About Linh Son University
Biography of the Rector of The World Linh Son University
The Most Venerable Dr.Thich Tinh Hanh.The Most Venerable Rector of The University was born in 1934 in the province of Ninh Thuận, Vietnam. As a unique and the only son, He was inherited important rice plantations and gardens from His five ancestral generations. Despite the wealthy heritage, while attending the death of His maternal uncle, the Most Venerable Rector realized suddenly the truth of impermanency; and at the age of 17, He decided to leave His family for a monastic life.
During His Buddhist study, in 1952, impressed by the history of the gigantic master piece of translation of the Buddhist Canon of Most Venerable Hiuen Tsang from Sanskrit to Chinese language; the Most Venerable Rector felt from His depth of human being, the ultimate vow to carry out the translation of the Tripitaka in Vietnamese.
After obtaining His diploma of Licence in Buddhism, He was a Professor of Bồ Đề College in Vietnam; then, in 1969, He was granted a great honorable scholarship to continue His master degree in Taiwan. In 1972 at The National Taiwan Normal University, He obtained His master degree in Literature on “The Comparative Study of the Chinese and Vietnamese phono-languistics”. This document is used by the Berkeley University in the United States of America as a reference for teaching in this major area. In 1980, the most Venerable presented His doctoral thesis in Buddhist Philosophy and Literature on “The Study on the comments of Han Yu* about Buddhism”; this thesis was honored by the jury of 14 eminent Professors.
*Han Yu is a well known scholar of China; based on Confucian Ethic, He criticized Buddhist Ethic; the thesis of the Most Venerable rationally harmonized these ethics.Immerged in the Buddhist’s culture in Asia and specially in Taiwan, He taught on “The Buddhist and the Chinese Thoughts” in 1983. In 1985 He was nominated as Rector of the “Chinese Buddhist Institute” and became a member of the educational committee of the World Buddhist Congregation in 1986. He was President of the Conference on the “Study and Discussion on the Buddhist Philosophy” reserved for Professors of all the universities in Taiwan in 1995, then was selected as a full-time Professor in Buddhist Philosophy and Chinese Literature for The National Zhongxing University among the 400 native candidates.
Spirited for ever by His deep vow since1952, the Most Venerable, with His proper means built up a team of 150 scholars and monks, devoted of 16 years, from 1994 to 2010, to carry out the translation of the Tripitaka from Chinese to Vietnamese language. The Tripitaka in Vietnamese language is composed of 200 volumes and of 1000 pages per each volume.
In 2005, the Most Venerable was nominated as Second Patriarch of The World Linh Son Buddhist Congregation. Since 2008, He devoted all his energy to carry out the ultimate wish of the late Most Venerable First Patriarch THICH HUYEN VI to build The World Linh Son University in propagation of Dharma.
The Buddhist Bachelor Program started on October 2010.
The Most Venerable Dr Thich Tinh Hanh
The World Oriental Linhson University, France.
World Linh Sơn Oriental University : an International Institute of study and research on Buddhism and Eastern and Western philosophies.
The idea of this international Buddhist Center for higher learning, research, training and publication dates back to the late Most Venerable Thích Huyền Vi, founder cum First Patriarch of the World Linh Son Buddhist Congregation, who obtained right in 2001,the authorization from the French Authority.
His successor at the head of the Congregation, the Most Venerable Thích Tịnh Hạnh, 2nd Patriarch and Emeritus Professor at Taiwan National University , his many responsibilities notwithstanding, has accepted to take charge of the completion of the campus and of the elaboration of the courses.
The Campus is located at Vitry sur Seine (94400) France, less than 5kms south east of Paris, in a 3500 square metre property and comprises one 3 storey principal building ( 300 square metres each floor), one residence with a housing capacity for 80 students and a spacious parking.
The library has an important number of books and documents in English, French, Chinese Vietnamese, Japanese, Pali…and boasts of an exceptional Tripitaka in Vietnamese ( the Three Baskets of Buddhist Texts) : in total 200 volumes of 1000 pages each, format 17cm x 24cm.
