the Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Sangha) emotionally shared about the virtuous life of her teacher:
“Time flies so fast. For 87 years, our Teacher was present in this world. For 67 years, he cultivated his will and steadfast mind, immersing himself in the sutras with the vow to benefit all beings.
The Most Venerable not only left for the world the Thien Tinh Buddhist Meditation in San Leandro, California (established in 2008), but he also only lived in a small, simple room at the center as his residence for self-cultivation and to guide others until the end of his life.
He often taught the nuns and lay Buddhists: ‘Contentment is Great Fortune and Joyful Bliss’ (Tri túc - Đại phúc - Hỷ lạc). Therefore, over the past three decades, he traveled throughout various states and cities near and far, with the vow: ‘Wherever the people need me, I shall go, regardless of hardship or toil.’
Thien Tinh Buddhist Meditation serves as the dwelling place Transforming the destinies of those who stop by. Content in poverty, upholding the Way to reveal the Truth Contentment brings Great Fortune and Peaceful Joy.”
The sound of chanting echoes
in the main hall of Thien Tinh Buddhist Center.
- DHARMA WORDS FROM THE VENERABLE ELDERS
The high-ranking clergy offered profound Dharma words to praise the virtues and merits of the late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh:
- Most Venerable Thich Tinh Tu: Invoking the spirit of the poem "Wild geese cross the vast sky, leaving no shadow in the cold water," he remembered the late Most Venerable's life of service—one that left no traces of ego, yet whose merits endure like the sun and moon:
Wild geese glide through distant skies, leaving no trace behind,
The sun and moon for a thousand autumns, witness a heroic vow.
Life and death are light as air, the heart remains unburdened,
An autonomous moon, strolling through the eternal.
- Most Venerable Thich Tinh Dieu: The late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh left behind two verses of gatha for his disciples to follow:
Perfect Bodhi is true Great Enlightenment
Success in virtue delivers all beings.
(VIÊN mãn bồ đề chân đại giác
THÀNH công đạo hạnh độ quần sanh.)
The two words Vien Thanh—his Dharma name—encapsulate the entire journey of an enlightened being:
- The word VIEN: The Virtue of Self-Enlightenment (Perfect Bodhi)
- Meaning: "Vien" represents fullness and perfection without defect. He reminded practitioners to persistently cultivate the Bodhi mind and light the lamp of inherent wisdom to reach the shore of Enlightenment (Great Enlightenment). This is the personal cultivation that serves as the root of all liberation.
- The word THANH: The Virtue of Enlightening Others (Successful Virtue)
- Meaning: "Thanh" represents completion and fruitful results. When one’s virtue is steadfast, a practitioner does not stop at personal bliss but must enter the world, using morality and compassion to aid sentient beings (Delivering all beings). This is the true Spirit of Service of a Bodhisattva.
iii. Most Venerable Thich Vien Lý: The late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh (titled Minh Tinh) was not merely a practitioner but also held great responsibilities, such as Chairman of the Council of Discipline and Commissioner of the General Department of Sangha Affairs of the Overseas Vietnamese Unified Buddhist Sangha. Throughout his life, he committed himself tirelessly, doing everything within the capacity of a son of the Buddha to serve the Dharma.
The Spirit of Purity and Harmony Drawing from the Vinaya (monastic discipline), Most Venerable Thich Vien Ly emphasized the most noble virtues displayed by the deceased:
- Purity and Harmony: These are the two core elements that allow the Right Dharma to flourish. The late Most Venerable fully embodied the role of preserving the precepts, always maintaining harmony and purity when working with every member of the Sangha.
- Great Meritorious Grace: Whether one had the karmic affinity to meet him in person or only heard of his reputation through memorial words, all could feel the vast grace and virtue he left for the world.
Most Venerable Thich Vien Ly delivering the Dharma words.
- MEMORIAL RITUALS AND EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE
Following the Dharma words, the ceremony proceeded to the solemn spiritual rituals to pay tribute to the merits of the venerable teacher.
The Chanting and Memorial Rituals
- Official Rites: Praising the Buddha, chanting sutras, and offering food (Tiến cúng) to the soul of the late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh.
- The Sangha of Chanters: The ritual chants echoed in the main hall of Thien Tinh Buddhist Meditation to commemorate and remember the grace of the teacher who had been dedicated to overseas Buddhism and this very temple for over 20 years.
- Offerings to the Sangha (Trai Tăng): Following the memorial service was the offering of a ceremonial meal to the Sangha to dedicate the merits to the late Master.
The ceremony for offering a meal
and commemorating the Awakened Spirit.
- THE MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIVE VOLUME
Under the guidance of Most Venerable Thich Vien Ly, Bhikṣuṇī TN Lam Lien and the Dharma disciples dedicated great effort to creating a special spiritual gift:
- Content: The commemorative volume is a collection of poems and essays from the Venerable Sangha and lay Buddhists reflecting on the life and virtuous conduct of the late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh, accompanied by illustrative photographs.
- Purpose: The volume was presented as an offering to the Most Venerable Sangha as a gesture of gratitude and a means to preserve his spiritual legacy.
The Front Cover of the Commemorative Volume
for the Late Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh.
Back cover
- A PERFECT CONCLUSION
The First Anniversary Memorial Service concluded in a spirit of profound reverence and solemnity. Although the noble practitioner departed from this Saha world exactly one year ago, the values he left behind remains ever-present:
- The Grace of Guidance: His disciples will forever engrave in their hearts:
The grace of your guidance for a lifetime builds my wisdom-life,
The debt to one's Master is difficult to repay in ten thousand lifetimes.
(Ân giáo dưỡng một đời nên huệ mạng
Nghĩa ân sư muôn kiếp khó đáp đền.)
Offering of Dana to the Monastic Community.
- A Promise of Succession: Before the memorial altar, Bhikṣuṇī TN Lam Lien, Bhikṣuṇī TN Lien Phung, and the disciples vowed to carry on the mission of spreading the Dharma to save sentient beings and to practice the spiritual legacy that their Graceful Master left for overseas Buddhism and the Thien Tinh Buddhist Meditation.
- Prayers: The entire assembly united in mind to pray for the Awakened Spirit of the late Most Venerable to ascend to the Buddha-realm, and then return to the Saha world, manifesting in countless forms to continue guiding sentient beings.
Most Venerable Thich Vien Thanh will forever be a shining torch and a sheltering tree for future generations on the path back to the shore of enlightenment.
Namo Witnessing Master Bodhisattva Mahasattva witness.
Oakland Airport, California, 3:00 PM – April 24, 2026
Quick notes taken on the flight back to Southern California,
Respectfully reported,
Bhikṣuṇī TN Gioi Huong
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please read the whole article with colorful photos: Death_Aniversary_of_Ven_TVien_Thanh_-_TN_Gioi_Huong.docx
