|
Dau Pagoda with the old name "Thanh Dao Tu, located at the end of Gia Phuc Village, Nguyen Trai Commune, Thuong Tin District, Ha Tay Province, about 24km far from Hanoi to the south.
There are 5 names called for this: 1- Thanh Dao Tu; 2- Phap vu Tu; 3- King Pagoda; 4- Ba Pagoda; 5- Dau Pagoda. The Pagoda worships Duc Phap Vu, one of Tu Phap originated from Ha Bac. According to historical document, when Tu Phap appeared, the relationship among ethnic Buddhism was fonned so far.
A plot of previous land of this pagoda is a place having appearance of Phap Vu Bodhisattva. Through many historic periods, many typical features of ethnic culture of Vietnam were kept for next generation. Therefore, long - long ago, there were many king and lord dynasties, went to this pagoda to give offerings, worship and wished nation peaceful and people security, these wishes were also truthful, so called "Quoc Dao "the range of strong- willed scholars visited this pagoda to wish. passing the exam, bright fame, successful cause, and the fanners also wished health, well grown trees, abundant crops. It was the reason why kings and lords allowed to construct, prepared and give award of "The first - ranked scenery".
According to the stele literature built and prepared in Duong Hoa king year the fifth generation, this pagoda was prepared and built in Ly Dynasty (the 11th century).
In accordance with "bronze book "is being kept in pagoda at present, this pagoda was appeared from Si Nhiep period (the third century, about 2000 years)
Buddhism integrated in to Vietnam by two ways water and road ways when mentioning Vietnam's Buddhism history, they can not forget the deified story about origin which originates Tu Phap.
Vietnam is tropical zone appearance of Tu Phap is in accordance with Vietnamese people's aspiration the "Dong book "(Golden Book) at the pagoda states that the Vietnamese Buddhist from the early day has accepted and received quintessence of the Indian Buddhism. Tu Phap has characteristics of a Zen bonze coming from Thien Truc who reached the peak of the way. His mother is Ms. Man Nuong - a Vietnamese citizen - whose success of Belief, Action, Aspiration made her become the Holy Mother, who brought the Holy son into the world like the sentence which the bonze read.
Manner is similar to that of a learner
Inner and out of the spirit is smooth
Live one time
All things are only Buddhism
(Extracted from the Dong Book)
Through the Vietnamese inherited and improved quintessence of the Indian Buddhism, they also have own identity of the country. 4 pagodas which worship 4 Bodhisattvas (Tu phap) express primitiveness and Mahayana Buddhism, Thien Dinh Pagoda, Thanh Dao Pagoda, Phi Tuong Pagoda, Tri Qua Pagoda of Tu Phap, Phap Van is the eldest sister and Phap Vu has the right to make a decision. There is a Vietnamese proverb:
"To treat a person of rank to a valuable thing"
There is a vitality in southern capital city. Quach Thong under the King's order came to Gia Phuc seeing the ground's form as a lotus in bloom and shining. They thought that the lotus is a ground of Buddhism and set up the pagoda called Thanh Dao Tu and moved Dai Thanh phap Vu Dai Bo Tat (great Bodhisattva) to there to worship. So it is called Phap Vu Tu. The King selected the pagoda’s ground which is only the king and lords to worship. People can worship there in only 3 festival days, called Chua Vua (King Pagoda) Bodhisattva is female called Chua Ba (Ba Pagoda). Because learned men's praying of successful career come into truth and farmers had great crops, masses of people called it Dau Pagoda. Si Nhiep has poem about scene and unlimited virtue of the Dau Pagoda.
In an immense field arise a lotus
The Buddha sit solemnly as a grotto of fairies
On the happy land built a palace of the moon
Nam land has wonderful scenery
Incense smoke dispels mundane joys
The moon shine the gem lake in front of the pagoda
Merciful virtue can not man count
Merit is both immeasurable and unlimited.
(Extracted from the Dong Book)
Through out a number of dynasties, autographs still exist on stone tablets at the pagoda. Where is accepted to have supernatural power. All prays came into truth as the poem: the Buddha sit on the lotus. There are a lot of beautiful scenery in Nam land Incense smoke dispels all worries and sorrow in mundane life and there exist only peace and contentment. Buddha's gate is a restful as a pacified and transparent lake as a pearl, the mild moon lighting the pagoda.
From the past time, Vietnamese prided its self on absorbing quintessence from Indian Buddhism and 300 year ago the two Vietnamese bonze superior had reached the peak of the way in the pagoda. They left their remains allover Xa Loi body. Xa Loi are impossible to bum, to melt in water, without eating away by the weather and time. The universal truth is that: material could only change from one form to another which Buddhism defines as Thanh (Forming), Tru (Existing), Hoai (Destroying) Khong (None) Xa Loi are not affected by space, time and universal truth. For that reason it is valuable thing, a sacred national precious thing to be respected as live Buddha. As the truth of Buddhism, Xa Loi only left 5-10% whole Xa Loi body on the earth so it is called whole Xa Loi body.
The two bonze superior left their entire whole Xa Loi body. But existing for the period of 10 years, 200 years or 2000 years etc... depends on the bonze superior’s decision, the whole Xa Loi body bound to change to the whole Xa Loi body.
