History of Venerable Dr Thich Huyen-Vi

On an auspicious day, 8th April, 1926, at Ninh-Thuận, South of Vietnam, a son, who was going to be a great Buddhist Master in the future, was born to Le Van Hien and his wife Nguyễn Thị Diem. As he was born into a religious and pious Buddhist family, it was not a wonder that at the young age of nine he wanted to be a monk and thus was ordained at the local Buddhist Temple.

At twelve, while doing his secular education, he was also taught, by his Buddhist Master, Classical Chinese which also comprises, intensive studies of the Confucian Classic. At the same time, he was guided wisely by his Master to study the Chinese Tripitaka.

At fourteen years of age, Ven. Huyen-Vi received his novice ordination. Even as a young novice of 18, he already took up the responsibility as a teacher at a Buddhist primary school. Later, at 20, he received the higher bhiksu Ordination. After a few year later, he left his home province and joined An-Quang Buddhist Institute in Saigon for deeper understanding in Buddhalogy. At the same time, he continued his service to teach at a secondary school run by the Sangha. Apart from his academic pursuits and teaching activities, he never forgets to help other suffering beings especially those victims of the war and to do charitable works. Even at a young age, he was moulding himself to be a Buddhist Chinese Scholar by specialising in particular the Chinese versions of the Abhidharma - Kosabhasya, in Yogacara literature, and in Vietnamese literature.

As he was doing remarkably well in his academic field, he was appointed lecturership at An-Quang Buddhist Institute for monks and at Tu-Nghiêm Buddhist Institute for nuns as well as orator of the Vietnamese Sangha Congregation. Later he was elected Vice-President of the General Commission for the Propagation of the Dharma in South and Central Vietnam and finally later was the Director of An-Quang Buddhist Institute.

Wanting to broaden his horizons and later to be involved in international activities, Ven. Huyen-Vi left for India to learn more of both traditional Indian and Western method of scientific work. In the summer term in 1961, he enrolled at the Nalanda Institute of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Pali and Buddhist Learning. He took on the difficult task of learning English and Hindi in order to follow the university courses and amazingly he succeeded by obtaining his B.A. in English in 1965. As he was proficient in the Buddhist doctrine as preserved in the Chinese Tripitaka, it was easy for him to command the Pali language quickly.

In 1963, he passed the Pali-Acarya examination conducted by the Mithila Institute of Post-Graduate studies and Research in Sanskrit Learning at Darbhanga. In 1967, he did his MA in Pali entitled The Four Abhidhamma Reals at the Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. In May 1971, he obtained his Ph.D, the dissertation being "A Critical Study of the Life and Works of Sariputra Thera", under the supervision and guidance of Prof. U. Dhammaratana of Sri-Lanka whom he was very high regard for.

Nalanda is the birth place of Sariputta, one of the chief disciple of the Buddha who was very wise and believed to be the originator of the Abhidhamma philosophy. Coincidentally, Ven. Huyên-Vi had his own special interest for Abhidhamma literature since in Vietnam and thus, he embarked upon "A Critical Study of the Life and Works of Sariputra Thera", where a full-scale study in which all relevant source materials were gathered from the Pali, Sanskrit and Chinese canonical, post-canonical and commentarial literature were systematicallly arranged and evaluated. The products of his study showed that Sariputra has a charming personality of a great sage, in contrast to the usual discription of the stereotype ascetic of the Ancient India. This conclusions was the same to those of the well-known scholar, André Migot, who wrote in his "Un Grand Disciple du Buddha, Sariputra - son rôle dans l'histoire du Bouddhisme et dans le développement de l'Abhidharma (BÉFEO, Paris, 1954).

As a youth, Ven. Huyen-Vi had very good teaching skills. He held the post of a lecturer for three years at Nalanda Institute teaching mordern Chinese and he encouraged students to take up the Chinese diploma courses. As for himself, he took up a diploma course in Tibetan under the guidance of Lama Rigzin Lhundup. In 1973, after staying in India for more than 10 years, he returned to Vietnam to be the Professor at Van-Hanh Buddhist University in Saigon. He lectured on Ch'an Buddhism according to Chinese sources. One year later, the Saigon State University appointed him to teach Buddhism and ancient Vietnamese Literature. Unfortunately in 1975, due to political unrest in his country, he was not able to continue with his teaching career.

