Senior Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang
Introduction
Senior Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang, (lay name Van Nhan Vo -formerly Vo Van Nhan) is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Vice-Abbot of Quang Duc Monastery, the webmaster of Quang Duc Buddhist bilingual Website and an author and translator of many documents related to Buddhism and its history.
The Early Years
Senior Venerable Nguyen Tang was born on the 5th December 1967, in the small village of Vinh Thai. This peaceful village is located in the outer region of the beautiful beach city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, located in the central area of southern Vietnam. As his childhood home was less than 5 minutes away from the village’s local Buddhist temple, the sound of the morning and evening temple bells became a natural atmosphere for his family.
In 1970, his parents, Ngo Thi Dac (Buddhist name Tam Thai) and Vo Thong (Tam Thang), took their six young children to the village’s An Duong temple, to attend the acceptance of the Pancasila and the Triple Jewels ceremony. Most Venerable Thich Nhu Y conducted this ceremony and henceforth his siblings received their Dharma names including Tam Phuong and Tam Van. At the same time the young 4-year-old Nhan received his first Dharma name, Tam Nguyen.
In 1980, at the tender age of 13, it seemed that fate brought the young Van to desire the monastic life. His successful ordination as a Novice monk was thanks to the Senior Venerable Thich Tam Tri at An Duong Temple, the very same temple where his family accepted the Buddhist precepts. In 1981, his second master Thich Tam Tri provided him with a new Dharma name to replace his former one. For that reason it was changed to Thich Nguyen Tang as he is known today. In 1985 he received his Samanera Ordination and his subsequent Bhikkhu Ordination in 1988.
Studying for the Future
In 1987, after an unsuccessful attempt to escape Vietnam by boat, Master Nguyen Tang was shot and imprisoned for three months in Long Tuyen penitentiary, located in western Vietnam, before he was released in September 1987. After that horrible experience, he vowed to remain in Vietnam and return to his studies.
As a result, he attended Vinh Nghiem Buddhist Basic School from 1989, graduating in 1992. He went on to the College of Education (English language department) in 1995, before completing Advanced Buddhist Studies (BA of Buddhism) in 1997. In 1998 he was sponsored by his elder brother monk Thich Tam Phuong. Master Nguyen Tang arrived in Australia in 1998 (on a Minister of Religion class of visa), he studied and obtained a BA in Sociology at La Trobe University in 2006, which at the present act as an expedient tool for his career in translation.
Being so blessed, he was later taught under several distinguished and respected masters of the Mahayana tradition. These Venerable Masters include Venerable Master Thich Chon Kien, Thich Thien Tu, Thich Thien Vinh, his spiritual master Most Venerable Thich Tri Nghiem, Most Venerable Thich Thien Sieu (he was an attendee of these Master from 1980 to 1984 in Hai Duc Temple in Nha Trang City) and finally, Senior Venerable Thich Tri Kha and Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan, in Saigon, for ten years prior to his arrival in Australia in 1998.
Current Role
Currently in partnership with his elder brother Senior Venerable Master Tam Phuong, who is also a revered Bhikshu and currently the Abbot of Quang Duc Monastery, the two Masters both commit tremendous amounts of effort and thought into the development Buddhism in Australia. On 17 July 2009, at the Summer Retreat held at Phap Bao Temple in Sydney, Australia, he was granted the official title of Senior Venerable by the Congregation. Their most noticeable achievement so far is the creation of the well-known Quang Duc Monastery, located at 105 Lynch Road, Fawkner, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Master Nguyen Tang is not the only one of his family to cultivate Buddhism. His sister also entered the monastic life from a young age. Venerable Bhikshuni Thich Nu Tam Van is currently the Abbess of Thien Long Nunnery, located at 68/58 Thich Quang Duc Road, District 5, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City. This particular Nunnery has been described as a place of to find warm, intelligent and friendly young women who are dedicated to Buddhism and to human and non-human services (animals etc) alike. The dear sisters at Thien Long Nunnery often raise money to perform social and other humane services, which goes towards the distinctive Buddhist goal of relieving suffering of sentient beings. Many are currently studying in universities on subjects including English and Buddhism. His other sister, Hue, lives in Melbourne.
Dharma and the World Wide Web
Master Nguyen Tang is at present a significant contributor to the advancement of Vietnamese-English Buddhist text translation. Furthermore, he is an outstanding member of the Vietnamese Mahayana tradition, for his efforts in the propagation of Buddhism throughout the World Wide Web as the creator and webmaster of the diverse online library, www.quangduc.com, which he created on the occasion of Buddha's birthday in 1999. With over 60 items including topics such as: Dharma teachings, Precepts, Sutras, poetry, ..vv.. through the contribution of monks, nuns and many Buddhist scholars around the world. This website has had over 5 million hits to March 2012, now averaging more than 3,000 ‘hits’ per day.