The latter represents a monumental and unique translation achievement from classic Chinese into Vietnamese and crowns more than 10 years of hard work and abnegation by The most Venerable Thich Tinh Hanh who spared no efforts to mobilize the finances for this great mission and to relentlessly supervise a translating team of 150 religious and lay scholars ,then the editing and the publication and diffusion of this colossal masterwork.
Moreover, the library can put at the disposal of the students, the research fellows, the teaching staff and the public, its excellent Grand Dictionary Phật Quang Đại Tự Điển ( Grand Dictionary of the lights of the Buddha) by le Most Venerable Thích Quảng Độ, Patriarch the Unified Buddhist Congregation of Vietnam.
The Emblem Of the World Linh Sơn Oriental University
The symbol of the WLSOU is a six petalled lotus moving in the same direction as the Wheel of the Law ( Dharmachakra in Sanskrit) with, at its heart 2 letters LS (for Linh Sơn) supported by a 4 word motto “Phúc Tuệ Song Vận” (Compassion & Wisdom in parallel motion).
The Wheel of the Law - Dharmachakra (in Sanskrit) or Dhammachakra (in Pali) represents the Law which Lord Buddha Sakya Muni himself set in motion whereas the Lotus symbolizes the highest perfection he arrived at. The Wheel of the Law moves clockwise, signifying its no return movement forward, guiding all sentient beings toward enlightenment and deliverance. Wherever the Wheel of the Law advances, it annihilates ignorance and anxiety.
Upon his enlightenment, Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon in Benares, India, to his five former companions, thus setting in motion, according to canonical texts, the Wheel of the Law,i.e His Teachings. This Wheel, once set in motion is to annihilate ignorance and wandering.
With his first sermon in the Deer Park, Sarnath, India, The Buddha set in motion the Wheel of the Law and enabled his five old companions turned first disciples to overcome ignorance and to follow his way to reach the supreme perfection as have so done countless persons ever since.
The six petalled lotus symbolises six great essential qualities necessary to attain full enlightenment or buddhahood, namely:1 - Generosity
2 - Discipline
3 - Patience
4 - Perseverance
5 - Meditation
6 - Wisdom
Why and how these six great qualities are so essential to the point of permitting their possessors to reach buddhahood ? According to buddhist canonical texts,they are the highest qualities (in sanskrit paramitas) :
Supreme generosity ( Dâna paramita) is the first supreme quality required of anyone treading the path of the Boddhisatvas on the way towards perfect enlightenment. This quality enables its possessor to annihilate greed, selfishness and egocentricity.
Supreme discipline (Sila Paramita) is the way of the boddhisatvas and enables the annihilation of vices and illusions stemming from the body, the speech and the mind.
Supreme patience (Kshânti-Paramita) is the practice of patience required of the boddhisatvas and this quality enables the destruction of anger, grudge, rancor and hatred.
Supreme perseverance (Vyrya Paramita) is the constant effort sustained by the Boddhisatva to annihilate anxiety and to achieve good actions. This quality serves to destroy laziness, slackening and laxity.
Supreme meditation ( Dhyana paramita) is the boddhisatva 's way of practising calm contemplation and it annihilates distraction and dissipation.
Supreme wisdom (Prajnã Paramita) this is the way the Boddhisatvas attain enlightenment and it serves to annihilate wrong knowledge and stupidity due to ignorance.
The meaning of ( LS ) LINH SƠN
The 2 letters L S, for Linh Sơn, placed at the center of the 6 petalled lotus mean Linh Thứu Sơn (the sacred Mountain of Vultures, (in sanskrit : Gradhakuta ou Gridhrakûta ) and represent the World Linh Sơn Congregation founded by the late Venerablissime Thích Huyền Vi to spread buddhism throughout the world.
Why this appellation Linh Sơn ( Gradhakuta ; Gridhrakûta) ?
According to the old indian beliefs, Linh Sơn is the Summit where gods and angels often appear, hence this name.This mountain looks like an eagle thence the appellation Linh-thứu Sơn or again Thứu đầu Sơn ( in sanskrit Rrij). It is exactly the place where Buddha revealed the most wonderful Sutra of the Great Vehicle School of Buddhism, namely the Lotus Sutra .
