Listen to the voices of humanity on the poetic hill.

Venerable Thich Nguyen Sac - Abbot of Buu Son Pagoda, where the poetry night took place.

Poet, author, and Doctor of Literature Nguyen Thi Lien Tam at the poetry night.

The poetry night on the full moon, with the unusual title "The Voice of Poetry in the Buddhist School," was scripted and directed by Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Tam , along with Venerable Thich Nguyen Sac , who has gifted the world with many poems at the Buddhist temple – a place of serenity.

The event was still graced by the presence of poets, reciting verses, and singing voices of kindred spirits, such as author and poet Nguyen Thi Lien Tam , distinguished educator and artist Duong The Thuat, artist Thi Phuong, singer Lan Anh , Minh Duc... That poetry night on the hill was also a reunion of four lecturers from the Binh Thuan Provincial Buddhist College.

Many will likely be surprised to find that the space for poetry is set in such an unusual, seemingly detached setting. But how many realize that, throughout the ages, each season —spring, summer, autumn, winter — has evoked such profound and poignant emotions in poets? A poetic night on the hill, with the vast expanse of wind, in the gentle night mist, beside a cup of lotus tea, easily allows the traveler to feel spacious and serene in the realm of reality.

A traveler in life, immersed and captivated by the poetry of the Buddhist teachers . The verses they wrote were imbued with Zen wisdom, spreading love for both the Dharma and life . Even in a place of peace and tranquility, they still cherish the gratitude for past kindnesses and the filial piety towards their parents and teachers.

Distinguished Teacher - Artist Duong The Thuat

A night of poetry – at Buu Son Pagoda , poetry filled the air under the moonlight, even though the moon didn't arrive in time amidst the howling wind. In the space of the night, the pure sound of poetry became even more pure, clear, and warm. The presence of monks and nuns, and poetry-loving travelers from near and far, filled the air . The program "The Sound of Poetry in the Buddhist School" unfolded in a peaceful atmosphere .

Alongside Venerable Thich Duc Thanh - Abbot of Quang Duc Pagoda , Venerable Thich Nguyen Sac - Abbot of Buu Son Pagoda , Layman Tam Quang , and poet and educator Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Tam , the sounds of poetry resonated in the night . There were the melodies of " Remembering the Ferryman of Yesteryear ," " The Ferryman ," " Remembering the Ancestral Grace ," " A Message to Humanity "... The words and sounds gently blended with the silence. Life is temporary. To live is to find peace of mind , to share in the spirit of compassion and joyful encounter , as in the self-reflection of Venerable Thich Duc Thanh in " A Message to Humanity "... There was so much in this poetry night, so many lingering feelings to share together amidst the gentle sounds of music and the voices of poets.

The scope of this article cannot encompass everything, cannot express gratitude, and certainly cannot unravel all attachments. Only the ethereal space remains , so that one day we may return to " That land where the moon has grown eternally thin / From vague dreams beside a hazy sleep" (Tuệ Sỹ) , where are those nights of " The moon shining brightly / The moon shining brilliantly "... My homeland , my coastal land, is also full of human destinies, with love for life, love for the meditative landscape, for the moon, for the sea... captivated and lost in the colors and scents of late autumn .

The poetic night on the dreamy hill concludes with a silvery rain, but the lingering echoes remain full of love , knowledge, talent, virtue, and shared morality . The person on the hill gazes at the moon with a mix of longing and sorrow. And so, each "Afternoon on Pho Hai Hill " is no longer just the love story of Mong Cam and Han Mac Tu , but also possesses a serene and tranquil quality on a gently sloping hillside at the Zen Temple. Poetry, placed somewhere within this tranquil space, naturally cleanses itself of worldly dust and becomes more beautiful. Master Tue Si once wrote: "Remembering half a melody back and forth / Who brought an inn to block the way home ?" And if there, it can help us forget, let " One thought of letting go is liberation / In peaceful places, we ride cranes to the clouds " (Master Tam Quang), to continue traversing this land , writing about the illusory dreams of life and silently making our pilgrimage , with the afternoon shadows falling alone.