Ven. Huyên-Vi was one of the Buddhist leaders of South Vietnam. He never loose contact with his motherland no matter where he went. In 1964, he was elected President of the Overseas Vietnamese Buddhist Association and in 1969, he became the Hon. President with the headquarters in France. Following that in 1972, he was elected General Commissioner of the United Buddhist Congregation in Saigon. Only in 1975, he was invited to Paris by the Linh Son Buddhist Association to be the adviser and later on its president and Vén. Supérieur of Monastere Bouddhique Linh Son (= Grdhrakuta - Vihara). With much work and persistence, he set-up the Linh Son Headquarters at Joinville-le-Pont, France, together with all other branches at all other continents of the world.

In 1977, Linh Son, France was chosen to be The World Fellowship of Buddhists Regional Centre in France and Ven. Huyen-Vi was the director. In 1979 he joined the World Buddhist Sangha Council and has contributed much as it's Vice-President since.

Buddhist Education has always been what Ven. Huyen-Vi put much importance on with that in mind, he converted the Monastere Bouddhique Linh Son into a centre for monks and nuns to be trained and later to take charge of other branch institutions. As Linh Son Headquarters was becoming too small for all these activities, in 1987, Ven. Huyen-Vi managed to acquire a bigger place - a 30 hectares of grounds to the North of Limoges which is now known as Linh Son Tung Lâm or Linh Son Mahavihara or Dharmaville. Annually, every summer, this centre is the venue for intensive monastic training.

In 1979, Institute de Recherche Bouddhique Linh Son at Joinville-le-Pont was formed with the aim in mind to give the monks and nuns higher standard of training. In that year itself, Ven. Huyen-Vi and other graduate Sangha members began to teach meditation, Buddhist doctrine in Vietnamese/French and Pali (grammar, suttas and Abhidhamma). Printing facilities were also installed at the headquarters to produce brochures, booklets and voluminous books of the Ven. Superior's writing in French and English. The Ven. also saw the importance of reprinting the rare Buddhist books in Vietnamese especially from the Chinese Tripitaka. Thus it became one of the main objectives of the Institute. With the aim of doing Buddhological research, Ven. Huyen-Vi created Linh-Son Publication d'études bouddhologiges of which from 1977 to 1982, twenty copies have been produced. The following year the Institut in cooperation with the Pali Buddhist Union in London, produced the bi-annual jounal called Buddhist Studies Review with advisership of Ven. Huyen-Vi and edited by Russel Webb. The Chinese version of the Ekottaragama which was not known before in the West was translated in parts into French and English. His pieces of Sino-Vietnamese calligraphy was also contributed to this journal. Recently, The Buddhist Studies Review has won recognition as the organ of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies.

Ven. Huyen-Vi's contributions to Buddhist Studies like the comprehensive commentaries inter alia on the Saddharmapundarika, on Prajnaparamita texts or the history of Ch'an School are mainly in Vietnamese which unfortunately is in inaccessible to those who do not read Vietnamese.

To put all this in a nutshell, one outstanding characteristic of Ven. Superior is that in whatever he does throughout his active life, he always does it with the ideal of "bodhisattvacaryà sarvasattvahitàya".

Written by: Bhiksuni Shih Hang Thi (Tang Hui Hui )

CURRICULUM VITAE

Most Ven. Dr Thich-Huyen-Vi (Ma.; Achariya, Ph.D)

President of the World Linh-Son Buddhist Congregation

Vice President of Linh-Son Regional Centre of WFB

President of Linh-Son Research Buddhist Institute

Vice-President of the World Buddhist Sangha Council

Vice-President of the World Buddhist Tathagata Supreme Followers.

