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There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way
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In the dream, the Buddha was still very young, in his sixties. Thầy was in his fifties and Hải Triều Âm was a teenager. Lord Buddha did not look chubby and jolly like Thầy Lệ Trang, but rather skinny and tall like Thầy Pháp Hộ. He climbed the mountain with ease, Thầy followed the Buddha very closely and climbed pretty well himself. Little Hải Triều Âm was not carrying any cushion or tea or hot water. He just carried a brown shoulder bag which may not have contained anything. The Buddha did not bring his bowl and Thầy didn’t either. Even little Hải Triều Âm didn’t bring his bowl. Thầy and little Hải Triều Âm were supposed to play the role of Buddha’s attendants. How could Thầy and little Hải Triều Âm be as good as Thầy Ananda because the two of them didn’t help the Buddhha with anything? They didn’t even carry his robe and bowl!
The mountain which the Buddha, Thầy and little Hải Triều Âm were climbing looked a little like the Vulture Peak, but it was not Vulture Peak. On this mountain as well as grey cliffs of rock, there were also monolithic brown rocks that were much harder to climb than Vulture Peak. Once you had climbed up one rock, there came another. The mountain rocks appeared constantly in their infinite massiveness. Thầy didn’t feel tired and it is quite possible that little Hải Triều Âm also didn’t feel tired. It’s a great happiness to climb the mountain with the World Honored One, how could we feel tired, my dear children?
In real life little Hải Triều Âm is the boy TƯ in the book “The Young Guava Leaf” and the book “The Bamboo of One Million Internodes”. He is now about 40 years old, married and has a Ph.D degree in Law. In the dream Hải Triều Âm was only twelve, still very innocent and attentive as in the days he lived in the Walnut Building, Lower Hamlet, when Plum Village had only just begun. He wore a small grey novice robe and carried a brown cloth bag. Thầy wore a brown robe and what was the most fascinating thing was that the Buddha also wore a brown robe, not a copper color sanghati like the one of the Theravada monks. It looked like the Buddha also enjoyed wearing the brown robe of the monks and nuns of Vietnam. Or perhaps the Buddha just wanted to be a good companion and did the same as Thầy and Hải Triều Âm and that is why he was climbing the mountain in a brown robe. In Plum Village there are monks of Thai, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Lao, Sri Lankan or Cambodian tradition. After living for a time with the Plum Village monks in their residence in the Upper Hamlet, brothers like Thầy Pitaya, Thầy Shariputra, Thầy Doji, Thầy Ananda and Novice Học Hiền put away their sanghati in order to enjoy wearing the same brown robes as our brothers do. They only put on their sanghati in ceremonies of recitation or transmission of the precepts.
In the dream there was a moment when the Buddha stopped and sat down alongside a small stream that was running from a source in the cliff. Thầy and Hải Triều Âm sat down a little to one side in attendance. Little Hải Triều Âm was very at ease. He joined his palms, looked up and addressed the Buddha:
“Lord Buddha, my teacher said that the brown color of the robe (áo tràng) that the monks and nuns in Vietnam wear, expresses the simplicity of the monastic life and also the strength of the mind of love. I also love this simple brown color very much. Why do we call it áo tràng? What does áo tràng mean, Lord Buddha?”
The World Honored One looked at the mountain range above them, then he kindly addressed Hải Triều Âm:
“You may very well call the áo tràng ‘the Mountain Cliff Robe’, or ‘the Mountain Rock Robe’ or ‘the Mountain Rock Cliff Robe’.
Thầy’s dream ended suddenly after the Buddha’s words. On waking Thầy felt some little regret because the dream was so beautiful. Thầy lay there, following his breathing and tried to recapitulate the little details of the dream. Thầy can only guarantee that the words of the Buddha which you read above are about seventy per cent correct in detail. In fact it seemed that the Buddha only used one name for the áo tràng which was either ‘the Mountain Cliff Robe’, or ‘the Mountain Rock Robe’ or ‘the Mountain Rock Cliff Robe’. What we can be sure about is that the name of the robe only had two words either ‘mountain rock’ or ‘rock mountain’ or ‘mountain cliff’ or ‘rock cliff’, it could not have been Mountain Rock Cliff Robe, because an epithet of three words is too long. What is recorded is in accord with the meaning and spirit of the Buddha’s words rather than an exact record of each word.
