Truc Lam Zen Monastery
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Truc Lam Zen Monastery, The Meditation Center in Dalat
Location
On the way to Tuyen Lam Lake, tourists have to run right onto a zigzagging road at the mountain side to Phoenix Summit, on which stands beautiful famous Truc Lam Zen Monastery in an open poetic natural environment.
Historical records of Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Established in special social conditions, with the aim of restoring Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen School founded by the King Tran Thanh Tong, this Zen school has harmoniously combined different Zen schools with Vietnamese cultural and tradition into Vietnamese Zen. Truc Lam Zen Monastery lies on a protected forest of 23,2 hectares, of which 2 hectares is the building area.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery
With its advantage of location, Truc Lam zen monastery was designed with a new style of architecture by Mr. Ngo Viet Thu. The sanctum was designed by architecture Huynh Ngoc An. The sanctum has rectangle shape which is toward the South. Sanctum surroundings are a lot of traditional Vietnamese pagodas which were built by ferro-concrete. The monastery was designed modernly. It is simple in its form but modern in structure and use.
The pagoda was built in 1993 – 1994 by superior Buddhist monk Thich Thanh tu and it was designed with the oriental architecture style. With the beautiful landscapes, the pagoda is not only a place for meditation but also an ideal place for visiting.
The main hall of Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Overview of Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Besides the Main Hall in the middle, on the right are the consulting room, the belfry and displaying room on the right; on the left are the sitting room, library, and contemplation hall. Before reaching the Main Hall, tourists may take two ways. They may start at the bus stop, take the side gate up 61 steps or, from the lake, climb the 222 steps through the triple gate onto the court in front. Inside the Main Hall, statues are displayed simply but meditatively. In the bright spacious sanctuary is the only statue of Sakyamuni Buddha raising a lotus in his hand – a symbolic image of Buddha in Linh Son Dharma Conference, expressing the philosophy of ‘existence in nihilism’ in Buddhist Zen.
Truc Lam Zen Monastery Gate
Zen Monastery’s Activities
Zen helps people to live in “full awareness” and bring their souls back into peaceful state. Truc Lam Buddhist Zen emphasizes on every one’s interior concentration, either a religious or someone in his/her family. This introspective soul training process leads to personal purification, builds a care-free mind and help one’s good nature to show up; this is the real peace in everyone’s interior, not in a certain paradise in a faraway world.
Dalat Meditation Center
Visiting Truc Lam Zen Monastery in the quietness of hills and mountains, tourists are free from everyday worries and seem to be able regain themselves in the greatness of the nature.
The map of Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Anna, 5 years ago
My friend and I would want to spend some days in the monastery and take part in a retreatment. We tried to contact the monastery via phone but we couldn’t reach them. Is there any other way to get in contact with them?
Dalat Trip, 5 years ago
Hi Anna, you can contact them following phone number +84-263-3827565 or +84-263-3830558. Please note for time UTC+7.
elliot, 5 years ago
Hi Dalat Trip,
I am also interested in this. Do you know if anyone at the temple speak English?
Dalat Trip, 5 years ago
Yes, the master of meditation course, he speaks English very well.
Elliot, 5 years ago
Thanks – I tried both of these numbers. One of them said ‘No English’ and hung up, the other was a woman who spoke a bit of English but said this was not the Truc Lam Monastery. Are these definitely correct?
Dalat Trip, 5 years ago
Hi Elliot, These phone are definitely correct. But i think you spoke to persons who can not speak English.
Leia Thompson, 5 years ago
Hello. I’ll be in Da lat nearing the end of a four month travel and would very much like to spend two days here in meditation. Is this possible?
Ahmed Mustafa Kanjoo, 5 years ago
Good Day
I will be visiting Vietnam from Feb 6 – 28
I have completed few SN Goenka Meditaiton retreats in last few years. The last was in Jaipur (India). I would be visiting Dalat during the mid of my trip, and I truly want to come and visit this beautiful place and learn about it.
The cell number mentioned above is also my whatsapp number, please do answer if this is okay for me to come and visit for a day? And second question, do you offer a short time meditation courses at the monastery?
Peace 🙂
Jamie, 6 years ago
Hello,
I am currently in Vietnam and hoping to spend several days to a week at the monastery. Is it possible for pregnant women in their early stages of pregnancy to join? Can we ask an invitation to stay a week via you and Dalattrip
Kindest regards,
Jamie
Travel Advisor, 6 years ago
Hi Jamie, you should contact directly to the Zen Monastery, it’s better to arrange the accommodation and activities.
y a t il une possibilité pour une femme de faire une retraite a la pagode zen truc lam a dalat vietnam, 6 years ago
y a t il une possibilité pour une femme de faire une retraite au monastere truc lam a dalat vietnam
Kiki, 6 years ago
Bonjour, je vais arriver dans quelques semaines à Hanoi et je souhaiterais faire une retraite de méditation d’une semaine ou 10 jours. Avez-vous un endroit à me conseiller? Faut il réserver à l’avance ?
