Khám phá Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác - Ngôi thiền viện lớn nhất ở Tiền Giang

Tiền Giang, a province in Southern Vietnam, leaves an indelible mark on travel enthusiasts not only with its lush fruit orchards but also with spiritual landmarks deeply rooted in the culture of the Southern people. Among them, Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác holds a special place in the hearts of the locals.

Vị trí địa lý

Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác  is situated in hamlet 1, Thạnh Tân commune, Tân Phước district, Tiền Giang province. This temple follows the traditional Trúc Lâm Yên Tử sect under the auspices of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha.

Panorama of Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery viewed from above (Photo: collection)

Traveling to Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery

To reach the Monastery, you can travel from the Trung Lương intersection on National Highway 1A, heading west for 6km, reaching Long Định, turning right for 10km to Mỹ Phước town, Tân Phước district; continue straight for another 10km to reach Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery.

There are directional signs along the way to the Monastery, so just follow the instructions, and you'll get there easily!

Formation process of Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery

Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery was approved for construction by the People's Committee of Tiền Giang province on April 28, 2012  following the traditional model of the Trúc Lâm Yên Tử Zen sect. This temple is considered special not only for its design, similar to Trúc Lâm Zen Monastery in Đà Lạt but also because it was created by the efforts of Buddhists in the temple.

The monastery covers a total area of 50 hectares, including the initial 30 hectares, and an additional 20 hectares donated by the local Buddhist community with the architectural structure of four Buddhist holy sites.

A solemn and serene corner of the monastery (Photo: collection)

Besides donating land, the Buddhists contributed many old trees to create landscapes, and numerous stone blocks were transported by barge from Thị Vải mountain (Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu province) for building rock gardens and decorations.

The statue of Buddha Shakyamuni is sculpted from jade, gilded, 4.5 meters tall, weighing over 30 tons, crafted by artisans from Myanmar… a manifestation of the heartfelt offerings from Buddhists to the Zen Monastery.

The entire architecture of the Zen Monastery shines in prominent orange (Photo: collection)

Structure of Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery

According to the abbot of Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery in Tiền Giang, the monastery is larger in scale than the one in Đà Lạt. Especially, the dyke system around the monastery is capable of preventing floodwaters for decades to come.

The monastery has 2 distinct areas: the inner compound and the outer compound. The outer compound includes various sections: Main Hall, Ancestral Hall, Meditation Hall, Lecture Hall, Outer Monastic Quarters, Monastic Path, Library, Exhibition House, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Male Monastic Guesthouse, Female Monastic Guesthouse… covering a total area of over 47,000 m².

The inner compound covers an area of nearly 16,000 m², including: 4 Monastic Halls, 1 Meditation Hall, and 10 Specialized Meditation Huts.

Bell Tower - an architectural centerpiece of Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery (Photo: collection)

The Four Sacred Sites (Four emotional states) have a ratio of 6/10 compared to the original model (including the Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born, the Bodhi Tree Monastery where the Buddha attained enlightenment, the Rajayatana Tree Garden where the Buddha turned the wheel of the Dharma, and the Cau Thi Na Cave where the Buddha entered Nirvana); the Great Stupa also follows the above ratio and has a height of 31m; in the center of the Zen Monastery, a 25m high artificial mountain will be built to serve as a backdrop for the main path and the main hall.

The main area with grand architecture like a fortress in Chinese historical dramas (Photo: collection)

After 5 years of commencement and construction (2012 - 2016), the basic structures have been completed but are still in the final completion stage. The Zen Monastery is becoming more splendid and beautiful, not only a source of pride for the local people but also showing promising signs of attracting tourists to the province.

Religious activities at Trúc Lâm Chánh Giác Zen Monastery

Every third Sunday of the month, the Zen Monastery organizes temple activities with the participation of many Buddhists from near and far, including activities such as chanting, repentance, listening to teachings, and meditation. 

The temple has never been without the presence of Buddhist monks - even during the construction phase (Photo: collection)

In addition, every 2 months, the Zen Monastery also holds the ceremony of transmitting the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts to Buddhists. Moreover, the monastery regularly welcomes visitors from other provinces and countries for sightseeing and worship.

To this day, the Zen Monastery remains a favorite destination for international tourists (Photo: collection)

The birth of Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery, besides becoming a center for meditation practice, also creates a significant attraction to visitors, contributing to changing the face of a poor commune in Tan Phuoc district. Visiting Truc Lam Chanh Giac Zen Monastery is not only to admire the beautiful architecture of the temple but also to feel the sincere reverence towards the ancestors of the honest people in the Western region.