The Tu Hieu Lineage

by Sister Annabel

When I was allowed by my teacher to receive the transmission of abbotship it was a happy moment. I never felt that I was receiving a heavy responsibility to do great work. I felt that I was being given an opportunity to open myself up to all the virtuous qualities of my own teacher's ancestral teachers. It is my deepest aspiration to realize those qualities in my daily life, although I know I cannot do so in any great or important way. I knew that my teacher embodied these virtuous qualities and was allowing me to have some insight into what those qualities were. This insight came to me as I touched the earth.

Tu Hieu is the name of the temple where the Dhyana master of Plum Village (whose Dharma name is Nhat and then Hanh) was ordained as a novice. Anyone who has received the transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings from the Dhyana master of Plum Village or from a Dharmacharya who has received the Lamp Transmission from the Dhyana master of Plum Village belongs to the Tu Hieu lineage.

Although each one of us has different ancestral teachers coming from many different places and traditions, as members of the Tu Hieu lineage we share certain ancestral teachers. When we come together to praise our ancestral teachers and recollect their virtuous attributes, the representative teachers before whom we touch the earth are as follows:

Sakyamuni Buddha is our root teacher. Historically speaking he is the beginning of our lineage.

Bodhisattvas

The bodhisattvas Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha are not, strictly speaking , historical figures, although they have many manifestations who are historical figures.

Manjusri represents great understanding. The senior disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha, Sariputra, is a manifestation of Manjusri. Traditionally depicted as holding a sword and sitting on a lion, Manjusri is able to cut through the veil of ignorance. All of our suffering comes from our inability to see the way things are. All of us have the capacity to wake up and to see things as they are. We may not be able to be awake to the truth at every moment of the day.

However if we practice mindfulness there will be moments every day when Manjusri manifests in us an in our spiritual friends.

Avalokitesvara is understood as the one who is able to meditate on the sounds of the world, who can hear suffering and see suffering and because of that is able to bring relief to those who are suffering. Avalokitevara, though called bodhisattva is not less than Buddha. Avalokitesvara is depicted holding a vase of water in the right hand and a willow twig in the left. The twig of willow leaves is used to sprinkle the water in the vase and that water is able to purify the roots of suffering. To manifest Avalokitsvara it is not necessary to have great intellectual qualities but to be able to feel the suffering of others as if it were one's own. Avalokitesvara comes to help without hesitation out of great love.

Ksitigarbha made and realized the great aspiration to bring relief and consolation to those tormented by fear, hatred, and despair. The name of this bodhisattva means "Earth-womb" or "Earth-store." He or she is the person who practices in the places which are full of the greatest suffering.

Samantrabhadra is active in practicing compassion and is depicted seated on a white elephant with six tusks. In every action of Samantabhadra ten great vows are realized:

1. to venerate and touch the earth before all the uncountable Buddhas of the past, the present and the future;

2. to recollect the virtuous qualities of all Buddhas and to be able to give voice to them in wonderful words of praise;

3. to make offerings of flowers, music, incense, parasols, food, robes, lamps, candles and sitting mats to all Buddhas;

4. to repent of past mistakes and to begin anew;

5. to rejoice in all meritorious actions performed by others;

6. to ask the enlightened ones to turn the wheel of the teachings;

7. to ask those who have realized the fruits of the practice up to enlightenment not to enter nirvana but to stay with living beings for a long time;

8. to study and train at the feet of the enlightened ones;

9. to practice and teach in a way that is appropriate for beings;

10. to offer up all the merit we have accumulated by our own virtuous action.

The Buddha's Disciples

Mahakasyapa is the disciple of the Buddha who convened the Sangha after the Buddha left this earth. He presided over the first Buddhist Council (where the sutras and naya were recited in toto). He emphasized the practice of simple living by his own way of life. The Dhyana School of China considers Mahakasyapa to be their first patriarch since he received the transmission of the eye of the Buddha when the Buddha held up a flower and Mahakasyapa smiled.

Sariputra was the disciple of the Buddha considered to be foremost in wisdom and understanding. Sariputra was loved by the monks for his compassion and humility. He was also a teacher of the Buddha's lay disciples, especially Anathapindika. Bowing before Sariputra we are in touch with the love and care we have for our younger Dharma brothers and sisters.

Mahamaudgalyayana and Sariputra were both teachers before they met and sought monastic ordination from the Buddha and the Buddha's Sangha. After that they became the foremost teachers in the Buddha's Sangha.

Upali was the disciple of the Buddha most expert in vinaya, the monastic code. He understood not only the letter but also the spirit of the monastic precepts and thus was a tremendous support for his brothers and sisters in the Dharma. He came from a humble background, having been a barber before he ordained as the elder brother of princes.

Ananda memorized the discourse of the Buddha. Since Ananda was able to recite all the discourses of the Buddha we owe much to his memory for our knowledge of the Buddha's teachings. Ananda was a devoted attendant to the Buddha who never sought any special advantages from his position. He also upheld the right of the Buddha's aunt and her followers to receive the full monastic ordination, thus playing a small role in making the bhiksuni order possible.

