FUNDRAISING LETTER 

Subject: Build a Western Monastery (Tu Vien Tay Phuong) 

Namo Bodhisattvas  

Dear most Venerables, Venerable Monks, Nuns, 

Dear Buddhist followers and friends 

In our Buddhist subconscious mind, the temple symbolizes compassion and spiritual guidance to rely on when we encounter life’s suffering. Therefore, for many centuries, humans valued building the temple and the Buddhist structure. The Vietnamese proverbs said: "edit sutra and build the statue are the work for solemn Buddhist pagoda dance. To build towers and temple is to cultivate the field of merit for the people to enjoy." 

It is with great enthusiasm that we plan to build a new monastery for accommodation, education and dharma activities for the lay Buddhist communities and the expatriates. We are planning a project to purchase land to build a Western Monastery (Tu Vien Tay Phuong) in Minnesota, USA. The Western Monastery (Tu Vien Tay Phuong) will be located on a 35-acre lot, with a beautiful, natural and pure environment. This will be a place for people to learn and practice Buddhism, as well as a place for monks and nuns to spread the dharma. In the future, if finances allow, we will build a Four-Gratitude tower, to worship Buddhas' relics and to place ancestor’s ashes. At the same time, in the monastery campus, we plan to build a hospice to meet the needs of the elderly and provide a peaceful place to practice Buddhism. In addition, we plan to create a facility with conditions for the young to show their filial piety toward their ancestors and their parents in this very present life. With all the great meaning and effort, we would be most grateful for any contribution you are willing to make to help assist us in the building of the Monastery. Each small brick and branch will create a miracle karma for the Buddhist blossom in this society, as well as creating an educational place, a spiritual guidance to this intellectual life, and a mental culture for today and tomorrow.  

Science and society have proven the reason why there is a strong development of Buddhism in this modern time. In this world, more and more Buddhist temples are being established on behalf, to satisfy the Buddhist’s needs to cultivate Buddhism, in the country where many other religions had existed for many centuries. Buddhism with a compassionate philosophy, forgiveness and impermanence is not just a religion but also a method, a reason, a way to lead and live a happy life. Understanding all these reasons, we hope the Western Monastery (Tu Vien Tay Phuong) will be a place which provides all that is needed for virtuous spiritual, mind, and mental support to the expatriates and the local Buddhist a peaceful “Nirvana” place to practice and enlighten endeavor in this society. 

At this time, the preparation to build the Western Monastery (Tu Vien Tay Phuong) has been accomplished. We are asking for your generous Bodhichitta heart, your helping hand so together we can achieve this project through donations, support, volunteering or providing us an opportunity to turn this virtuous dream into a reality. 

With deepest gratitude for your generous support and contributions, we would merit this preaching to the Buddhas for you and your family to have a peaceful and a happy life. 

Monastery Abbot Western Monastary (Tu Vien Tay Phuong) 

Venerable: Thich Hanh Duc