1926 On 8th April in 1926, was born at Ninh-Thuan the historical city of South VIET NAM, descended from a Buddhist family.

1935 Joined the Buddhist order (exceedingly studious as he was childhood), he acquired proficiency in the Mahayana Tripitaka with a few years by under going assiduous training.

1940 Became a novice (samanera).

1946 Was ordained as a Bhikkhu, after graduation from the An-Quang Buddhist Institute in Saigon, South VIETNAM, and began to hold many important positions by consecrating himself of many charitable Work to help the people suffering from the War, and went round VIETNAM for preaching the Buddha-Dharma.

1951 Study and research Buddhism at the An-Quang Buddhist Institute in Saigon, South VIETNAM.

1954 Became a lecturer at An-Quang Buddhist Institute for monks, and Tu-Nghiem Buddhist Institute for nuns, and also preacher of the vietnamese sangha Congregation.

1955 Was elected as Vice-President of the General Commission for the propagation of the Buddha-Dharma. Was elected as the Director of An-Quang Buddhist Institute.

1961 Left India for higher studies (on 2nd of July).

Carried on research the topic related to the Theravada tradition of Buddhism at Nalanda Pali Research Institute in Bihar (INDIA).

1963 Acquired proficiency in Pali, in addition to knowledge of Mahayana Buddhism and chinese language.

Got through the Pali Achariya examination from Sanskrit University in Bihar (INDIA).

1964 Was elected the President of Overseas Vietnamese Buddhist Association.

1965 Graduated B.A. (special) English Examination.

1967 Graduated M.A. examination in Pali from the Magadha University, Gaya (INDIA) : (Dissatation the four Abhidhammic Reals).

1969 Was elected Hon. President of O.S.V.B.A. (FRANCE).

Became lecturer in Chinese for 3 years in Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Institute in India.

1971 Submitted the thesis on A critical study of the life and Works of Sariputra Thera, was approved to obtain the degree, Doctor of Philosophy in the faculty of Arts at Magadha University in Bihar (INDIA).

1972 Was elected in January, as General Commissioner for Dharmaduta of the United Buddhists Congregation in Saigon (South VIETNAM).

1973 Was appointed as Professor at Van-Hanh University in South VIETNAM.

1974 Was appointed as Professor in Buddhist studies at Saigon University in South VIETNAM.

1975 On 10th May, was invited to Paris, by Linh-Son Buddhist Association as the Abbot of Sacred Mountain Monastery and appointed as the advisor to the same Association.

On 30th September, was appointed as the Director of Hoang-Phap publication.

1977 On 29th January, became as the Venerable superior of Linh-Son Buddhist Monastery at 9, Avenue Jean-Jaurès, 94340 Joinville le Pont - Paris (FRANCE).

0n 27th March, was appointed as the leader of Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Hawaĩ and the Abbot of Linh-Son Temple, Honolulu (U.S.A).

On 15th May, appointed as the Director of Etudes Bouddhalogiques Magazine.

On 30th May, was invited as the President of World Fellowship of Buddhists Regional Centre, Paris (FRANCE).

1978 On 26th November, was appointed as the founder and venerable superior of the Sacred Mountain Monastery in Detroit, Michigan (U.S.A.).

On 30th December, was appointed as the President of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in FRANCE.

1979 On 20th June, was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in New Jersey (U.S.A.).

On 10th March, was appointed as the Director of Linh-Son Research Buddhist Institute in Paris (FRANCE).

On 20th May, was appointed as spiritual Advisor of Buddhist Association in Bruxelles (BELGIUM).

On 28th October, was appointed as the President of the Buddhist Association in BELGIUM.

On 10th November, became as life member of World Buddhist Sangha Council in Taipei (TAIWAN).

1980 On 10th October, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Phong Buddhist Association at Lausanne (SWITZERLAND).

On 20th December, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Research Buddhist Institute and Linh-Son preaching Hall in Taipei (TAIWAN).