Mahagotami was the sister of Mahamaya, the mother of the Buddha, and was responsible for bringing up the prince Siddhartha after Mahamaya had died. After courageously insisting on monastic ordination for women and having her request for this granted by Sakyamuni Buddha, she took full responsibility for the developing bhiksuni Sangha. Those of us who are able to practice as a bhiksuni always remember their gratitude to her.

Ancestral Teachers in China and Vietnam

Tang Hoi, of the third century AD, was Vietnam's first known Buddhist meditation master.  He belonged to the Mahayana school in its early days when there was not yet the separation that later occurred between Mahayana and the primitive Buddhist teachings. Therefore Master Tang Hoi is a master of meditation in the teachings of primitive Buddhism and those of Mahayana Buddhism. Having studied, practiced and taught in the peaceful colony of North Vietnam in the early part of his life, in the mid third century e was moved to journey to Southern China (Nanking). Here the people did not enjoy the same peace and freedom and Buddhist practice was unknown. Skillfully and compassionately he had dialogues with and was accepted by the kings of Wu. Although he had to undergo tribulations he managed to establish Buddhism in this southern Chinese capitol. He fully expounded mindfulness of breathing and many other wonderful ways of practicing looking deeply in meditation.

Dharmadeva, an Indian meditation master, came to North Vietnam in the mid fifth century to teach meditation (at about the same time as Bodhidharma to China).

Vinitaruci, an Indian meditation master, journeyed to China and after receiving transmission from the third Patriarch of Chinese Buddhism, traveled south to Vietnam in the year 580 or so. He translated sutras from Sanskrit into Chinese, especially sutras of the Mantrayana. He taught many disciples and founded the Vietnamese school of meditation that is called after his name. He passed away in 594.

Vo Ngon Thong, a Chinese meditation master, came to Vietnam in 820 and founded a meditation school called after his name. His name means that he spoke very little but had a penetrating understanding. He had studied in China under Pai Chang, who established the organization of meditative monasticism. Since he practiced sitting meditation and said little, people did not always pay much attention to hi, but one disciple noticed something special about him and became his attendant. It was to this attendant that he transmitted the teachings.

Master Thao Duong was a Chinese meditation master. While on a teaching tour in the country of Champa (now Central and part of Southern Vietnam) in the year 1069, he was captured along with other Champa people by the army of the Vietnamese king Ly Thanh Tong. Once brought to North Vietnam he was made attendant to the mandarin responsible for monastic affairs. One day while the mandarin was absent he was leafing through some records of meditation masters that he found on the mandarin's desk. Seeing many mistakes in the manuscripts he corrected them. It was thus the king discovered that one of his captives was a meditation master. Master Thao Duong's qualities were appreciated and he was made national Teacher in Vietnam. He founded the school of meditation called after his name and this school established a link between Buddhist and Confucian teachings.

Thus, this school of meditation was preferred by the intellectual and ruling classes. The emphasis on literary composition in this school also influenced the Bamboo forest school that was founded two centuries later.

All three of these meditation schools, Vinitaruci, Vo Ngon Thong and Thao Duong, became part of the Bamboo Forest School and ceased to exist in their own right.

Master Bamboo Forest began his life as a king in the spirit of a bodhisattva, doingeverything to promote the wellbeing of his own people and the people of neighboring countries. In 1299 at the age of 46, he became a monk on Mount Yen Tu. He practiced asceticism, going everywhere on foot and teaching the Five Mindfulness Trainings to people when he was not in retreat in a hermitage on the mountain. He taught his monastic disciples in question and answer sessions. His writings in poetry (both Chinese and Vietnamese) are exceptionally fine.

Master Lam Te Nghia Huyen (Lin-Chi I-hsuan, d, 866-867) founded the Chinese Dhyana school that is named after him in 845. He taught sudden enlightenment by means of blows with a stick and shouts. He would ask his disciples about the true man of no position. One day he was visiting a stupa. The guardian monk asked him: "Do you wish to pay respect first to the Buddha or to the patriarch?" He replied, "Neither," and flipping his cloak over his shoulder, he went out. He also said to his disciples: "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha." This means you should not be caught in any concepts or ideas about the Buddha. The Lin Chi school came to Vietnam in two different stages, first in the 13th century during the reign of king Tran Thai Tong, who was a Buddhist meditation master. The second time was in the 17th century.

