Trúc Lâm Monastery
Sri Lanka, a land with rich Buddhist heritage, plays a key role in Theravada Buddhism. During his studies, Venerable Pháp Quang met many Vietnamese Buddhists who wished for a Vietnamese pagoda to serve as a cultural and spiritual refuge in Sri Lanka. After finishing his studies, he founded Trúc Lâm Monastery, the first Vietnamese pagoda in Sri Lanka, with land donated by Venerable ILwane Ananda near Kandy City.
The groundbreaking ceremony in July 2020 marked a significant milestone, attended by monks and Buddhists from various countries. Miraculous events during the ceremony were seen as auspicious.
The monastery blends Vietnamese cultural elements and natural beauty, surrounded by a lush bamboo forest. It serves as a meditation center and a cultural hub, offering activities like traditional Tet celebrations, Vietnamese language classes, and various charitable efforts.
Trúc Lâm Monastery also attracts local residents, becoming a “big family” to the Ambakote village community. Venerable Pháp Quang’s engagement with locals has fostered strong bonds.
In addition to propagating the Dharma and offering meditation sessions, the monastery is involved in numerous social activities, including rice donations, installing solar lights, providing scholarships, and building playgrounds.
The monastery also welcomes novice monks from Vietnam for studies, aiming to nurture future monastic leaders and international Dharma propagation.
Venerable Pháp Quang (Ven. Vietnam Dhammaloka Thero)
In 2010, at Từ Quang Pagoda in Thủ Đức District, Ho Chi Minh City, Venerable Pháp Quang ordained with the Dharma name Thích Thiện Đạt. Upon completing his intermediate Buddhist studies, he went to Sri Lanka for further education in 2014. After four years, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Buddhist Leadership from SIBA Campus and continued with a two-year Master’s program at the University of Kelaniya. Upon completing his Master’s degree, Venerable Pháp Quang embarked on his great vow to establish the first Vietnamese pagoda in Sri Lanka – Trúc Lâm Monastery.
Sri Lanka could be considered Venerable Pháp Quang’s second home, where he feels incredibly fortunate to study, practice, and propagate the Dharma. According to Venerable Mahawela Sri Dhammakkhanda Rathnapala Nayaka, Venerable Pháp Quang’s teacher at SIBA Campus, he has made significant contributions to Sri Lanka. “In 2014, Venerable Pháp Quang came to study as a newly ordained monk, aiming to achieve a special Bachelor’s degree in Buddhist Leadership. It was a challenging task because obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Buddhism, particularly in English, and achieving proficiency in Pali language and literature is not easy. Ultimately, he successfully completed this challenging task, especially impressive for someone with little prior exposure to the Pali language, achieving his Bachelor’s degree with excellence. More importantly, during his studies, he contemplated how he could serve for the benefit and betterment of this society.
Venerable Pháp Quang devoted his time and effort to becoming a meditation teacher at SIBA Dhamma School. By incorporating meditation games, he gradually made meditation an interesting subject for the children, making it one of the most loved subjects at the school. This is the greatest light he has brought into the Buddhist education system in Sri Lanka.”
Venerable Pháp Quang was awarded a certificate of merit by the President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, for his contributions to the community.