1981 Was appointed as the President of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in London (ENGLAND).

1982 On 5th August, became Lord Abbot of Linh-Son Temple at Southern Row London (ENGLAND).

On 9th September, was appointed (by French Government) as the Director of Vincennes Buddhist International Centre - Paris.

On 11th December, was appointed as the spiritual leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Austin -Texas (U.S.A.).

1983 On 15th November, was appointed as the spiritual leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association at Poitiers (France).

On 25th September, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association at Belmont Grand Rapids - Michigan (U.S.A.).

On 29th May, was appointed as the spiritual leader of meditation Centre (Sakyamuni Buddhist Association) - Montbeon (FRANCE).

1984 On 20th October, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, at Montebello - California (U.S.A.).

On 12th November, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association at Houston -Texas (U.S.A.).

Was appointed as spiritual adviser of Buddhist study Review of the Institute de Recherche Boudhique Linh-Son.

1985 On 15th March, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, in Brest (FRANCE).

On 26th May, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Reims (France).

On 30th July, was founder of Linh-Son Buddhist Association Cergy-Pontoise (FRANCE).

On 13th October, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, Detroit - Michigan (U.S.A.).

On 12th December, was appointed as the Venerable superior of the Linh-Son Buddhist Vihara in Kusinagar (INDIA).

1986 On 8th January, selected as the Vice-President (for FRANCE) of the World Buddhist Sangha Council.

On 12th March, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Toulouse (FRANCE).

On 3rd April, was appointed as the founder member of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Limoges (FRANCE).

On 14th July, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, in Kinshasa (AFRICA).

On 30th October, bought 30 acres (french) of land for the constructing of the Linh-Son Buddhist University project in Rancon (FRANCE).

1987 On 26th September, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Vihara in Brisbane - Q.L.D. (AUSTRALIA).

1988 On 29th November, was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, in Toronto (Canada).

Was invited as the leader of the Linh-Son Buddhist Association Sangha, in Portland -Oregan (U.S.A.).

Was appointed as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, in New Jersey - New York (U.S.A.)

1989 Was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Windsor - Ont (Canada).

Was founder of the Linh-Son Monastery, in 8, Church St, Stanhope 07874 New Jersey (U.S.A.).

Was selected as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, in New-York (U.S.A.).

1990 Was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Temple at Mulhouse (FRANCE)

Was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association, in Columbus - Ohio (U.S.A.).

On 30th December, was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Temple in Melbourne (AUSTRALIA).

1992 Was invited as Vice President of World Buddhist Tathagata supreme Flowers, in Sri-Lanka.

On 15th October, was invited as the leader of Association Bouddhique de Laĩc Vien-Giac, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (AFRICA).

1993 On 9th May, was invited as the leader of the Linh-Son Temple at Massachutsette (U.S.A).

On 25th July, honoured with the title of "Linh Son Sangha Raja" (or Maha Nayaka Thera the World Linh Son Buddhist Congregation).

On 30th September, was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Pho-Ninh, Kwang-Tung Province (CHINA).

1994 On 22nd April, was invited as the leader of Association Buddhist Bo De in Montpellier (FRANCE).

1995 On 2nd February, was inivited as the leader of the Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Carnon.

1996 On 7th July, was invited as the leader of the Linh-Son Quan Am Tu in Chicago (U.S.A.).

On 18th October, was invited as the leader of the Linh-Son Meditation Centre and Linh-Son Buddhist Association in Montreal (Canada).

1997 On 20th May was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Buddhist Temple Ohio, 4045 Cleveland Ave. Colombus Ohio U.S.A

1997 On 1st June was invited as the leader of Linh-Son Temple, at 1509-9 th street, East Moline, IL 61244, U.S.A.

1997 On 1st December was invited as the leader of the Nhon Vuong Temple at Troyes, France.

1998 On 20th January was invited as the leader of Niem Phat Duong Linh-Son, Lange Schoor 45A, 4873 HD Etten Leur, Holland.

1998 On 8th Frebruary was appointed as the leader of the Linh-Son Temple at Tottenham, London England. END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).