At 12:40 PM today, Elder Most Venerable Thich Tu Thong, a member of the Supreme Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Honorary Advisor to the Executive Council of the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha, and Rector of the Ho Chi Minh City Intermediate School of Buddhist Studies, peacefully entered nirvana at his meditation retreat located on the school campus. He was 98 years old.

Born in 1928, the Elder monk devoted his life to Dharma propagation, education, and the training of generations of monks and nuns. He is regarded as a towering figure in Buddhist education in Ho Chi Minh City.

Since 1988, when the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Primary School was first established (now the Intermediate School of Buddhist Studies), he had served as the rector and remained committed to the institution for 37 years until his passing.

In addition to his educational role, he held many important positions within the Buddhist Sangha, including Vice Chairman of the Executive Council and Head of the Buddhist Education Board of Ho Chi Minh City (now known as the Buddhist Education Department).

With profound wisdom and tireless dedication to service, the Elder monk personally lectured and mentored numerous generations of monks and nuns, laying a solid foundation for the growth of Buddhism in the city and across the country.

Most Venerable Thich Tu Thong was also a renowned Dharma teacher, long associated with the lecture halls of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, where he gave thousands of Dharma talks, planting the seeds of Buddhist learning for countless followers.

He authored numerous valuable works on Buddhism, including outlines and commentaries on the Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Vimalakirti Sutra, the Shurangama Sutra, and the Treatise on Consciousness-Only. His literary contributions also included poetry, prose, and Zen writings under the pen name "Nhu Huyen Zen Master," reflecting the refined spirit of a true artist in daily life.

In his final years, the Elder monk chose a reclusive life in Lam Ha (Lam Dong province), dedicating himself to meditation and the study of Buddhist scriptures.

Due to his advanced age and declining health, he was recently invited by close disciples to return to Ho Chi Minh City for easier care. Though his body was frail, his spiritual aspiration remained steadfast: to live by the Dharma and teach with all his heart.

Speaking with VietNamNet, leaders of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha expressed that the passing of Elder Most Venerable Thich Tu Thong is a tremendous loss to the Sangha and to the Buddhist community of Ho Chi Minh City.

“The image of the Elder monk - humble, simple, yet full of wisdom and compassion - will forever be a guiding light for future generations on their path of Dharma propagation and benefiting sentient beings,” said a senior official from the Central Office 2 of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Luu Dinh Long