Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên mountain monastery (a Zen Buddhist temple)

Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên Temple is located in Đại Đình commune, Tam Đảo District, Vĩnh Phúc Province – one of the biggest temple of a Zen Buddhist center in Vietnam. The temple was built on the area adjacent to Tây Thiên – a beauty of nature well-known to tourists

Located at the alleviation of 300m above sea level, the visitors must climb 9 high slopes to reach the temple. The way to the temple is so beautiful. It is tortuous and winding with a number of turnings. In the early morning, the cloud is moving all above the cluster of reeds and pine trees along the slopes. Under the early morning sunlight full of fog, the three entrance gates are open widely to welcome nuns, monks and visitors from all corner of the country. Viewing the temple, the valley is so green, the houses are contiguous. All bring the visitors amazingly relaxable feeling which makes us feel restful. Especially at the time of sunset, we will find a specular moment in which the sunset shining on the roof of the temple, carrying along in fog. This all makes an effect of sunlight; temple roofs shine a halo in the forest of thousand years old pine trees 

Entrance gate to Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Tây ThiênPhoto: HD

Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên Zen temple was open for the public on November 27^th 2005, built on the area of 4.5 ha, the surrounding forest is 50 ha in area with an investment capital of about VND 30 billion. The Tây Thiên Trúc Lâm zen temple is a Vietnamese typical temple with a modern architectural style, on behind of the temple is the huge greenful forest; the front temple is the immense rice field. The temple is centered with a 17 m high and 673.2 m2 main sanctuary of four supporting columns of nearly 1m diameter. The main sanctuary is situated in the center with 3 statues of Buddha; the relics dating back to the dynasties of Lý, Trần, Lê, Nguyễn …are shown on the left of the sanctum. In addition to these things, there are three entrance gate, bell tower, drum tower, house for the monks of founders, room for the monks and nuns practicing mediation…the house of monks of founders is built on behind of the Đại Hùng Bửu sanctum is seated by statues of the 4 monk founders namely Khương Tăng Hội and the three founders of Trúc Lâm Zen school (Trần Nhân Tông, Pháp Loa and Huyền Quang).   

Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên mountain monastery is in harmony with scenery of impressive Tam Đảo Mountain; whizzing with pine tree sound. The Trúc Lâm Tây Thiên contributes to bring the national park of Tam Đảo and Vĩnh Phúc a valuable beauty of nature for a spiritual tourism destination attracting tourists.

                                                                       NGUYỄN LÊ