Ven. H.T. Thich Thien An

The Most Venerable H.T. Thich Thien An was the first Patriarch of Vietnamese Buddhism in America and founded the first two Vietnamese temples in the United States, the International Buddhist Meditation Society and the College of Oriental Studies. He was born in Hue, Vietnam in 1926 and at the age of 13 entered a buddhist monestary becoming a fully ordained Bhiksu at age 20. He continued his buddhist studies which culminated in a PHD in the Literature of Oriental Studies received from a Japanese University in 1962. Returning to Vietnam in 1962 he became a co-founder of the Van Hanh University in Saigon. In 1966 he travelled to the United States to become a Visiting Professor of Languages and Philosophy at UCLA. His intention was to only visit for a year but he never returned to Vietnam. He was prevailed upon by his american students to stay and to teach Buddhism in America.

"We all shed salty tears and shed red blood. All is one." - Thich Thien An

He was equally empty of self, leading grand cermonies, working in his garden on a daily basis, sweeping the walk or leading meditation in the Zendo. Roshi remembers him "as the most normal human being I have ever met." Bhante Suhita says "His greatness came from his selflessness and love for all beings." He left behind a wonderful book: Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice. He passed away in 1980 after too short a life. He is still deeply missed by those who lives he touched.