Little Hải Triều Âm was a novice; he wore the grey novice robe, called the color of the smoke of incense, or of mist. That is the color of the mountain rocks of Vulture Peak. That grey color is not really the blue color. It is just the grey color of the mist. This color belongs to the novice robe and the color of the uniform of the Buddhist Youth Association. It represents the purity and lightness of the incense smoke, the mist, and the power of the forests and mountains. The Grey Mountain (Nui Lam) is the sacred area of Vietnam where the hero Lê Lợi, who wore a simple cloth robe, prepared for the removal of the Ming army from Vietnam.
A song about Núi Lam goes “The sun rises and the mist evaporates into the mountain clouds.” So grey is also the color of strength. The brown robe which the monks and nuns in Vietnam have worn for the past two thousand years also expresses the wholesome and frugal life of the Vietnamese country people. The country people in Vietnam enjoy wearing brown. The elderly as well as the young village girls look beautiful in their traditional light brown tunic. The quiet and deep brown color is both simple and imposing. Thầy had often told little Hải Triều Âm that his monastic disciples should try to preserve the brown color of the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition. They only need to put on the yellow sanghati during ceremonies of recitation or transmission of the precepts. Little Hải Triều Âm had remembered this and in his child’s language had brought up the matter with the Buddha during the climb up the mountain. At this moment of writing to you, my beloved children, I feel very happy as I recall the image of the Buddha wearing a brown robe. The Buddha just wanted to go along with us in wearing the brown robe. It is Thay’s idea that from now on we may call the grey áo tràng Grey Mountain Robe and the brown áo tràng Mountain Rock Robe.
In our Deer Park and Blue Cliff monasteries there are steep mountain rocks and the monks and the nuns often like to climb them. Ascending a rock cliff is a very Zen phrase. It means that the cliff is not easy to climb, but once you are on top of it, you will feel so happy. The monastic path is also a difficult one, but very beautiful. What is wonderful is that we are climbing the mountain together with the Buddha. The poet Nguyển Công Trứ sometimes wanted to drop everything and just climb the mountain. He spoke of a pine tree growing up solid on the mountain ridge, perching independently from a surrounding area. That is the image of an authentic monk or nun. He wrote:
“In the next lifetime instead of being a human,
Let me be a pine tree standing and rustling under the sky,
In the place of steep rock cliffs
Whoever can bear the cold may enjoy climbing with the pine.”
Although Thầy and his disciples enjoy climbing the rocks on the mountains, but we still want to be human in the next lifetimes. The chant Taking Refuge in the book “Chanting from the Heart” carries the words:
“In the next lifetime may we again be born as humans
And may we encounter the Dharma and live a life of true practice.
May we be guided on the path of practice by an enlightened teacher.
Equipped with faith, may we be ordained into the monastic Sangha.”
Thầy is very happy whenever he remembers that he and his disciples are climbing the hill of the twenty first century together. We have been climbing this hill for nearly ten years now. In the year 2050, we shall stand on the peak and look down at the beautiful scenery which will be no less beautiful than the scene from the Vulture Peak. Thầy wrote to Thầy Giác Thanh, the first abbot of the Deer Park Monastery, a gatha just before he passed away and a couple of parallel verses sometimes after:
“An autumn leaf falls. Still you continue to climb with us the hill of the century
Thousands of daffodils bloom. Heaven and earth keep singing together the song of no birth and no death”
These two lines have been engraved at the memorial stupa of Thầy Giác Thanh on a steep rock cliff in the Deer park Monastery, U.S.A.
In the Zen tradition there is a very famous book that expounds Zen koans. It is called Blue Cliff Records (Bích Nham Lục). Bích is blue, Nham is a cliff. The Yên Tử Mountain where the Great Bamboo Forest Master (King Trần Nhân Tông) practiced, taught and realized the path is also a sacred place, full of grey mist. The color of our robes comes from a very long tradition. So try to preserve these two colors grey and brown as the colors of your robes.