Author, Researcher & Translator
He is also an author and a translator of many documents related to international Buddhism and other topics including Buddhist history. His published books include ‘A Modern Religion’ (1995), ‘His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ A Messenger for Peace’ (2000); and ‘Death and Rebirth’ (2000, reprinted 2001), ‘The Power of Compassion’ and ‘Buddhism around the World’.
Having written extensively on Buddhism, it is not surprising that while in Saigon in 1990; he began his career as a collaborator for a local Buddhist newspapers, Giac Ngo weekly, and Giac Ngo magazine. His articles about ‘Buddhism around the world’ were published in magazines such as ‘Phap Bao’ in Australia, ‘Phap Am’ in Norway, and ‘Phat Hoc’, ‘Hoa Sen’ and ‘Giao Diem’ in the USA.
The book ‘Death and Rebirth’ was composed and translated by him and 1,000 copies were first published in Saigon in October 2000. This book recorded consultations between Hawter Pende and many Tibetan Lamas. It was also formally launched in Australia on SBS Radio (Sydney) on their national broadcast on the morning of 31 December 2000. It has subsequently been reprinted many times for distribution in Australia, Vietnam and around the world.
One of the most distinguishable translations in which he has engaged in was the 1987 work of Venerable Sri Dhamika’s ‘Good Question Good Answer’ from English into Vietnamese.
As a translator, Master Nguyen Tang is keen and passionate to study the topic of ‘Buddhism around the world’. He is currently continuing his next translation ‘Buddhism throughout the World’. In 2001, he published the first 600 page volume, with plans to continue publishing volumes II and III; on Buddhism in Western countries including France, Britain, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Most Ven. Thich Thich Bao Lac and Most Ven. Thich Duc Nhuan introduced his book:
“The Buddhist teachings throughout the world’, written by a Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nguyen Tang, is a fascinating topic that should have long ago. Thich Nguyen Tang had been working on collection, translations and review of the history of Buddhism in Asia; about the important characters in the work of spreading the Dhamma; the World Buddhist organization. No merit any greater than merit that executive candidates Venerable Thich Nguyen Tang has devoted, and he is one of the young Vietnamese monks and energy, has used the means of computing apply in the civilized era to construct his works have a place in Vietnam Buddhist literature in particular and in international Buddhism in general."
He has also translated the book ‘The Power of Compassion’, the original English writing about the Tibetan living Buddha (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama) into Vietnamese. It was translated and released on Vesak Day, in May 2007. The number of readers and listeners increased many times, when journalists Phan Bach and the Vietnamese language radio SBS Radio, Australia, conducted interviews with Venerable Nguyen Tang about this book. The interview was broadcast in two sessions beginning in June 2007, before the His Holiness the Dalai Lama came to Australia. The reports have helped many to have a better understanding of Tantric Buddhism of Tibet and the His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
To-date he has translated over 10 books, some of which have been widely sold both nationally and internationally and can be found in bookstores such as Song Huong Bookstore and Vinabook and posted on major internet forums for audience to learn about Buddhism as Ebook Library.
To view the list of all publications written and translated by Senior Venerable Nguyen Tang, please click on the following link:. http://www.quangduc.com/tacgia/thichnguyentang-e.html
Other Activities
Besides his passion for translating, he joined the group for propagating the Buddhist Dharma to the USA led by Most Venerable Thich Nhu Dien (founder of Vien Giac Temple, Hannover, Germany). Together, since 2008, they have conducted annual Dharma Talk missions in the USA, usually between March and May every year. They have conducted their Buddhist Teachings in cities including: Las Vegas (Nevada), Saint Louise (Missouri), Detroit (Michigan), Oklahoma City (Oklahoma), Dallas and Houston (Texas), Santa Anna, Long Beach, and San Jose (California), Atlanta (Georgia), St Paul (Minnesota), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Montreal, Ottawa (Canada) and many other Buddhist temples around the USA.
