Visit a miniature India inside a Buddhist monastery in Tien Giang.

Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery is located in Hamlet 1, Thanh Tan Commune, Tan Phuoc District, Tien Giang Province. This temple was built in 2012 following the traditional model of the Truc Lam Yen Tu sect, under the jurisdiction of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Since its inauguration, besides becoming a center for Buddhist study and practice, the Zen Monastery has also become an important landmark attracting tourists to Tien Giang, contributing to changing the appearance of a poor commune in Tan Phuoc District.

To reach the Zen Monastery, starting from the center of Tien Giang province, visitors travel west from the Trung Luong intersection on National Highway 1A for 6km to Long Dinh, then continue to My Phuoc town, Tan Phuoc district. After that, continue for another 10km to reach Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery. There are always signs along the way directing you to the monastery.

Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery is designed to closely resemble Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Da Lat. Throughout its construction, this monastery was built through the collective efforts of many Buddhist followers. The monastery covers a total area of ​​50 hectares, with a vast grounds featuring many ancient trees and massive boulders.

A distinctive feature of the Mekong Delta region is the flood season. Therefore, a system of dikes has been built around Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery to prevent floodwaters from entering the grounds. This is also a unique feature compared to Truc Lam Zen Monastery.

The Zen monastery is divided into two completely separate areas: the inner and outer grounds. The outer grounds include structures such as the main hall, ancestral hall, meditation hall, lecture hall, monks' quarters, refectory, library, exhibition hall, bell tower, drum tower, guesthouse for male lay practitioners, and guesthouse for female lay practitioners, covering an area of ​​over 47,000 square meters. The main hall alone has a capacity of over 3,000 people.

The inner courtyard, on the other hand, offers a more private and tranquil space, suitable for constructing buildings such as four monks' quarters, one meditation hall, and ten meditation rooms, exclusively for Buddhist practitioners to live, study, and practice within the monastery.

Notably, Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery boasts a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha carved from jade, gilded with gold, standing 4.5 meters tall and weighing over 30 tons, crafted by artisans from Myanmar. A key highlight of the entire architecture at Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery is the four sacred sites (also known as the Four Holy Places) built to a 6/10 scale with the original sites in India and Nepal, two countries considered the cradles of Buddhism.

These four sacred sites include Lumbini Garden, where the Buddha was born; Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment; Sarnath, where the Buddha turned the Wheel of Dharma; and Kushinara, where the Buddha passed away. One of the most prominent structures, dubbed "Little India," is the main stupa, standing 31 meters tall. Its majestic white paint, combined with the exquisite carvings and intricate details, attracts young people to visit and take photos. Meanwhile, in the center of the monastery, a 25-meter-high artificial mountain has been built, providing a backdrop for the ancestral hall and the main sanctuary.

On the third Sunday of every month, Truc Lam Giac Chanh Zen Monastery regularly organizes activities for Buddhists. People can offer prayers, chant scriptures, repent, listen to Dharma lectures, meditate, or simply visit to enjoy the scenery and find some peace amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. In addition, every two months, the monastery holds a ceremony to transmit the Three Refuges and Five Precepts to Buddhists. Furthermore, the monastery regularly welcomes visitors from within and outside the province to visit and worship.

Anh Thi