Merci
Melissa Yeo, 6 years ago
Hi I am blind but has strong intereest in studying buddhism and meditation I have been looking for a buddhist retreat who is willing to accomodate my learning need May i know if you could direct me to a contact in the center whom i could enquire further? Much thanks
Melissa
Daniela, 6 years ago
Hi, I’m trying to contact the monastery to stay there for a week but I can’t reach them. Could anyone tell me a phone number or email address where I can contact them? Thank you
Marie, 6 years ago
Bonjour,
Je souhaiterai visiter le Vietnam et passer une dizaine de jour au sein de votre temple afin de comprendre et vivre au rythme de la communauté. Est-il possible d’y séjourner quand on est une femme ?
Auprès de qui serait-il possible d’avoir des précisions sur les modalités d’admissions ? Et éventuellement de réserver ?
Merci du fond du coeur,
Marie
Jeroen Froeling (Arun ), 7 years ago
Dear Brother ,I am a student and order member of Thich Nhat Hanh.
One and a half year ago I was happy to meditate at Chuc Lam monestry
for one month.(march-aril 2015) I had a good contact with the guest master at that time.
His name is Tin(h) Dan(h). He told me that I could come back when ever I want.
I seriously want to become a monk, and I woud like to come again to your monestry to meditate with you again.
I ask permission to come at the end of February 2017.
A lotus to you all
Your Brother Arun ( that is the name they called me at that time)
Nicola, 7 years ago
Hi I thought I’d add to this thread as someone who meditated at the nunnery for 5 days. Just turn up and enquire- I started with one of the monks in the temples who pointed me in the direction of someone else, who in turn pointed me to speak to someone else who then instructed I wait for a few hours to speak to the head monk. Eventually I spoke to him and he granted me access to the nunnery. They seemed very open to people wanting to learn about Buddhism and my experience was one of the best I’ve had. The nunnery was also gobsmakingly beautiful. I hope to go back one day for longer.
Inba, 7 years ago
Hello, i would be happy to stay in the tempel for ten days sailent meditatiin with the same progrem as the monks. How can i contact them? Thank you! ( i hope there are places for women also)
John Wilken, 7 years ago
Hi,
my friend and I are going to be in Dalat in about two weeks’ time and we are looking for a truly immersive experience in zen meditation at a temple where Buddhism is practiced.
Do you still have contact with Truc Lam monastery and can we ask for an invitation to stay for a few days via you and Dalat Trip?
Otherwise, is the telephone number posted earlier on still in use?
I am happy to send you more information about us via email.
Thank you,
John
Susan, 8 years ago
Yes, its possible to stay at the Zen monastery for the day with a monk’s permission. This is mostly for beginners who can slowly adapt to the life of the monastery. With the right connections and a reference from an ordained monk, its possible to stay overnight for some time with strict rules about following the same program as the monks and nuns. It is one of the few places I have been where women are equal to men and have their own quartets. I requested to visit the monastery and was gracefully received by an older monk who gave me a quick viva voce and he seemed pleased that I knew something about Buddhism and recommended I come on a daily basis. It was a pleasant experience with friendly nuns and a delicious vegetarian meal. Day visitors had to leave by 5pm. Unfortunately, due to persona l problems, and the cost of taxis to and fro, I was unable to continue with the daily program. But this brief experience was very rewarding.
Adi, 9 years ago
Hi is it possible to email them? Or is the only way to connect by phone?
Phong N, 9 years ago
it’s sorry for just phone
Giri Kadurugamuwa, 10 years ago
I am writing this on behalf of a Zen Sri Lankan priest, Sufu Nalaka. He
was
ordained as Ven Kurunegala Rathanapala in the Theravada sector in the year 1986. To find more freedom in his goal to attain the supreme nibbana, in the year may be about 2005 he was ordained as Sufu Nalaka, and since then is living lonely .in remote areas in Sri Lanka practising dhamma.
The present situation in Sri Lanka is not at all suitable for other Buddhist sectors. An organisation called Bodu bala sena in Sri lanka has commenced harrassing persons who are practising other secors other than theravada.
i am writing this to find out whether it is possible for him to find accomodation in your temple for a temporary period. Your corporaion in this regard is very highly appreciated. Waiting for a favourable respone I remain. Thank you. Theruwan saranai.
Giri
DALAT TRIP, 10 years ago
Hi Giri,
We will contact to the superior Monk of Truc Lam Zen & come back you soon.
bianca sauer, 10 years ago
hey,
i would love to stay one week in the temple. But i cant find a adress or possibility to ask directly there.
You have a no or know how it works?
Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Bianca
Jacob, 10 years ago
I would also like to stay there for a few weeks but it is difficult to find information on that.It os possible that foreigners are not welcome there as is the case at the Thich N Hanh centre in Saigon .Will post if I find out anything .
DALAT TRIP, 10 years ago
Hi Jacob,
It’s possible to stay there, I have usually seen a lot of foreigners there.
You can contact them at Tel: 063 3827565 or 063 3830558
Phong