Buddhism worldwide such as in India, China, Srilanca, Japan... etc also has the remains which is the whole Xa Loi body such as Ma Ho Co Diep Ton Gia Patron saint in India, Xa Loi worshipping tower of Patron Saint Lien Hoa Sinh Quong Nhan To Dat Lai Dat Ma in China, Xa Loi of the Sixth Forefather Hue Nang at Nam Hoa Pagoda Khuc Giang District, Quang Dong Province, at Van Mon Pagoda Thien Chau Province worshipping Xa Loi of To Van Mon Yen bonze and Xa Loi of Tu Hang Shaman. In Japan, Xa Loi of To Nhat Lien Bo Tat (Ni Chiron) and Xa Loi of Deng Dainhi.
In Vietnam, it exists Xa Loi Tu Dao Hanh Patron Saint, Khong Lo Zen Buddhist (Nguyen Minh Khong), To Giac Hai Zen Buddhist, To Don Zen Buddhist and at present the two most special rare valuable whole Xa Loi body of Vietnam in Dau Pagoda.
They are the symbols for Vietnamese bonze circle which has great men free soul from suffering and which proves satisfactory the Tenets of Buddhism. A nation prides himself on having early and huge civilization because their evidences, previous things, ancient cultural material are currently preserved. However, the value of evidences, ancient documentation depends on the point of view of each nation, each age. The evidences are showed through transcendent intelligence, over the space, time to physiological supper structure of human being so the Orient learning or Western learning is adored and the peak of success depends on human life.
There are a lot of Toai Than all over the world. In Vietnam, King Tran Nhan Tong gave up his crown to become a Buddhist monk in Yen Tu mountain and left his Toai Than of pearls, Bodhisattva Buddhism Quang Duc burnt himself to make and oath of ever lasting heart currently maintaining,…
The Tenets of Buddhism included 10 main Buddhists which included eighty four thousand Buddhists. Anyone absorbing one of eighty four thousand Buddhists will reach the peak of the way to release the pain. As the testament of a bonze superior: "I came to sit in deep meditation 100 days to recite and pray to Buddha".
After that, the remain will be kept as origin. After 100 days, Buddhism follower open the pagoda (Tinh That) seeing the Zen Buddhist still sit in meditation way and have strong fragrance. Through out several years, the clothes is wet, dropping down, at this time, the Zen Buddhist becomes skinny. Followers coated on the Zen Buddhist a paint coat. Up to now, such coat is still undamaged, the Zen Buddhist also finds it durable and beautiful we could say that: The Zen Buddhist was deep in religious contemplation, combining with Buddhist of medication pure land, there fore, the Zen Buddhist has practiced medication, Tinh then sit in meditation, Buddhists Tinh Chieu 'Tich ma thuong chieu, chieu ma thuong tich". Therefore, the whole Xa Loi body of both Zen Buddhists have become non destructive everlasting body. So that, Buddhist disciple should understand basic factor of effective result in sitting in mediation as self reliance. Yet, the most spiritual factor is to heritage the join effort from Buddhist gentlemen, Bodhisattva gentlemen. Any followers want to understand more about allover Xa Loi body, please come to admire both Zen Buddhists. Their wish is to close the future people. Both Zen Buddhists bear the title of Tu Dao Chan and Tu Dao Tam (religion of truth and heart). If joining both letters, we understand as true-heart. The Zen Buddhists 'mind seem to say to us very urgent matters. Their virtue is lie the moon to look at jointly, where there is water, the moon light appears. "Thousand rivers have water, thousand moons appear, thousand of cloudless miles, thousand miles of sky", anyone having the spirit shall understand this issue". Present world science has self-affirmed that:
Embalmment shall satisfy 3 conditions as follows.
1. There should be chemical
2. Intestine and brain shall be moved away.
3. The dead body should be kept in closed box
In 1983, science has proved by radiograph (the Zen Buddhist: of religious of self truth: Vu Khac Minh) and concluded that:
+ There is no marks of chisel.
+ No phenomenon of intestine, brain moved away and joints adhere closely as shown:
+ Weight: 7kg
Both Zen Buddhists don't need 3 above conditions but leave allover Xa Loi body. Oversea and domestic scientist wish to find out "sophisticate embalmment method "of Zen Buddhists for scientists, this them for study is still a insolvable. For architecture, the pagoda is built in big size. The front is designed according to the type "inner work with foreign country", the inner force part is magnificent and luxurious with dragons and pattern carved on the poles etc... Regrettably, this part is burnt. The part "foreign country "still remain but it down grates seriously.
Dau Pagoda is the proud of Vietnam people, is one of precious and long standing inherited property of our country in specifically and of the world in general. The pagoda is famous landscape preferred by nature with ancient architecture, being the salvation and worship place of bodhisattva and spiritual precious national object of the country. The pagoda is admitted by Ministry of Culture as "culture historical "monument.
In the past, the pagoda was restored by the merit of many wise people in many dynasties. Nowadays, Ministry of Culture, the pagoda and local resident have planned a design in big size of restore the historical monument of the nation.
Wish to have subscription merit from Buddhists in many districts, over see and domestic traveler so that one day not far in the future, Dau Pagoda hall be restored solemnly as before.
|
