The Venerable Zen Master Thich Thanh Tu was born on July 24, 1924 in the hamlet of Tich Khanh, village of Thuan My, district of Tra On, province of Vinh Long. His father Tran Van Mao and his mother Nguyen Thi Du originally gave him the name Tran Huu Phuoc, which was later changed to Tran Thanh Tu. The Venerable's parents lived a modest life and tried to accumulate merit by good deeds. In his early years, the Venerable worked hard every day to help his parents support the family. Even at an early age he exhibited a calm demeanor, seldom spoke, and loved to read. He was obedient and devoted to his parents but he had already developed a yearning to become a Buddhist monk. Experiencing the poverty and hardships of the wars fought in Vietnam, the Venerable recognized the pain and suffering of humanity and quietly vowed to himself, "If I can not become a magic pill that can cure all diseases, then I would be a vitamin that helps relieve the pain and suffering of all human beings." The time had finally come for him to begin on a new, illuminated path in accordance with his inner vow.
        On July 15, 1949, after three months of voluntary labor at Phat Quang Temple in the region of Bang Chang, province of Tra On, he was ordained and given the Dharma name Thich Thanh Tu by the Venerable Thien Hoa. After that, he engaged in worship and repentance, and diligently cultivated Buddhism, in furtherance of his vow to study Buddha’s teaching, to continue his practice until reaching his goal, and to help others in their practice. In 1949 -1950, the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu studied the Basic Buddhism Curriculum at the Buddhist University of Phat Quang. In 1951, the Venerable progressed to the Intermediate Buddhism Curriculum at Phat Quang University and later that year moved to Phuoc Hau Temple. There he received the Ten Novice Precepts in a ceremony conducted by the Venerable Khanh Anh. In 1953, he followed the Venerable Thien Hoa to Saigon to continue his Intermediate Buddhism Curriculum at the Southern Vietnamese Buddhist Institution of An Quang, where he received his 250 Bhikshus Precepts from the Venerable Grandmaster Hue Quang. From 1954 - 1958, the Venerable Thich Thanh Tu studied the Advanced Buddhism Curriculum at the Southern Vietnamese Buddhist Institution of An Quang. Thus, the Venerable had been studying Buddhism for ten years, commencing with the Phat Quang Temple and concluding with the Southern Vietnamese Buddhist Institution. From then, he began his journey of teaching Buddhism to others. The Venerable became a renowned Buddhist missionary lecturer for monks, nuns, and laypeople throughout the country. From 1960 - 1966, the Venerable held various offices in the Buddhist Missionary Association of Vietnamese Bhiksus:

• Assistant Director of the Buddhism Curriculum Committee
• Director of the Buddhism Curriculum Committee
• Director and Lecturer at the Hue Nghiem Buddhist Institution
• Lecturer at the Buddhist institutions of Duoc Su and Tu Nghiem
• Lecturer at Van Hanh Buddhist University

          At the end of 1966, after his tenure at Hue Nghiem Buddhist Institution teaching intermediate Buddhist courses, the Venerable obtained permission from his mentor and the Vietnamese Buddhist Congegration to retreat to Tuong Ky mountain at Vung Tau with the intention of living in the Dharma Joy Hut and practicing meditation until the day of his enlightenment. In April 1968, the Venerable confirmed his solitary retreat in the Hut with a determined statement, "If I do not reach enlightenment, I will not exit this solitary retreat." By July of that year, the Venerable experienced Sunyata (Emptiness) and realized the true nature of Prajna (Perfect Wisdom). From that day, the Venerable grasped the teachings of Mahayana and the deep meaning of Zen. By the end of 1968, to the joy of his followers, the Venerable officially left his forest cabin and declared, "It is time to spread the teachings of Buddha." Since then, his blessings and endless compassion have relieved the pain and suffering of countless lives in the world. The Dharma Joy Hut had again proven to embody the spirit of the Chon Khong Zen Lineage. This marked a monumental turn in the Venerable's monastic life. It also opened a new era in Vietnamese Buddhism, especially for Vietnamese Zen, writing a splendid new page in Buddhist history at the end of the 20th century. In 1970, the Venerable established the Chon Khong Monastery on Tuong Ky mountain at Vung Tau and began his teachings with only 10 students, involving scriptures, discourses, history, and meditation methods. In 1974, he established the Bat Nha and Linh Quang monasteries at Vung Tau and commenced the second course of teachings for hundreds of Bhiksus, Bhiksusni, and laypeople. Through his dedicated teachings, the Venerable has begun reviving the prominence of Vietnamese Zen, keeping it in line with the spirit of the Zen lineage founded during the Tran dynasty. By 1975, the Venerable was instrumental in another crucial event in the spread of Vietnamese Zen. First, all monasteries established by the Venerable in Vung Tau were moved to Long Thanh, Ba Ria and became various monasteries with the word "Chieu (Illumination)" in most of their names: Thuong Chieu (1974), Vien Chieu (1975), Hue Chieu (1979), Linh Chieu (1980), Pho Chieu (1980), Tich Chieu (1987), and Lieu Duc (1986). In 1993, the Venerable established the well-known Truc Lam (Bamboo Forest) Phung Hoang monastery on Phung Hoang mountain, Da Lat. From then on, there was tremendous growth in Vietnamese Zen within the Tran tradition. Entering the 21st century, Vietnamese Zen spread rapidly throughout the country of Vietnam and the entire world. In 2002, the remodeling of Lan Temple into the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Monastery reactivated the source of Vietnamese Zen. By 2005, the establishment of Truc Lam Tay Thien Zen Monastery created a solid cradle for what later became the Vietnamese Zen renaissance. From this cradle, the holy waters of the Dharma covered the land and sky of the country. Today, the Venerable has established a total of 60 Zen monasteries and 100 Zen communities practicing Zen according to the Vietnamese Truc Lam lineage. Vietnamese Zen once again flourishes in Vietnam, the country with nearly 20 centuries of Buddhist influence. From there, Vietnamese Zen has traveled to Europe, North America, and Australia.

• In the United States of America, ten Zen monasteries/convents have been established.
• In Canada, two Zen monasteries have been established.
• In France, a Zen monastery has been established.
• In Australia, five Zen monasteries have been established.

          The Venerable has assisted in the rebuilding of Phat Quang Temple and Phuoc Hau Temple at Tra On, Vinh Long and Luong Xuyen Buddhist Institution at Tra Vinh. The Venerable Thich Thanh Tu has visited and blessed numerous countries such as Cambodia (1950), India, Sri Lanka, Japan (1965), China (1993), France (1994, 2002), Switzerland (1994), Canada (1994, 2002), Indonesia (1996), USA (1994, 2000, 2001, 2002), and Australia (1996, 2002). The Venerable has as many as 75,260 disciples from 1970 - 2003 in Vietnam and 9,600 disciples abroad, totaling 84,860 disciples worldwide. The Venerable Thich Thanh Tu has re-ignited an astounding momentum for Vietnamese Zen after a century of weakening and near disappearance. The revival of Vietnamese Zen has stimulated the faith of the Vietnamese Buddhists, leading them to study, understand, appreciate, and practice the teachings of Buddha that have always served and improved the culture and lives of the Vietnamese people. This revival has helped people to become awakened and to practice Buddhism to reach Enlightenment and Liberation, as taught by the Buddha more than 2500 years ago. This teaching is still a compassionate light in the darkness for everyone who wishes to find his true Self.