As a matter of fact, it is reported in the book ‘ Travelling to India’, chapter 9 by the great chinese Monk Xuan Zhang of the Tang dynasty that : ‘ When he was alive, Bouddha Sakyamouni, from 50 years on, often stayed at Linh Sơn (Gradhakula ; Gridhrakûla) and told he Lotus Sutra to sentient beings of all species. It is also reported in the Nirvana Sutra, volume 42 that :‘ When the Buddha died in the Salas wood, near Kushinagar, India, his close disciple Maha Kasyapa was at Linh Sơn Mountain with his 500 disciples…He was then immersed in full meditation but suddenly he felt himself in a turmoil and his entire body trembled with vibrations. He then realized that the Buddha had entered into parinirvana. Immediately, he led his followers to Kushinagar to take part in his master’s cremation ceremony.
The meaning of the motto ‘Phúc Tuệ Song Vận’
The word Phúc, in Chinese 福, in Sanscrit (Punya) , in Pali (Pûnna) indicates that all is well, the environment is perfect and that all is auspicious. Phúc is synonymous with merit and and opposite of misfortune , calamity and suffering.Those who understand the ethics and the Law and practise sincerely the good and the just with their body, speech and mind generally harvest the fruit of PHÚC (Compassion ). PHÚC (Compassion ) can materialize in this life or the life after into wealth, distinction, glory, good bearing, long life, stability and perfect fulfillment. Phúc can be written as Phước.
There are 3 manners to achieve and acquire Phúc (Blessing) :
1. Donat , offer, take good care of the parents. One acquires thus much blessing referred to as thế phúc ( worldly blessing ).
2. Observe the discipline or rules : the 5 and 8 rules for lay people or the 10 rules for the monks and the more severe rules Cụ Túc Giới for erudite monks and senior masters. This engenders the blessing thanks to discipline.
3. Practise wholeheartedly meditation i.e reciting the Sutras, contemplating or reciting the names of the Buddhas; thus producing the blessing thanks to contemplative practice.
Altogether the above constitutes the 3 blessings. Those who follow the way of the boddhisatvas , desirous to attain rapidly enlightenment or buddhahood and penetrate their true nature should practise jointly the way of Merit and that of Clearsight. The first way is the practice of compassion and consists of aiding sentient beings in need whereas the way of clearsight commands the practice of meditation in order to reach enlightenment and annihilate anxiety and ignorance.
TUỆ or HUỆ, in chinese ( ) Prajnã – Djnã (in Sanskrit)
The word Tuệ is used in north Vietnam whereas its synonym the term Huệ is better known in the South and comes simply from a different pronunciation.
Tuệ means wisdom, the full capacity to penetrate things and their reasons, thus ending ignorance and illusions with the the determination to annihilate doubt. We appeal often to Trí-Tuệ (wisdom) in contrast to its opposite, Mê-muội ,Ngu-Si (ignorance, illusions) . Trí et Tuệ are often understood as synonyms but are really slightly different : Trí concerns the physical world, the things of this earthly sphere, the intellect and the cognitive mecanism. Tuệ deals with things beyond the material world ; with ethics and religions, the non physical and spiritual sphere.
There are 3 kinds of Tuệ (wisdom) and 3 ways to develop Tuệ:Văn Tuệ (wisdom thanks to the texts) : One can develop one’s wisdom through listening ,studying and reciting the Sutras and also through learning from masters and friends.
Tư Tuệ (wisdom thanks to reflection) : One can develop one’s wisdom thanks to the practice of contemplative reflection.
Tu Tuệ (wisdom thanks to meditation) : meditation can generate and develop clearsight.
Among the six ways or qualities, wisdom or perfect enlightenment represents the noblest path to attain buddhahood.
Grosso modo, Phúc (Compassion) and TUỆ (Wisdom) should be practised together and jointly , in other words parallelly.
This is precisely the pedagogic orientation of the World Linh Sơn Oriental University, such as advocated and put to practice by the Most Venerable the Rector.
Part of the 200 Volume Tripitaka in Vietnamese
