Thursday September 24th was the 49th day after the passing of our Uncle Teacher. The fourfold sangha came together to perform a ceremony to praise our Uncle Teacher and to read his biography. The altar was beautifully decorated with incense, flowers, fruits and other delicious food, most of which had been cooked in central-Vietnamese style.  A lot of the food was wrapped in banana leaves that were grown in our own garden in Plum Village. It was a simple, beautiful and harmonious ceremony, yet at the same time very meaningful.




-          Sitting Meditation (10min)
-          Reading Su Thuc's Biography

-          Incense Offering ( Viet )
-          The Three Jewels
-          Asking the Sangha to Kneel Down
-          Praising our Uncle Teacher
-          Standing Up
-          Touching the Earth before our Uncle Teacher (3x)

Touching the Earth for Su Thuc Chi Mau

In Gratitude to our Uncle Teacher, the 42nd Generation of the Lin - Chi Dhyana School, the 8th Generation of the Lieu Quan Dharma Line, the Abbot of the Root Temple, whose first name is Trung and second name is Tue, whose Dharma Title is Chi Mau... 3X

Tung Kinh - Chanting

-          Verse and Heart Sutra (Eng)
-          Rice Offering (VN)
-          The Refuge Chant (VN)
-          Closing Verse

*Su Thuc Chi Mau Biography*

Our Uncle Teacher Chi Mau was born in 1948 in the Hue Province with the birth name Pham Tri. He was the last-born child in a family of 13, which had deep roots in Buddhism for many generations. His father's name was Pham Tang Khe, Dharma Name Trung Co; his mother's name was Nguyen Thi Bieu, Dharma Name Nguyen Phong.

At the age of 18, he left his parents and came to Tu Hieu Temple (root temple), where he was ordained by our Grandfather Teacher Chan That. At the age of 20, his teacher passed away and the Novice Precepts were transmitted to him by his elder brother, Zen Master Chi Niem, before our Grandfather Teacher's altar.

In 1970, he received the Bhikshu Precepts in Vinh Gia Great Ordination Ceremony in Da Nang City, with Zen Master Thich Giac Nhien. After receving the Full Ordination, he returned to the Root Temple to practice with the Sangha.

In 1972, Zen Master Chi Niem, the Abbot of the Root Temple, passed away. Su Thuc Chi Mau was nominated by the Sangha of the Root Temple to take care of the Monastery. He helped to turn the Root Temple into one of the most beautiful monasteries in Hue today.  He ordained and trained over 50 monastic brothers.

In 1994, with the Dharma Teacher in Hue, he helped to open a Buddhist Institute in the Root Temple. This Buddhist Institute has graduated over 4 classes of monastic students, with each class having studied for 5 years. The graduates of these classes are now sharing the Dharma everywhere.

In 2004, he was invited by Thay, his elder brother, to come to visit Plum Village for the first time. He stayed and practiced with the Sangha for the 3-month Winter Retreat of 2004 - 2005. During the Great Reunion Great Ordination Ceremony at the end of that Winter Retreat he received the Lamp Transmission from Thay, with the Gatha:

The daily practice of Great Aspiration nourishes the contemplation of loving kindness.
The path of return to the Duong Xuan Mountain is so fresh.
Determined to nourish brotherhood and sisterhood.
We Walk into the Sacred Land with Freedom.

Công phu chí cả nuôi từ quán
Nẻo về thịnh mậu núi Dương Xuân
Quyết tâm nuôi lớn tình huynh đệ
Đất thiêng rạng rỡ buớc siêu trần.

After receiving the Lamp Transmission, he returned to the Root Temple in Vietnam in order to prepare for Thay's return to the country after 39 years of exile. Thay stayed at the Root Temple and his presence inspired Chi Mau to renew the practice in the Root Temple in accordance with the practice in Plum Village. After this renewal many young people came to practice, and many of them stayed and became young monastics in the tradition. The Monastery now has two hamlets with over 100 monks and nuns practicing and living in harmony. Chi Mau has been an inspiration and refuge for many young monastics today.

During the winter of 2007 - 2008 Chi Mau came back to Plum Village to practice and live with the Plum Village Sangha for the last time. During his stay in Plum Village, he was always a great role model for the monks and nuns and a great source of happiness and stability for the Sangha.

After many years of teaching and practice and having lived a wonderful life, he passed away on August 8th 2009. Following his younger brother's passing away, Thay offered the following Gatha as a dedication for Su Thuc Chi Mau:

The moon shines upon the clear ocean, giving rise to Clear Wisdom.
On top of the mountain of Great Aspirations the Fresh Spring manifests.

Thanh lương hải nguyệt sinh trừng tuệ,
chí nguyện sơn đầu thịnh mậu xuân.

In Gratitude to our Uncle Teacher, the 42nd Generation of the Lin - Chi Dhyana School, the 8th Generation of the Lieu Quan Dharma Line, the Abbot of the Root Temple, whose first name is Trung and second name is Tue and whose Dharma Title is Chi Mau.