In Prajna monastery there are no steep cliffs. As teacher and disciples we have climbed the hill that goes down to the stream many times and each time has brought us much happiness. The monastic path is not a smooth highway but a cliff we have to climb. And you have climbed the mountain cliffs very well. Little Hải Triều Âm has climbed the mountain with Lord Buddha very well. Thầy has also climbed well. We are very happy even though we still encounter difficulties. All my beloved children, whether you are monastic or lay, whether you have come to practice at Prajna monastery, the Root Temple, Blue Cliff Monastery, Deer Park Monastery, Định Quán, Trúc Lâm, Diệu Trạm…. , you all are my little Hải Triều Âm, and you all still have been able to preserve the mind of clarity and purity of a young person with the deep aspiration to serve all beings. Even if you are a lay practitioner, you may like to wear these two colors, grey and brown. The way we walk, stand, lie down and sit mindfully, the way we practice to build brotherhood and sisterhood, is what helps people in society to recognize who we are.
We are the continuation of Lord Buddha and the Patriarchs who include: the great Bamboo Forest Master, Linji, Liễu Quán, and Nhất Định. We are going as a river, and at the same time we are climbing the hill of the century with much happiness.
Thầy is staying now in the European Institute of Applied Buddhism. Many young Germans are coming to practice. On 8th May 2009, the Mountain Rock Cliff sangha will be invited by the mayor of the city of Cologne for an official welcome. Thầy’s attendants, Brs. Pháp Hy and Pháp Hữu will tell you all more about what we are doing here in the heart of Europe these days.
Well known as a true practitioner,
He has done what needed to be done.
As soon as the stupa stands of the mountain ridge,
The sound of children’s laughter rings out.
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sharing your true experiences that the practice has brought you in your daily life.
This “Heart to heart sharing” page is open to all members of our Sangha. This sharing is not only the encouragement of our practice, but also the torch lighting our path and the path of other. We have faith on our path because the practice has beared fruit in our daily life. We all want to know and to learn those experiences as a spiritual family.
Your sharing does not need to be long, and you do not need to practice for a long time to share. Simply contemplate on your daily practice, sharing the remarkable time that you use the practice to overcome your hardship or your suffering. Sharing the happiness that your practice has brought you and your family…
The floor is opened, we are listening attentively!
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From time to time, to remind ourselves to relax, to be peaceful, we may wish to set aside some time for retreat, a day of mindfulness, when we can walk slowly, smile, drink tea with a friend, enjoy being together as if we are the happiest people on Earth. This is not a retreat, it is a treat.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
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SHARING BY SANDY
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Grandmother Gaia
I grew up in the land of snow, where summer is short and for many days the snow covers the ground. Snowflakes and snowflakes, one on top of another. Everything would become untouched and soft.
In our village, Grandmother Gaia lived in a little cabin by the lake. Nobody knew how old she was, not even she, because she did not know much about time. Every child loved to be with Grandmother Gaia. She knew and loved them all dearly. From afar she could recognize the sound of their footsteps and call them by their names: Spirit Rock, Sage, Charisma, Hunter, Blue Star, Spring, Lightning Boulder, Sandy Lake…
When I was a child, I ran to Grandmother Gaia whenever I was angry with my mother. Grandmother held my hand gently and put it on my belly, and my tears would pour down. One time, my chest became terribly heavy as I heard the pain of my people. It was as though the weight of boulders pressed down upon me. I barely made my way to Grandma Gaia's cabin. There she was, watching the glowing hearth. She reached out her hands gently and embraced me. Surprisingly, beneath the weight of my pain, I sensed a little creature breathing freely for me. This kept me alive and I became well again. For months afterward, I wondered at how my little friend could carry these boulders while I felt that I couldn't. Perhaps it did not, it just lived with and accepted them.
