The Ordained Community
The Sangha at Pagoda Phat Hue is an evolving group of international practitioners. Currently, the Sangha consists of about 20 monks and nuns from Germany, France, Italy, America, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Sangha members mindfully pursue the cultivation of their hearts and the creation of a harmonious environment in which to live and practice the Buddha’s teachings.
Our Sangha is part of the Lin-Chi tradition, and monks and nuns follow the Vinaya – the regulatory framework for Buddhist monastics.
Contrary to practices where Sangha members live apart in their own space, we maintain a communal lifestyle and share our activities. Harmony is the greatest virtue of every Sangha community. Without harmony, trust cannot be built. Regardless if one is ordained or a lay practitioner, each Sangha member is part of a larger family and strives to practice with harmony and togetherness. We work, practice, and study together.
The ordained Sangha follows Asian tradition by relying on the support of the lay community. Local Vietnamese lay followers form the base, while Zen students and friends from Germany and around the world complete this community. They assist us in many ways, including: daily activities, festival preparations, administration and finance.
The Phat Hue Sangha has had the great privilege to receive personal audiences from numerous great Masters from various traditions, such as His Holiness XIV Dalai Lama, Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, His Holiness the XVII Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Venerable Ajahn Brahmavamso, His Holiness Sakya Trinzin Rinpoche, His Holiness Tulku Lodro, Ven. Thubten Chodron, The Very Venerable Kechen Thrangu Rinpoche, Venerable Dhammadipa, Sayadaw Ven. Dr. Nandamalabhivamsa, Ven. Thich Thinh Dao, Geshe Ngawang Thapkhe, and resident Bhante Punnaratana. We are deeply thankful for all of our teachers and the blessings we have received.
Ordained Sangha
Ven. Thich Thien Son, Abbot of Pagoda Phat Hue (Vietnam)
“Through confrontation comes clarity”
Thich Quang Tuan (Vietnam)
Bhante Punnaratana (Sri Lanka)
“May all beings be happy”
Thich Tu Tri (Vietnam)
Thich Hue Giac (Vietnam)
Thich Hue Nghi (France)
I became a monk because I see it as a very unique way to have the time and frame to learn about one’s self and others, especially in these times where the focus is completely outward rather than inward.
“I think Buddhism can be an inspiration for everyone.”
Su Ba (Vietnam)
“Essen!”
Thich Hue Bao (Germany)
I became a monk because Buddhism interests me
“I will always finish what I start”
Thich Hue Khong (Germany)
I became a monk because I like the robe
“Be crazy”
Thich Hue Loc Germany)
I became a monk to stop my habit of being afraid of the future.
“In each moment ask: What am I doing now and who am I doing it for?”
Thich Hue Chuyen (USA)
I became a monk to find understanding about myself and about the world. I am now the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
“Loving acceptance is the path to inner transformation”
Thich Hue Truc (Italy)
I became a monk to free my heart
“1+1=2…maybe”
Thich Hue Ngo (Germany)
I became a monk to know why I wanted to become a monk
“What am I doing here?”
Thich Hue Nghiem (Germany)
I became a nun to search for real inner peace - curiosity and fascination to learn and understand dharma in its essence. My first encounter was the stanza from the DS which is still guiding me:
“All phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble and a shadow.
Like a dew drop and a flash of lightening this way we should see them.”
Thich Hue Tho (France)
Thich Hue Trieu (Germany)
I became a nun because I wanted to find out what real compassion is
“Fearlessness is arising the ability to let your heart be touched by the world” -Trungpa