Lieu Quan was born in Central Vietnam in 1670 and entered the monastic life at 12 years old. When he was 19 years old, his teacher passed away and he left his monastery to find a new teacher. He received the Bhiksu ordination when he was 27. After this, he continued to wander in search of teachers and the teachings. In 1702, he was given the koan: "All things return to the one; where does the one return to?" by Master Tu Dung. After five years of retreat, he had still made no breakthrough and he felt remorse. One day he was reading Records of the Lamp Transmission and he came to the sentence that says: "Points someone to things in order to transmit the mind, that is why people do not understand." He felt he had broken through and he returned to Master Tu Dung. After some exchange between himself and his teacher, his breakthrough was approved by his teacher. By the age of 42 he had established many practice centers in Central Vietnam and was very much respected by the ruler. His monastic and lay disciples numbered 4,000. He left this life at the age of 72 seated in the lotus position, having reminded his disciples not to weep and admonished them to diligently practice the contemplation on impermanence. He belonged to the 33rd generation of the Lin Chi line and made the Lin Chi school a living reality in Vietnam. Under him, monastic architecture took on a Vietnamese form. Chanting in the monasteries also became Vietnamese in flavor. His four senior disciples each founded a flourishing practice center in central Vietnam. Many practice centers belonging to this school were established in the 18th century. The revival of Buddhism in the 20th century depended on the establishment of this school.

Thien Su Nhat Dinh, born in 1783, was a native of Quang Tri province. Dhyana Master Nhat Dinh's (Concentration on Oneness) lineage name was Tanh Thien (Nature of the Sky). He became a monk when he was still a young child of six or seven years old. When he was older he was given the monastic novice ordination by Dhyana Master Pho Tinh of the Thien Tho temple. at the age of 19, he received the full monastic ordination from Dhyana Master Mat Hoang in the Quoc An temple. In obedience to King Gia Long, he undertook the abbotship of the Thien Tho temple.

In 1833, King Minh Mang invited him to be abbot of the Linh Huu temple. In 1839, the king invited him to assume the post of Master of the Sangha in the Giac Hoang temple. By nature he enjoyed going on tour and was less inclined to direct the temples of national importance. In 1843, he asked to be relieved of the office of Master of the Sangha in the Giac Hoang temple and King Thieu Tri granted hs request. He was very content, and said:

I am old and fortunately the king is kind to me,

I have my body and this bowl and the wide road is open to me.

A few years later, he ascended the Duong Xuan Thuong mountain in the Huong Thuy district of the Thua thien province. He built himself a tiny thatched hermitage and called it An Duong (Peace Nourishing Hermitage). The landscape her was fit for seclusion and leisure, being very beautiful. He practiced here for about four years until 1847, when he passed away at the age of 64. His three most outstanding disciples were Luong duyen, Cuong Ky and Lin Co.

The Queen's attendant inspired by the virtues of the Master constructed a large temple on the site of the An Duong hermitage and called it Tu Hieu (Loving Kindness as Filial Piety). The architecture is similar to the royal architecture of King Tu Duc. The temple was called Tu hieu because his disciples always remembered the love he had shown to his parents during his life, even after he became a monk.

Dhyana Master Cuong Ky, whose lineage name is Hai Thieu, was the disciple of Dhyana Master Nhat Dinh. He was invited to be abbot of the Tu Hieu temple and gathered together a monastic Sangha making the Tu Hieu temple a flourishing practice center. His most outstanding disciple was Dhyana Master Hue Phap, abbot of Thien Hung temple, who played an important part in making Buddhism a shining light in the 20th century. Another senior disciple of his was Dhyana Master vien Giac who founded the Ba-La-Mat temple. He made 25 great vows, which are inscribed on a stele at the Tu Hieu temple.

Dhyana Master Thanh Quy Chan Thiet is the root teacher of our own teacher Dhyana Master Trung Quang Nhat Hanh. His memorial day is celebrated on the eighth day of the second lunar month. He passed away on this day in 1968 during the Tet Offensive, at the age of 85. His many qualities include a sense of humor. Quoting from the Words of Aspiration, which are used during the annual memorial celebration in his name:

Our own teacher has told us that you were very industrious and you were moderate in everything, from the way you are to the way you worked. You always worked hard with a great deal of joy and mindfulness. You never raised your voice to reprimand your disciples even when they made serious mistakes. You always found a way to wake up and help your disciples by subtle means and sometimes you used humor in order to help the disciple remember your teaching a long time. You looked after your disciples without discriminating the intelligent and the slow. You loved and were able to see the virtuous qualities and capabilities of people who were difficult to understand and to love and you accepted and helped everyone. At the same time, when you entrusted duties to each of your disciples you did so with deep discernment.

Transmission gatha Thich Nhat Hanh received from his Teacher at Tu Hieu Root Temple

Heading in the one direction of embracing the loving vitality of Spring, is to walk the path of heroes. 

Acting in such a way that is neither caught in ideas or notions, nor taking sides in partisan conflict, 

The light of mindfulness illuminates our true nature, 

And in both East and West the wonderful Dharma is realized.

Transmission gatha Chân Lượng received from Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village

The true practice of meditation brings forth precious gems of life.

It is with the energy of Loving Kindness that we protect and nourish each other.

The door to the ultimate is open.

Onemindedness is needed for the realization of the Wonderful Path.