There were many stories about Grandma Gaia but there was one that our father loved to tell us in the cold, cold days. He said years ago, many times, people in the village could not find Grandma Gaia for months. He told us how Grandma Gaia gathered food and sacred leaves, and knew how to keep herself warm and healthy. When we asked him why she spent time away, my father replied briefly: "To be with herself", "To fill her heart" or more mysteriously, "To empty her heart". Curious, we walked around the woods and wherever we found a patch of little flowers, we tiptoed around in hope of seeing Grandma Gaia's footprints.
On the cold days when I did not dare to be out, from the window I liked to watch Grandma walking across the lake. I could not differentiate her from the scenery; she was as still and gentle as snow.
On a beautiful spring dawn, Grandma Gaia did not wake up. Everyone in the village came to pay their respects to her, quietly, as though she were still alive. Her peace even soothed their grief and pain.
I would never see her again but a soft white cloud has gently embraced my heart since she died.
Like many people, I left my childhood and heavenly village behind to search for better education and future. On my journey, I have encountered turmoil and endless ups and downs. I am learning to embrace them all, just as Grandma Gaia embraced each of us in the village with her love.
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PETITION TO SAVE BAT NHA
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Dear friends,
We can help Bat Nha by signing a petition to save Prajna. There is a campaign to collect 10000 signatures to send to the US Senate Foreign Relation Committee.
Thanks
Br. Phap Kham
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/savebatnha
Help Thich Nhat Hanh and Bat Nha
A difficult, immediate situation in Vietnam, has arisen. Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Thich Nhat Hanh's Vietnam-based Bat Nha monastery is under severe economic, violent, and governmental pressure to abandon the monastery by September 2. The cause: Two statements supporting religious freedom, a core principle of democracy.
For that, they have been harassed day and night with loud speakers, threatened that they would be killed on July 5th by 400 tribal people with metal sticks or sickles, had their electricity and water cut off, their homes robbed, and have suffered innumerable verbal abuses. These 400 monks were finally allowed to practice after Thich Nhat Hanh's return trip to Vietnam after nearly 40 years in exile. The monastery serves as a training and practice center in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh's home monastery, Plum Village in France .
The Monastics who learn and work with Thich Nhat Hanh are gentle, peaceful creatures. They seek to sooth the world's ills, bridge understanding between all faiths, and spread greater world, human and environmental peace. The love they bring to the table is simply amazing to behold.
The Vietnamese government cannot point to one specific reason for the nuns and monks to be evicted from their home. They have cited ownerships issues, failure to pay the electric bill and a myriad of other manufactured reasons.
The nuns and monks, all Vietnam citizens, have been beaten, had human feces thrown at them, had their electricity and water cut off, their homes robbed, and have suffered innumerable verbal abuses.
Please act on behalf global human rights and Viet Nam and peace. Please stop this violence and help save Bat Nha Monastary now. The Thich Nat Hanh community is hoping that US political pressure and community activists who are being mobilized online will help them keep their home. At a minimum, they believe an extension beyond the Sept. 2, 2009 deadline will support them in taking peaceful, non violent action to work with local officials.
As you know, Vietnam has a troubled history. The best thing we could possible do for this country is fight to keep this soothing salve in place, quietly working its magic of openness, peace and tolerance. And let's try to prevent another horrific act of violence and bloodshed in Vietnam 's history.
Please act on behalf global human rights and Viet Nam . Please stop this violence and help save Bat Nha Monastary now.
Mindfulness Practice Community of Toronto
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LETTERS YOU CAN SEND TO GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
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YOUR CITY/TOWN, DATE
The Honorable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
As a member of the Buddhist community of Canada, I am writing to you on an issue of human rights and freedoms. Specifically, I ask you request the Vietnamese government reverse its decision to close Bat Nha Monastery on Sept. 2 (Vietnam’s National Independence Day).
I would like for the monks and nuns at the monastery to be able to practice their religion in peace. Currently, about 400 people live at the monastery, but for weeks, they’ve been deprived of water, electricity and a phone line to contact anyone outside the compound.
Vietnam is a country recognized around the world for the peaceful traditions of its citizens. The Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh are an example of this. Nominated for a Nobel peace prize, this man is a religious figure of global significance. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of followers support his humane and spiritual values. He enjoys immense support in Canada, as well.
