The monk lives like a lotus flower

15 years ago, a young man born in the 80s from Ba Ria - Vung Tau chose to become a monk. The monk chose Venerable Thich Phuoc Duc, a virtuous monk from Dong Thap , as his master. The ordination ceremony took place emotionally at Hung Thien Pagoda (in Cao Lanh District). Since then, he was given the dharma name Thich Duc Minh.

Before that, when he was still a Thien Dong Buddhist, monk Thich Duc Minh did social work with many activities that were good for life and religion. At that time, he was the leader of the charity group Buoc Chan Yeu Thuong (HCMC), regularly organizing programs to give gifts, build houses, provide relief... And now, he is also the founder of An Vien Monastery - District 12, specializing in caring for orphans and Son Dai Minh Vien - Binh Chanh District, a place to examine and care for people with disabilities.

See the poor as relatives

Concern for the poor is the concern for humanity of Buddhists. According to Master Duc Minh, compassion in Buddhism is "giving joy and relieving suffering", how to "give people more joy in the morning and help people reduce suffering in the evening".

Sư thầy sống như một đóa sen — *Master Thich Duc Minh gives gifts to students PHOTO: LUU DINH LONG*

Every step of the Loving Steps group members brings joy and benefits to people. After becoming a monk, Master Thich Duc Minh continued to maintain and develop the group's existing activities, from cheap student meals to many periodic gift giving programs during each major Buddhist festival... Not only supporting delicious, full, cheap meals, he also sponsored many students in difficult circumstances to have the opportunity to go to school. Many causes and conditions continued to come together in Master Thich Duc Minh's wish to help life, and An Vien monastery was also born. He became a teacher and a "father" of many children, supporting both materially and spiritually so that his children could firmly enter life. The teacher's wishes were always directed towards his children and those who were more miserable. Just like that, he carried out one activity after another. “Seeing others suffering, I feel compassion and cannot ignore it, so I think of ways to share. Especially when I have had the opportunity to interact with people with disabilities since 2015, listening and understanding their circumstances, living conditions, and psychology, I really need my support. From then on, I thought of creating legs for people with disabilities to move by sponsoring wheelchairs,” said Mr. Duc Minh. After the first wheelchairs were given, he made connections with people who shared the same wish and also made connections with people with disabilities. Year after year, the monk tirelessly devoted himself to one truth: there are still so many people out there suffering, it cannot be stopped.

"Reviving" wheelchairs for the disabled

15 years of a journey. That is the period since 2009, when he focused on social work. That period of time is not too long but it is enough to look back. Surely many people will be surprised and admire the charity path, which is not always smooth and favorable for Master Thich Duc Minh. There were bumpy times, adverse circumstances, but with love leading the way, he gradually overcame, with the protection and support of philanthropists everywhere... Those are the people who followed, believed and sent money, spiritual support for the good-hearted master to continue to devote himself to practicing religion and helping people. At first, he campaigned to buy new wheelchairs (1,350,000 VND/chair), but many times the budget was too much, he thought of buying old wheelchairs, restoring them and giving them away. Each old bicycle, worth 200,000 - 300,000 VND, was brought back to An Vien Monastery to be repaired, restored, and given away or sent by post to the patient's home. "They were very happy to receive the bicycle, they shouted, 'Thanks to you, I have 'legs' to walk and make a living,' which made me very touched," Venerable Thich Duc Minh said. Just like that, he has donated nearly 1,000 wheelchairs each year, with the total number of wheelchairs donated to date being over 10,000. "For me, the joy is not how many wheelchairs I donate, but how many happy smiles I receive from the disabled," Venerable Duc Minh expressed. Talking about his long journey with so many charity programs, it is impossible to count how many people have been helped by his compassionate hands. He always has deep gratitude to his companions through each period. There are many people who have been with him for more than 10 years, some for 15 years, still following, directly or indirectly, with him to bring Loving Footsteps to all corners. Every year, summarizing the programs implemented, the amount of several billion VND is converted, added up from the smallest gifts or wheelchairs - means to help people with disabilities earn a living, move conveniently, the teacher is happy because those are real, transparent help. The teacher's heart is always enthusiastic even when his health is not good, so he will continue his volunteer activities with the models he has implemented, especially for people with disabilities - "they are the weak in society who need everyone's help". According to him, sometimes we are healthy and strong but still encounter countless difficulties in life and work, let alone people with disabilities. Teacher Duc Minh believes that doing social work is his lifelong wish, whether at home or in the form of a monk. Therefore, in the next 15 years, the footsteps of the brown-robed monk Thich Duc Minh will carry the provisions of boundless love, nurtured by the compassion and wisdom of a Buddhist disciple. One thing is for sure, he will sow even more seeds of goodness to those who are in need and have the affinity to practice the vow of altruism. It is not an exaggeration when Associate Professor Dr. Vu Gia Hien - a teacher of psychology, called monk Thich Duc Minh a devoted person, living like a lotus, spreading the fragrance of compassion to reduce suffering in life.