'Boat workshop' in the temple yard

Returning to the pagoda after days of directly going into the flood zone in Phan Dinh Phung ward to provide relief to the people, Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc, Abbot of Trung pagoda (Thang Loi ward) turned his concerns into action. A special "boat workshop" was born right in the pagoda yard with the cooperation of businesses in his old hometown of Thai Binh. 15 specialized composite boats were formed, realizing the proactive rescue model right at the pagoda.

Composite boats are lightweight, durable, difficult to sink, and leak-proof.

The temple grounds have become a factory.

For the past few days, the atmosphere at Trung Pagoda (Thien The Tu), Thang Loi Ward, Thai Nguyen Province, has been unusually hectic. The usually tranquil pagoda courtyard has become a bustling workshop. The sounds of cutting machines and grinding composite materials, mixed with the smell of plastic, have surprised many local residents.

People asked each other, speculated about the strange thing at the pagoda, then burst into emotion when they learned that this special difference came from the "boat workshop" initiated by Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc, right after he returned from an emergency trip to support people in flooded areas affected by storm No. 11.

The historic flood submerged homes and property in raging waters. In this context, the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Thai Nguyen province promptly called upon monks, nuns, and Buddhists throughout the province to join hands with the government in supporting the people. With the spirit of "compassion in the world," monks, nuns, and Buddhists cooked and distributed over 200,000 meals to flood victims, and many temples became safe havens, profoundly demonstrating the meaning of "mutual support and compassion."

In that spirit of volunteerism, Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc and the monks of Trung Pagoda directly participated in the rescue boat team, being present at hotspots in Phan Dinh Phung ward from October 7th to 9th.

During those three days of struggling amidst the floodwaters, dedicating both his mental and financial resources to helping the people, Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc witnessed a harsh reality: the people lacked rescue boats. Food aid was urgent, but providing the means for people to proactively save themselves and others was even more crucial – this thought kept recurring in Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc's mind as he left the flooded area and returned to the temple.

Serving the Dharma and the nation

As a native of the coastal region of Tien Hai, Thai Binh (formerly), now Nam Cuong commune, Hung Yen province, and understanding the value of boats in the vast ocean, Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc conceived a benevolent idea: to build specialized rescue boats.

Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc and the monks from Trung Pagoda participated in rescue efforts in Phan Dinh Phung ward.

As soon as the floodwaters receded, the Venerable Monk connected with his compatriots in the old Thai Binh province. Moved by the Venerable Monk's compassionate spirit, many kind-hearted people from the rice-growing region turned their attention to Thai Nguyen: Hoang Chien Co., Ltd. provided materials; Van Hanh Fine Arts Co., Ltd. took on the technical aspects; and 15 specialized composite boats were urgently assembled.

These 15 boats have a special mission: When floodwaters arrive, these boats will be piloted by monks, local people, and Buddhists. They will seize the crucial time to rescue people before professional relief forces arrive.

These boats are made of composite materials, making them durable, unsinkable, leak-proof, and long-lasting. Designed for hilly terrain, they are 3 meters long, 90 cm wide, and can carry 2-3 people or over 100 kg of cargo. They are compact enough to navigate narrow alleys, and each person only needs 10-20 minutes of training to operate them.

Buddhist teachings state: "The fragrance of flowers does not travel against the wind. But the fragrance of a virtuous person travels far against the wind" (Dhammapada 54).

Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc was appointed Abbot of Trung Pagoda in 2023, but for many years he has quietly engaged in charitable work, always deeply concerned about the plight of poor children not only in Thai Nguyen but also in many mountainous and border provinces. This is the realization of his vow made upon his appointment as abbot: "To serve the Dharma and the nation."

While deeply concerned with doing good deeds, when we suggested writing an article about the "boat workshop" at the temple, Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc calmly replied: "Please don't mention us too much in your article. Our work is just a drop in the ocean; praising us would be contrary to what the Buddha taught."

15 composite boats painted in the color of hope blue are neatly placed in the temple grounds as this year's storm season is about to pass. It was formed after the flood with the hearts of philanthropists and the compassionate spirit of Buddhism, to become a volunteer rescue team ready to proactively respond to the storm season in the following years.

But looking at that blue paint, we all secretly hoped that Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc and the monks and Buddhist followers would never have the opportunity to use them.

Trung Pagoda is an ancient temple, founded during the reign of King Ly Than Tong, in the Thien Thuan era (1128-1132). Having endured many ups and downs, the temple deteriorated over time. At the end of 2021, with the generous contributions of benefactors and philanthropists, the Trung Pagoda Management Board, along with Buddhist followers and local people, began the reconstruction of the main hall.

On November 26, 2023, at the inauguration ceremony of the Great Hall of the Buddha, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association of Thai Nguyen province announced the decision to appoint Venerable Thich Nhuan Phuoc as the Abbot of Trung Pagoda.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202510/xuong-thuyen-noi-san-chua-2a105bc/