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Zen Master Truc Lam No. 11
This year, the Winter Retreat continues to study the six Zen schools that have been present in Vietnam from the third century until now, namely:
- Master Tang Hoi (3rd century)
- Dat Ma De Ba (5th century)
- Ty Ni Da Luu Chi with Master Vinitaruci (6th century)
- Vo Ngon Thong (9th century)
- Thao Duong (11th century)
- Truc Lam (13th century)
The Truc Lam Zen school – Bamboo Forest – is a comprehensive, national tradition, born in the Tran dynasty, with Zen Masters Thuong Chieu, Thong Thien, Than Nghi, Hien Quang… and the flourishing period of King Tran Thai Tong, Tran Nhan Tong, along with the Truc Lam Three Patriarchs: Phap Loa, Huyen Quang.
Tue Trung Thuong Si – a lay Zen master of the Tran dynasty – taught to break attachment to forms such as precepts, patience, vegetarianism… in order to see the original Dharma body as impermanent, neither pure nor impure, neither separate nor still. Verses such as “keeping precepts and patience only adds to karma, not to merit,” or “form is emptiness, emptiness is form,” all point out that merit and demerit, form and emptiness, mindlessness are not the Way, but all arise from a mind that does not cling to notions, living in mindfulness, not seeking after words.
Practice walking meditation, mindful breathing to recognize the “wondrous original melody, naturally sung” – the miraculous song available in each breath. Our true home is not far away, but right in the present moment: every pine tree, path, bell sound, flower petal, peaceful step is a Dharma practice and a place to come home to.