It is unacceptable for the Vietnamese government to think of closing the monastery where hundreds of people are receiving the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. The monks and nuns do not deserve to lose access to these teachings. Many of them are teenagers and young adults, who previously suffered a much more difficult life. They now lively peacefully, thanks to the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.
I would like to also bring to your attention that a monk travelling on legitimate Canadian travel documents, who was teaching at the Bat Nha monastery, was arrested by Vietnamese officials and extradited without due legal process. His Canadian identification papers were also taken away from him.
Canadians and the Canadian government has always defended the values of freedom of association and freedom of religion. That is why we are appealing to your convictions to defend these fondamental and internationally recognized values, and ask the monastery of Bat Nha be kept open.
We believe it’s necessary to also appeal for the support of all Canadian businesses, media, and religious communities, in order to keep this monastery open. You will understand that we cannot remain passive in the face of such a situation. With the world watching the events at the Bat Nha monastery, I ask that you immediately and graciously bring our appeal to the government of Vietnam.
In deep gratitude,
YOUR NAME
Cc : Nguyen Duc Hung (Ambassador/Mr. Nguyen), Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada
Lawrence Cannon, Canadian minister of foreign affairs
Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, and for Asia-Pacific Gateway
Josee Verner, minister for la Francophonie
Gabriel Lessard, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam
Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; leader of her Majesty’s Royal Opposition
Bob Rae, Liberal foreign affairs critic
Dan McTeague, consular affairs critic, Liberal Party of Canada
Jack Layton, leader of the federal New Democratic Party
Paul Dewar, NDP foreign affairs critic
Francine Lalonde, foreign affairs critic for the Bloc Quebecois
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ottawa Committee
Cc: (continued)
Alex Neve, secretary general, Amnesty International Canada
World Trade Organisation
United Church of Canada
Vietnamese Canadian Federation
National Association of Asian American Professionals
Ken Neumann, National Director, United Steelworkers of America -- Canada
John Gordon, national president, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Ken Lewenza, President, Canadian Autoworkers union-Canada
Paul Moist, CUPE national president
Barbara_Budd and Carol Off, hosts of As It Happen, Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Radio-Canada International, info@
The Toronto Star
Steve Wicary, Political section editor, on-line, The Globe and Mail
Stephen Northfield, foreign news editor, The Globe and Mail
Sinclair Stewart, national news editor, The Globe and Mail
Buddhist sangha/community groups across Canada
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YOUR CITY/TOWN, DATE
The Honorable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Cannon,
As a member of the Buddhist community of Canada, I am writing to you on an issue of human rights and freedoms. Specifically, I ask you request the Vietnamese government reverse its decision to close Bat Nha Monastery on Sept. 2 (Vietnam’s National Independence Day).
I would like for the monks and nuns at the monastery to be able to practice their religion in peace. Currently, about 400 people live at the monastery, but for weeks, they’ve been deprived of water, electricity and a phone line to contact anyone outside the compound.
Vietnam is a country recognized around the world for the peaceful traditions of its citizens. The Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh are an example of this. Nominated for a Nobel peace prize, this man is a religious figure of global significance. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of followers support his humane and spiritual values. He enjoys immense support in Canada, as well.
It is unacceptable for the Vietnamese government to think of closing the monastery where hundreds of people are receiving the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. The monks and nuns do not deserve to lose access to these teachings. Many of them are teenagers and young adults, who previously suffered a much more difficult life. They now lively peacefully, thanks to the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.
I would like to also bring to your attention that a monk travelling on legitimate Canadian travel documents, who was teaching at the Bat Nha monastery, was arrested by Vietnamese officials and extradited without due legal process. His Canadian identification papers were also taken away from him.
Canadians and the Canadian government has always defended the values of freedom of association and freedom of religion. That is why we are appealing to your convictions to defend these fondamental and internationally recognized values, and ask the monastery of Bat Nha be kept open.
