Located in Dong Thap Province, Chanh Giac Zen Monastery has gradually established as one of the outstanding Buddhist centers in the Mekong Delta. Within the monastery’s architectural and landscape complex, the Tu Dong Tam area stands out as a key highlight, contributing to the promotion of spiritual, cultural, and educational values rooted in Buddhism.
Main worshipping hall of Chanh Giac Zen Monastery
In Buddhist tradition, Tu Dong Tam refers to the four most sacred places associated with the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. These include Lumbini, where the Buddha was born; Bodh Gaya, where He attained Enlightenment; Sarnath, where He delivered His first sermon; and Kushinagar, where He entered Parinirvana. These sites have long been major pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists around the world. However, geographical distance and travel costs have made overseas pilgrimages difficult for many Vietnamese devotees.
The Tu Dong Tam complex in Truc Lam Chanh Giac was developed to symbolically recreate these four major milestones, allowing Vietnamese Buddhists to pay homage and practice without traveling overseas. The structures are arranged harmoniously within a green landscape, combining Buddhist architecture with the natural characteristics of Dong Thap province.
The Lumbini-inspired Birth Site
The Enlightenment Site
The Lumbini-inspired Birth Site features a statue depicting the nativity of Prince Siddhartha, set in an open space surrounded by lotus ponds and greenery, symbolizing purity and the sacred beginning of an enlightened life. The Enlightenment Site, modeled after Bodh Gaya, portrays the Buddha meditating beneath a Bodhi tree, reflecting the core philosophy of the Truc Lam Zen tradition, which emphasizes mindfulness and inner awakening.
First Sermon Site
At the First Sermon Site, inspired by Sarnath’s Deer Park, the Buddha is shown teaching the Four Noble Truths to the five ascetics, marking the formation of the Buddhist Sangha and the dissemination of the Dharma. The spiritual journey concludes at the Parinirvana Site, modeled after Kushinagar, where the Buddha’s passing is depicted in a tranquil setting, underscoring the Buddhist teaching of impermanence.
The Parinirvana Site
Over the past years, the Tu Dong Tam complex has helped meet the spiritual needs of a large number of Buddhist followers from Dong Thap and neighboring provinces. During major religious festivals, the site welcomes significant numbers of visitors, contributing to cultural exchange and community education.
Với vai trò là một trong những thiền viện Trúc Lâm lớn của khu vực, Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác thường xuyên tổ chức các khóa tu, buổi thuyết giảng Phật pháp và hoạt động dành cho thanh thiếu niên, hướng đến việc bồi dưỡng đạo đức, lối sống lành mạnh và sự hài hòa trong cộng đồng. Trong tổng thể đó, khu Tứ động tâm không chỉ là một công trình tôn giáo, mà còn là không gian văn hóa – tâm linh có ý nghĩa lâu dài đối với đời sống tinh thần của người dân Đồng Tháp.
Minh Lan
