Letter from Thay to his parents after his ordination ceremony 24 years ago
August 25, 1999
Today, I have become an ordained disciple of the Buddha. The ceremony was very solemn. My eyes welled up in tears, I wondered what good deeds I had done in my past lifetimes to deserve this opportunity. After the ordination ceremony, we chanted the Sutra of Filial Piety to dedicate our merits to our parents, which was such a great blessing. The Most Venerable[1] had the ceremony videotaped so that we can send the records to our families. In the morning when the ceremony took place, the sky was so clear, blue, and beautiful. In the afternoon when everything finished, it rained heavily, as if to wash away all the dirt of the world. I wish that you (Thays mother and father) will diligently cultivate yourselves day by day to benefit yourselves and set an example to the family, so that all of you will live a moral and happy life together. You dont have to worry about me being here, the whole life is an environment for us to cultivate and become a better person.
Here, the Most Venerable and monks take care of everything for us, educating us in every minute detail, we feel like toddlers learning to walk. I feel so happy to be in such an environment that focuses on cultivation. Later, I will send you the record of the ordination ceremony along with some pictures. So far, Ive only had some pictures taken before the ordination ceremony to send to you. On the occasion of my ordination, many Buddhist friends of mine in Hanoi also came to attend, including Mrs. Loc, Kim Anhs mother. She may pay you a visit. You will be very happy. Please dont feel sorry for yourselves, thinking your son is suffering. The merits of a Buddhist monk are immense, and whoever rejoices in and supports his renunciation (the act of renouncing the world and becoming a Buddhist monk) will gain immense blessings. That is what the Buddha taught, so mother and father, please be happy. Theres no reason for you not to be happy like I am. You should not mind the gossip of people. They cannot empathize with us, can they? Moreover, they do not understand the truth yet. Mother and father, believe in me, in all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions, they are the Wise Ones, their words are always true, never wrong. Listening to and practicing the Buddhas teachings will surely give us protection of Buddhas. Please keep a firm belief.
My letter has to come to an end now, I wish that your happiness will increase day by day and your belief in the Buddha will grow. You should encourage the uncles and aunts in our family, and families of Mr. Phieu, Mr. Huyen, Mr. Tuong, Mr. Duc, etc to follow the Buddhas teachings, it will be very beneficial for them.
Goodbye to you!
Your son: Vu Minh Hieu
Dharma name: Thich Truc Thai Minh
P/S: Since my ordination, I have had a new name (Dharma name) as a monk, which is Thich Truc Thai Minh.
Thich: The family name of Shakya (Thich Ca in Vietnamese) Muni Buddha.
Truc (lit. “bamboo”): From the name of zen school Truc Lam Yen Tu founded by King Tran Nhan Tong.
Thai: Meaning “great” or “encompassing”
Minh: Meaning “wise”.
My Dharma name means “great wisdom”.
[1] The Most Venerable: herein refered to Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, master of Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh.
