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SINCE 2001, A Completely Dedicated Life of Waking Up sentient beings to fully Awaken to liberate the suffering of birth and death

Right from a young age, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien had only one purpose in life: Wake Up to break the cycle of birth and death. Upon fully Awakening in 2001, from her unstoppable Great Vow, she has been Waking Up people of all backgrounds, cultures, religions, and ages, going to people’s houses, traveling all over the world, opening wisdom mind for people anywhere, anytime, anyplace.
THE GREAT VOW
1971 - Deep Questions - Life long search for Awake Destination
Given the name Dieu Thien at birth, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien was born on August 20, 1971, in Hue, Vietnam, into a devout Buddhist family. Right from a very young age, Zen Master Thích Diệu Thiện already had deep questions and doubt about the constant changes in life and the suffering of birth and death. And at the same time, she also knew that there is an Awake World where there is no suffering, no birth and no death. However, she did not know how to return to that world. Her persistent questions about Awake World were the powerful motivation to help her constantly seek answers.
At age 13 - Read about the life of Buddha
At the age of 13, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien had a chance to read books about Gautama Buddha’s journey to search for returning to Awake World. The Zen Master was very happy to know that there was an Awakened teacher who found the light of Awake and attained Enlightenment to end the cycle of birth and death. This was strong evidence that gave her more trust, motivation, and strength to ordain in search of Awake World.
1989 - Graduated from high school
In 1989, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien graduated from high school at the age of 18.
1989 - Ordained at age 18
Ordained as a nun with Abbess Thích Như Châu at Hoa Nghiêm Meditation Center, Định Quán
1993
In 1993, she received bhikkhuni ordination at Đại Tòng Lâm.
1993
Even inside the school schedule she continued with deep restless questioning.
1994
In 1994, she graduated from the College of Buddhist Studies at Thiện Hòa Nunnery (Bà Rịa, Vũng Tàu) in Vietnam.
1994
Even in those five years she diligently studied the sutras, vinaya and shastras - the Buddha’s teachings, disciplinary codes and analytical doctrines - with early morning and late evening devotion, sincerely practicing, her deep and persistent questions grew stronger because she still could not find the answer to her questions. still could not find the answer.
1995
In 1995, the Zen Master was invited to Tâm Quang Temple, Michigan. She taught Buddhist practitioners at the temple while also attending Western Michigan University, studying Buddhism with the hope to find her answers.
2000
At the end of 2000, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien graduated with high honors, receiving a Master's degree in Comparative Religion and Holistic Health. Holding the Master's degree in her hands, looking ahead to the future, all became meaningless to her because she still had not found the answer to her deep questions about returning to the Awake Source.
2001 - Traveling Around the World Searching for an Awakened Teacher
Six years had passed with a vast amount of Buddhist practice and knowledge, but it did not lead her to Enlightenment. In February 2001, at the age of 30, the Zen Master decided to let go and leave everything behind, with no regard for her life, traveling around the world, hoping to meet an Awakened teacher. The Zen Master made a great vow, "On this trip, if I cannot find the Awake Destination, I will not return to America."
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2001 - Traveling Around the World Searching for an Awakened Teacher
Upon learning that Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien was beginning the journey in search for returning to the Awake Source, the Abbot of the Vietnam Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, California, the Most Venerable Thích Mãn Giác, was persistent to convince her to reconsider because of all the unforeseen dangers along the way. Whereas Venerable Thích Nguyên Hạnh, the Abbot of the Vietnam Buddhist Center in Houston, Texas, wholeheartedly encouraged the Zen Master, “Be courageous to go on your way, don’t give up. Go until you find what you want to find, and return.” In the end, seeing that the Zen Master already had a decision, the Most Venerable Thích Mãn Giác wished her to soon achieve her goal.
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In this modern day, Zen Master Thích Diệu Thiện, a young woman, but carried the will of a great, noble minded man, went alone carrying a backpack with some clothes and a little money to go on a quest to find the Awake Destination. She did not plan in advance where to stay, sometimes slept in the forest, on the mountain, at the train station, eating only crackers and a few bananas everyday... She also stopped at many prestigious meditation centers in countries such as France, Sri Lanka, Thailand...experienced many meditation practices, breaking through and fully realizing many layers of consciousness inside, but the Zen Master still had to depart, because she had not yet found the answer to the deep questions of her life.
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2001 - The Awakening
Finally, in Thailand, hitting rock bottom of her search, and deadlocked in her quest to return to the Awake Source, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien decided to stop and took a vow to turn within to face herself.
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2001 - The Awakening
On April 8, 2001, at the Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage, the 8th day of the 10-day meditation retreat, the Ultimate Truth of Awake Source burst forth, the deep questions of Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien were answered. The Zen Master had “shattered the source of ignorance, infinite Wisdom appeared, seeing the truth, breaking the system of greed and hatred, completely merging into and living with the pure, immense, immaculate essence of the Buddhas. Right there, all questions had answers: What is Awake? Where? What is suffering? Why is suffering present? Who am I? How to Wake Up to end the cycle of birth and death? The Zen Master returned to and has been living in the Awakened Mind every moment.”
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2001 - The Great Vow to Help Sentient Beings
In the very moment of Waking Up, the Great Vow to help all sentient beings Awaken appeared. Awakened Zen Master Thích Diệu Thiện vowed to continue spreading her living Awake teachings to countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan until the end of 2001, when she returned to the United States.
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A SMILE BLOOMS FOREVER ON THE LIPS

At the moment of Awakened, the pure Essence of the self, in the presence of the Awakened Zen Master, she perceives sentient beings submerged in the ocean of profound suffering and cyclic existence. Simultaneously, she sees that each person has the potential for enlightenment and, therefore, makes a great vow to help all sentient beings to Wake Up and liberate the cycle of birth and death. Thus, the song ‘A Smile Blooms Forever on the Lips’ was born from that moment.

I just want people to be truly happy,

Soon find the source of Awake light,

Which has been illuminated for so long

But covered by ignorance for many lifetimes,

Soon return to fully realize the source of Awake light within.

Even knowing it is difficult to wake people up,

Nothing stops me

Because of life, I vow to fully devote

Guiding the Awake seeds to blossom in people

And from now, I commit myself fully to wake people up from the source of suffering

So the forever smile is always blooming on their lips

On everyone’s lips…

~ Awakened Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien ~

 

“FOREVER AWAKENED SMILE ON THE LIPS”

 

My Awakened heart is wide open, 

I walk into life without any worries, 

because of unconditional love for all sentient beings, 

giving and happy with whatever happens to me.

 

I just want people to be truly happy, 

soon find the Ultimate Awake Source, 

which has been luminescent for so long 

but covered by ignorance attachments for many lifetimes, 

soon return to realize and merge with the Ultimate Awake Source.

 

Knowing on the way to Wake Up people is difficult, 

but nothing stops me, 

because of life, I am fully devoted 

to help the Awake seed blossom in each person.

And from now, I devote myself fully

to give you a forever Awakened smile on your lips.

 

~ Awakened Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien ~

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