Since 1999, he has been a member of the organizing team who arrange the annual Buddhist Retreat for Buddhist lay members in Australia, held during summer vacation. Eleven retreats have now been successfully organised, with some attracting over 400 attendees. He has also collaborated with Triumph Tour to organise pilgrimages to visit sacred Buddhist sites and temples in India, Temples in Taiwan & South Korea and Buddhist mountains and Temples in China. In October 2008, Venerable Nguyen Tang also held a successful two-week exhibition of Buddhist relics in Quang Duc Monastery. This relic collection is considered the largest in the world by the Tibetan Lamas who helped preserve them over thousands of years.
Venerable Nguyen Tang is also regularly involved with the Buddhist Charity Congregation of Australia who aid the victims of floods, bush fires and other natural disasters; in Australia, Vietnam other countries. In October 2000 he has represented the Charity Committee of the Phap Bao Temple (Sydney), Van Hanh Monastery (Canberra) and the Quang Duc Monastery (Victoria) Congregation direct to Vietnam in two provinces, providing relief to victims in the flood plain of the Mekong. In October 2006 the Buddhist Charity Congregation of Australia provided flood relief to victims in central southern Vietnam, and in 2009, he joined together with a delegation of Buddhists in Australia, to provide relief to the bushfire victims in Victoria. Most recently, in 2011, he helped, in conjunction with Buddhist congregations in New Zealand, Europe and North America, to raise much needed funds to help Tsunami victims in Japan.
Epilogue
In 2001 Senior Venerable Nguyen Tang was one of 15,841 Australian citizens, whose contribution to Australian society was recognised with the award a Centenary Medal (1901-2001) by the Australian Government. Not limiting his contributions and accomplishments there, the Master also devotes much of his time towards community services, such as a volunteer Buddhist chaplain for organisations such as the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Footscray Western Hospital, the Sunshine Hospital and Melbourne Assessment Prison.
Senior Venerable Nguyen Tang continues his dedication and devotion to helping those in need, those seeking to better understand the teachings and insights of Buddhism, whilst guiding each of us in how we might become more compassionate and considerate of each other and of all sentient beings.
Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centenary_Medal
http://www.quangduc.com/tacgia/thichnguyentang-e.html
http://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nguy%C3%AAn_T%E1%BA%A1ng
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZQ4dtIqs1g
http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/Buddhist_View_on_Death_and_Rebirth_by_Venerable_Thich_Nguyen_Tang
http://www.budsas.org/uni/u-vbud/vbpha351.htm
http://hoavouu.com/D_1-2_2-237/tt-thich-nguyen-tang.html
http://www.borders.com.au/by/ven-thich-nguyen-tang/
http://phat-phap.com/phapam/Chet-va-tai-sinh-DD-Thich-Nguyen-Tang-Tam-Tu-doc-456.html
http://www.hatgiongtamhon.info/diendan/showthread.php?1617-Chet-va-tai-sinh-DD-Thich-Nguyen-Tang-Tam-Tu-doc
https://twitter.com/#!/quangducsite
http://im4worldpeace.org/gallery3/index.php/Australia/Venerables-Thich-Nguyen-Tang_-Thich-N-Hanh-Tri-and-some-top-students
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/tacgia/thichnguyentang.htm
Books of Thich Nguyen Tang
http://johngarratt.com.au/index.php/author/119635-thich-nguyen-tang
Latrobe University:
http://latrobe.summon.serialssolutions.com/search?s.cmd=addFacetValueFilters%28ContentType,Newspaper+Article:t%29&s.q=Thich+Nguyen+Tang
National Library of Australia:
http://www.nla.gov.au/app/search/search/default/?loadSpellingSuggestion=1&baseUrl=%2Fapp%2F1search&q=nguyen+tang%2C+thich
State Library of Queensland:
http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=2&submit2=+Go+&frbg=&dstmp=1329526565674&ct=search&fromLogin=true&formloc=hpmid&vl%28freeText0%29=Nguyen+Tang%2C+thich&vid=SLQ&fn=search
State Library of Victoria :
http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=2&frbg=&tab=default_tab&dstmp=1329526684321&srt=rank&ct=search&mode=Basic&dum=true&indx=1&fromLogin=true&vl%28freeText0%29=Nguyen+Tang%2C+thich&vid=MAIN&fn=search
State Library of Tasmania :
http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/item/?q=Nguyen+Tang+Thich&i=1&id=655963
Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZQ4dtIqs1g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuV9T4WhsLs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-c7YDJAiU&list=FLy5IeMZNUe4zIzhJtk827tw&feature=plcp&context=C3503729FDOEgsToPDskL1yRCNY3-6Fh6ebTuVFbUg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWBqrbdqG6s&feature=related
http://daiducgiangsu.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/thich-nguyen-tang.html
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