We believe it’s necessary to also appeal for the support of all Canadian businesses, media, and religious communities, in order to keep this monastery open. You will understand that we cannot remain passive in the face of such a situation. With the world watching the events at the Bat Nha monastery, I ask that you immediately and graciously bring our appeal to the government of Vietnam.
In deep gratitude,
YOUR NAME
Cc:
Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada
Nguyen Duc Hung (Ambassador/Mr. Nguyen), Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada
Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, and for Asia-Pacific Gateway
Josee Verner, minister for la Francophonie
Gabriel Lessard, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam
Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; leader of her Majesty’s Royal Opposition
Bob Rae, Liberal foreign affairs critic
Dan McTeague, consular affairs critic, Liberal Party of Canada
Jack Layton, leader of the federal New Democratic Party
Paul Dewar, NDP foreign affairs critic
Francine Lalonde, foreign affairs critic for the Bloc Quebecois
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Cc: (continued)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ottawa Committee
Alex Neve, secretary general, Amnesty International Canada
World Trade Organisation
United Church of Canada
Vietnamese Canadian Federation
National Association of Asian American Professionals
Ken Neumann, National Director, United Steelworkers of America -- Canada
John Gordon, national president, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Ken Lewenza, President, Canadian Autoworkers union-Canada
Paul Moist, CUPE national president
Barbara_Budd and Carol Off, hosts of As It Happen, Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Radio-Canada International, info@
The Toronto Star
Steve Wicary, Political section editor, on-line, The Globe and Mail
Stephen Northfield, foreign news editor, The Globe and Mail
Sinclair Stewart, national news editor, The Globe and Mail
Buddhist sangha/community groups across Canada
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YOUR CITY/TOWN, DATE
The Honorable Stockwell Day
Minister of International Trade, and for Asia-Pacific Gateway
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Day,
As a member of the Buddhist community of Canada, I am writing to you on an issue of human rights and freedoms. Specifically, I ask you request the Vietnamese government reverse its decision to close Bat Nha Monastery on Sept. 2 (Vietnam’s National Independence Day).
I would like for the monks and nuns at the monastery to be able to practice their religion in peace. Currently, about 400 people live at the monastery, but for weeks, they’ve been deprived of water, electricity and a phone line to contact anyone outside the compound.
Vietnam is a country recognized around the world for the peaceful traditions of its citizens. The Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh are an example of this. Nominated for a Nobel peace prize, this man is a religious figure of global significance. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of followers support his humane and spiritual values. He enjoys immense support in Canada, as well.
It is unacceptable for the Vietnamese government to think of closing the monastery where hundreds of people are receiving the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. The monks and nuns do not deserve to lose access to these teachings. Many of them are teenagers and young adults, who previously suffered a much more difficult life. They now lively peacefully, thanks to the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.
I would like to also bring to your attention that a monk travelling on legitimate Canadian travel documents, who was teaching at the Bat Nha monastery, was arrested by Vietnamese officials and extradited without due legal process. His Canadian identification papers were also taken away from him.
Canadians and the Canadian government has always defended the values of freedom of association and freedom of religion. That is why we are appealing to your convictions to defend these fondamental and internationally recognized values, and ask the monastery of Bat Nha be kept open.
We believe it’s necessary to also appeal for the support of all Canadian businesses, media, and religious communities, in order to keep this monastery open. You will understand that we cannot remain passive in the face of such a situation. With the world watching the events at the Bat Nha monastery, I ask that you immediately and graciously bring our appeal to the government of Vietnam.
