Ngài Nguyên Thiều
I. Native:
Ngài Nguyên Thiều's family is unknown. His last name was Tạ. He was a Chinese, born in Trịnh Lương, Triều Châu County, Quảng Đông Province, China.
II. The life of Nguyên Thiều:
He left his family at the age of 19 and was accepted by The Most Venerable đội Khao Khoán Viên, a Chinese. In the 3rd year of Cảnh Tri, the Lê Huyền Tôn Empire (1665), he followed the merchants to enter An-Nam (former of Vietnam) in Quy Ninh (Bình Định Province) and built the Ten Stupa Amida
Temple (Thập Tháp Di Đà). He established schools to educate people of Buddha's teaching. Then he went to Phu Loc County, in Thừa Thiên Province to build the Hà Trung temple. At Huế, the capital of Thua Thien, he built the Quốc Ấn Temple and Phổ Đồng Stupa which was destroyed by Tây SÖn Empire (late 1700). After several years at the Quoc An, he was asked by King Anh Tôn to return to China to invite knowledgeable monks and bring more Buddha statues and Buddhist scriptures back to Vietnam. In Quảng Đông, the farthest southeastern province of China, he met many knowledgeable monks including the Most Venerable Thạch Liêm. He was able to invite them and bring more Buddha statues and Buddhist scriptures back to Vietnam. Upon Nguyen Thieu's return, the Nguyễn Empire ordered to hold a first big ordination at Thiên Mụ temple. During the 10th of King Thảo Thê's reign, on October 19th, he gathered all his disciples and gave the last words:
"Tịch tịch kỉnh vô ảnh
Minh minh châu bất dụng
Đường Đường vật phi vật
Liễu liễu không vật không."
He wanted his disciples to realize that the body is pure and clear as a glass eventhough one cannot see it, it is there and not empty. Because one goes through life evolution, the true self is influenced by the changing of society. Therefore, one cannot recognize the truth. Then he sat dying in calm.
III. His influence on morality:
He was the first Master of Lâm Tế lineage in the MiÇle of Vietnam and also the first monk who brought Buddha teaching into Thừa thiên. Beside being the founder of temples (Thập tháp, Hà Trung and Quoc An), he invited many high monks into Vietnam and opened the ordinations so that many people could understand and practice the Buddha's teachings which helped to lead them into good moral lives. These monks stayed in Hue and built more new temples which today are recognized as the most honored temples.
Chánh Thiện
1. Ngài Ma Ha Ca Diếp - Ma-Ha Ca-Diep
3. Ngài Nguyên Thiều - NguyenThieu
5. Bốn Sự Thật Cao Thượng(Tứ Diệu Ðế) - The Four Noble Truths
7. Tám Chánh Ðạo - The Eight-Fold Noble Path
8. Kinh Mười Ðiều Thiện - The Sutra of The Ten good deeds
9. Thiện Ác Nghiệp Báo - Karma
10. Sáu Ðộ - The Six Perfections
11. Phép Quán Tưởng và Niệm Phật - The Methods of Meditating on Buddha
12. Bát Quan Trai - The Eight Retreat Precepts
13. Phật Giáo Việt Nam Từ Ðời Trần đến Cận Ðại - Buddhism in Vietnam from The Tran Dynasty to Present
14. Tình Thần Không Chấp Thủ, Tinh Thần Tùy Duyên Bất Biến