Welcoming spring at Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery

Spring 2024 at the Zen Monastery - Photo: Truc Lam Phuong Nam

On a spring day, the warm sunshine makes the apricot buds bloom, the yellow color is captivating along the roads of the Mekong Delta. Amidst that blue color, the road to Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is also bustling with people going to worship Buddha.

Since its inauguration in 2014, every year when returning to Can Tho to celebrate Tet, my family has visited Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery as the first departure point of the year that all members look forward to.

This place is not only for praying for blessings, but also a spring destination that makes your soul peaceful and pure.

Standing amidst the beautiful and sacred scenery listening to the temple bells, my heart suddenly feels light as the clouds, all the hardships of the past year seem to disappear.

Located in My Khanh, Phong Dien district, Can Tho city, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is about 15km from the city center. This is the largest Zen monastery in the West and one of the largest Buddhist structures in the Southwest.

Sala flowers at Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery

The first impression when arriving here is the row of sala trees planted around the fence and scattered throughout the monastery grounds. Some people say it is the unicorn jade tree, but I prefer to call it sala or worry-free, a flower associated with the birth of Buddha, with an extremely pure fragrance.

I held out my hand to catch the sacred flowers and turned my eyes to the Zen monastery. Here was the three-entrance gate with its boat-shaped design and four curved blades. The gate was covered with red shark-shaped tiles and decorated with a pattern of two dragons facing a Dharma wheel right at the top.

Three paths open to welcome visitors to the Zen monastery, as if welcoming a very smooth and favorable first day of the year.

On a spring morning, the Zen monastery courtyard was filled with sunlight. The apricot pots glowed with brilliant yellow, next to the marigold pots, as if gathering all the vitality of heaven and earth into the flowers.

After two years of economic hardship, this year seems to be more prosperous as the number of people coming to the monastery is extremely crowded.

Joining the bustling crowd, I was also excited and joyful. There were groups of girls wearing modernized ao dai of various colors or groups wearing solemn Buddhist robes. All painted a picture of a festival season where Truc Lam Phuong Nam Can Tho Zen Monastery was the gathering place.

My children were fascinated by the eighteen stone Arhat statues. Every year they took souvenir photos and reviewed the lessons in their textbooks. From the yard, go straight to the main hall, also known as Dai Hung Buu Dien, roofed with tiles in the style of the Tran Dynasty and able to accommodate hundreds of worshippers.

To the right of the main hall is the bell tower with a 1.5-ton great bell, and to the left is the drum tower. The columns are all made of precious ironwood. Especially inside the main hall, the supporting columns are carved with delicate dragon and phoenix images and are hung with gilded red-lacquered parallel sentences, creating a truly majestic and unique impression.

My family and I entered the Buddhist temple with all our sincerity, praying for a year of favorable weather, health and peace.

In the middle of the main hall is a 3.5-ton bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. In addition, there are statues of Bodhisattvas and patriarchs carved from 800-year-old fir wood.

At the beginning of the year, people go to the temple not only to pray for health and peace, but also to show respect and be kind.

After offering flowers and fruits to Buddha and some money, I wrote down my name to pray for the deceased and for the peace of my family.

In the incense smoke that made my eyes sting, I prayed that difficulties would gradually pass and good luck would come.

In the early spring moment, I was moved when standing in the solemn atmosphere of the Zen monastery. I seemed to feel Buddha's presence clearly revealing my heart, feeling that I could take refuge in my soul in the most trustworthy way.

After offering incense, my family and I went sightseeing and took photos around the Zen monastery. In the area of ​​over 4 hectares, there are many other interesting religious structures, and there is also a medical examination area where free medicine is given to people.

Finally, the family's favorite place is still the lotus lake area with the One Pillar Pagoda, which simulates the architecture of the One Pillar Pagoda in Hanoi.

The whole family took pictures with the curved bridge next to the weeping willows, peacefully listening to the sound of fish snapping their claws under the giant lotus leaves, then watching the waves spread out like concentric circles, the sunlight shimmering on the water lilies and lotus flowers, and melodious Zen music in the wind.

Coming back to Truc Lam Phuong Nam Can Tho Zen Monastery at the beginning of the year, I found the trip very meaningful. I was happy because I had peaceful spring moments at the Buddha's door, but besides that, I could also admire the unique cultural and architectural features, blending in with the joyful spring atmosphere of the land and sky, and importantly, having a happy and joyful spring trip with my family.

Taking place from January 25 to February 24, the My Tet Moments contest is an opportunity for readers to introduce the most beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences during Tet with relatives and friends.

The Organizing Committee has received nearly 600 articles from readers in the past month. More than 50 articles have been selected and are being published on Tuoi Tre Online . We would like to thank readers for submitting their entries and following the contest taking place during the Tet Giap Thin this year.

Some articles will continue to be posted in the near future.

The award ceremony and summary are expected to take place in March 2024. The prize structure includes 1 first prize (15 million VND in cash and gifts), 2 second prizes (7 million VND and gifts), 3 third prizes (5 million VND and gifts).

The program is sponsored by HDBank.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/don-xuan-o-thien-vien-truc-lam-phuong-nam-2024030307482844.htm