In deep gratitude,
YOUR NAME
Cc:
Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada
Nguyen Duc Hung (Ambassador/Mr. Nguyen), Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada
Lawrence Cannon, Canadian minister of foreign affairs
Josee Verner, minister for la Francophonie
Gabriel Lessard, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam
Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; leader of her Majesty’s Royal Opposition
Bob Rae, Liberal foreign affairs critic
Dan McTeague, consular affairs critic, Liberal Party of Canada
Jack Layton, leader of the federal New Democratic Party
Paul Dewar, NDP foreign affairs critic
Francine Lalonde, foreign affairs critic for the Bloc Quebecois
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Cc: (continued)
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ottawa Committee
Alex Neve, secretary general, Amnesty International Canada
World Trade Organisation
United Church of Canada
Vietnamese Canadian Federation
National Association of Asian American Professionals
Ken Neumann, National Director, United Steelworkers of America -- Canada
John Gordon, national president, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Ken Lewenza, President, Canadian Autoworkers union-Canada
Paul Moist, CUPE national president
Barbara_Budd and Carol Off, hosts of As It Happen, Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Radio-Canada International, info@
The Toronto Star
Steve Wicary, Political section editor, on-line, The Globe and Mail
Stephen Northfield, foreign news editor, The Globe and Mail
Sinclair Stewart, national news editor, The Globe and Mail
Buddhist sangha/community groups across Canada
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LETTER YOU CAN SEND TO AMBASSADOR OF VIETNAM
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YOUR CITY/TOWN, DATE
His excellency, Mister Nguyen Duc Hung
Ambassador of Vietnam
Embassy of the socialist republic of Vietnam in Canada
Ottawa , Ontario K1N 6M8
Dear Ambassador Nguyen,
As a member of the Buddhist community of Canada, I am writing to ask you request your government reverse its decision to close Bat Nha Monastery on Sept. 2 (Vietnam’s National Independence Day).
I would like for the monks and nuns at the monastery to be able to practice their religion in peace. Currently, about 400 people live at the monastery, but for weeks, they’ve been deprived of water, electricity and a phone line to contact anyone outside the compound.
Vietnam is a country recognized around the world for the peaceful traditions of its citizens. The Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh are an example of this. Nominated for a Nobel peace prize, this man is a religious figure of global significance. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of followers support his humane and spiritual values. He enjoys immense support in Canada, as well.
It is unacceptable for the Vietnamese government to think of closing the monastery where hundreds of people are receiving the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. The monks and nuns do not deserve to lose access to these teachings. Many of them are teenagers and young adults, who previously suffered a much more difficult life. They now lively peacefully, thanks to the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.
I would like to also bring to your attention that a monk travelling on legitimate Canadian travel documents, who was teaching at the Bat Nha monastery, was arrested by Vietnamese officials and extradited without due legal process. His Canadian identification papers were also taken away from him.
The Vietnamese and Canadian governments defend the values of freedom of association and freedom of religion. That is why we are appealing to your convictions to respect these fondamental and internationally recognized values, and keep the monastery of Bat Nha open.
We believe it’s necessary to also appeal for the support of all Canadian businesses, media, and religious communities, in order to keep this monastery open. You will understand that we cannot remain passive in the face of such a situation. With the world watching the events at the Bat Nha monastery, I ask that you immediately and graciously bring our appeal to your government.
In deep gratitude,
YOUR NAME
Cc: Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada
Lawrence Cannon, Canadian minister of foreign affairs
Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, and for Asia-Pacific Gateway
Josee Verner, minister for la Francophonie
Gabriel Lessard, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam
Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; leader of her Majesty’s Royal Opposition
Bob Rae, Liberal foreign affairs critic
Dan McTeague, consular affairs critic, Liberal Party of Canada
Jack Layton, leader of the federal New Democratic Party
Paul Dewar, NDP foreign affairs critic
Francine Lalonde, foreign affairs critic for the Bloc Quebecois
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Cc: (continued)
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Ottawa Committee
Alex Neve, secretary general, Amnesty International Canada
World Trade Organisation
United Church of Canada
Vietnamese Canadian Federation
National Association of Asian American Professionals
Ken Neumann, National Director, United Steelworkers of America -- Canada
John Gordon, national president, Public Service Alliance of Canada
Ken Lewenza, President, Canadian Autoworkers union-Canada
Paul Moist, CUPE national president
Barbara_Budd and Carol Off, hosts of As It Happen, Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
Radio-Canada International, info@
The Toronto Star
Steve Wicary, Political section editor, on-line, The Globe and Mail
Stephen Northfield, foreign news editor, The Globe and Mail
Sinclair Stewart, national news editor, The Globe and Mail
Buddhist sangha/community groups across Canada
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