Thích Từ Lực - WHO'S TAM MINH IN 21st CENTURY?

In the very serene early Spring, the posterior generation student bows his head in memory of merits of the anterior scholar, the respectable elder Tam Minh Le Dinh Tham. It is well known that it would not by pure chance I could be sitting here, in a small annexed room, and jolting down on the person and his great contribution to the Buddhism in general and in particular, to the Buddhist Family Organization. What a man of true inner religious heart and strength! Many a times, because of rather fragile health, I had wished I would had some level of his strong and full of idealism will.

An old anecdote. Am I permitted to start with an old story? In the early entering into pagoda life, only to be exactly a young novice, an infant little monk (chu dieu), every month I had to be present at Sutras and Cannon studies. Sometimes at night after schooling, sometimes in weekends. In my still vivid memory, that day, venerable Tinh Tu, presently Abbot of Kim Son Monastery, was teaching us on Great Wheel Diamond Sutra , translated and explained by most venerable Vien Giac of the school Giac Hai of Van Gia, in Nha trang. He had very often inserted in his preaching stories of pagoda to indirectly educate us.

He told that respectable Tam Minh was then very much concerned on forming talented Sangha for tomorrow Buddhist affairs. For his erudition in both modern and old fashioned education, that is Chinese and Western studying, he was invited by most venerable to teach monks at Bao Quoc Buddhist Academy. It is noted that he was a devoted Buddhist, a man of populace and as well a medical doctor, an truly intellectual. He was very intelligent, always eager for learning, but also very a person of modesty, respecting Sangha or Buddhist clergy; most of them were in principle his students and his age over passed theirs, but he always bowed in front of them, before taking preacher seat.

It’s almost 20 years, I has never forgotten my emotions at that times. Of course, I didn’t know about the wonderful modesty of Bodhisattvas Thuong Bat Khinh in Phap Hoa Sutra; I could only figure out his eyes were very keen, full of determination; and the most striking trait was that he had a Bodhisattvas heart, conducting his life strictly to Righteous Dharma. I thought, not mentioning knowledge he transferred to his student monks, his modesty was an invaluable teaching material. Inside everyone has a very big self that has through many incarnations fortified and enlarged itself; and it becomes more critical when it goes along with growing power, higher position than its neighbor, the “selfish self” is allowed to act wildly, despite of mutual respect, concession. It is difficult for us, but admirable for a living attitude of a laic Buddhist turned into a unofficial monk who know how to worship Buddha, respect monks with mindfulness and a true heart.

A man of idealism: Years after years, emotion of that day and his figure continue to remain in my mind going in pair with my monastery life. My conception is that the road to Buddhism must be the one of harmony, of balance between us and our self. Buddha has instituted canon and showed the way to both sects, in house and off home. First of all, for the service of enlightenment ideal, Sangha or clergy or monks and followers must show out mutual respect, help each other, embellish each other. Therefore, I used to seek occasion to approach, study, learn from in-heart religious laic-monks, who prefer simple life in order to be more active in retraining self activities according to True Dharma. By Chance, I am working with the Youth, in which I recognize stature of Buddhist Family, of the beloved Grey color shirt, that had nourished me since childhood.

Once more it was an interesting chance, when I uncovered that Sir Minh Tam was also one of the first founders and supporters of the Vietnamese Buddhist Family. He was not only close to Monks but also a man of idealism, who wished to provide a new view about life to the Youth, a respect to ethics lines and rightful esteems to spiritual values. Let us repeat here once the aim of the Grey Color Shirt organization: “To form the Youth into good citizens for the society, prepared to willingly apply Buddhist ideal in life”. It’s a very meaningful action; it would benefit a lot family and society. Of course, it would be the causes of leaders and members of the Organization that should have been sanctified, transformed when following these guidelines.

The more we go deeply into his life, the more we would be amazed and admire his active life, persistent and ardent. One of my living witness is the most venerable Man Giac. With a popular Central Vietnam accent, he told some young novice monks about Minh Tam and Buddhist Family activities of that time. He said: “Minh Tam is very fervent, when out of his office he went straightly to pagoda, met the then young such as Vo Dinh Cuong, miss Hoang thi Kim Cuc, and also venerable Minh Chau, at that time not a monk yet. His stature is small, but he works so ardently, every venerable love him”. More than 50 years have passed, but up until the present time, his passionate image may still play the role model for us.

Support the Youth: A question that seems excluded and wasteful but still useful to be put out here: Why on earth, did Tam Minh and Pioneers of that time stress upon nurturing and educating the Youth? Some people would sacrifice totally their life without any complaints on their health and pain and sweat. After 20 years in Western society, we recognize assuredly that in any country when the Youth sink in undesirable decadence, it would bring out a countrywide disastrous and lasting fallout. For the Vietnamese community, if we know how to nurture the Youth with our cultural traditions, then we could believe in a better future. Moreover, because the Buddhist teachings can provide a base that fits to the growth of the Youth and the modern scientific spirit, we could have much better expectations; and so, when we choose to educate the Youth, we could be more secure and confident in the future. Still further, the path that the Vietnamese Buddhist Family had gone through half a century, have engraved many good achievements and irrefutable conclusive proofs.

What do we have in mind, when witnessing a boy team or a group of girls meeting together in a Vietnamese classroom or in a session of Buddhist teaching? Any hope at all? Tomorrow when grown up, could they contribute to the society they are living in? We have to say that we could much hope so. The cause and effect correlation allow us to confirm so too. Presently, they come to ethical and spiritual activities and learn of right from wrong, good from bad; in the future they are going to apply them to life, to embellish it, to do good things to mankind. Thus, through many works from anterior generation and present promotion, senior leaders of all ladders, men or women, are investing in nurturing and educating the Youth wouldn’t be useless at all; in the contrary, leading the Youth on the right tract, we still have plenty of hope in a better future.

Remember the past for the hope of tomorrow: We’re doing both. We are going to enter the gate of the 21st century with tremendous fast progress in technology, science; meanwhile spiritual and ethical values desperately decline. It’s the common law of life. When possessing a little bit more money, we are inclined to pleasure, forget to take refuge, overlook studies of spiritual life. But for whomever it could be so; we could not afford to close our eyes, abandon youngsters that are expecting our love and our lead.

Recalling the figure of Mr. Tam Minh, I have the intention to remind that, first we have to learn from a man of ideal, eager to serve, and consequently we must strive much more in finding an appropriate way for the Youth. We have to learn of his modesty, and tolerance and concession between ourselves. I think more than any other time that presently we need people who know how to sacrifice for the common benefits and interests and to mingle two generations often prone to different competitive fights and clashes. Where are they? What are they doing? In case if we have to start torches to look for them, are you willingly ready to go with me in imploring and inviting them and to approach them in order to learn those good qualities from them?

It could be very fortunate that in a collection of people, there would be some Buddhist figures who may be tolerant enough to accept dissident opinions; and in unselfishness and open mind trying their best to serve the organization, they could sit down together and work together, they must be invaluable jades or gems. For the beginning of the new year, offering an spiritual incense, in memory of Mr. Tam Minh, as in a true and loyal prayer, I am begging his spirit to show right way for posterior , to help the Grey Color group progress firmly in leading the Youth, and loving the Youth.

By Thich Tu Luc