Top 9 Enlightened Buddhist Masters in Vietnamese History Who Left Behind Famous Relics

Venerable Thích Quảng Đức was a prominent figure in Southern Vietnamese Buddhism during the war years. In 1932, at the age of 35, he was invited by the Ninh Hòa Association of the Annam Buddhist Association to become their spiritual leader. He then traveled across central and southern Vietnam, contributing to the construction and restoration of numerous pagodas in the region.

In mid-1963, during the administration of Ngô Đình Diệm in South Vietnam, the government not only persecuted revolutionary forces but also imposed harsh policies against Buddhists. This led to the Buddhist movement in 1963, a large-scale civil movement not only supporting Buddhism but also protesting the dictatorship and undemocratic regime of Diệm’s government.

On June 11, 1963, Venerable Thích Quảng Đức was driven to the intersection of Phan Đình Phùng and Lê Văn Duyệt, in front of the Cambodian embassy. He calmly stepped out of the car, folded his hands in prayer, and sat cross-legged in the middle of the street, facing west, quietly chanting the Buddha’s name.

As soon as Venerable Thích Quảng Đức lit the match, a huge flame erupted around his body, yet he remained calm, seated in the lotus position with his hands clasped, showing no sign of pain. Remarkably, after hours of being consumed by the fire, although his body was reduced to ashes, his heart remained intact. Even more astonishing, his heart did not burn. After several hours of being re-ignited, the heart remained soft and warm, cooling and hardening into a large, dark brown relic.

Fearing that the 'immortal heart' of Venerable Thích Quảng Đức might be stolen and destroyed by the Diệm government, the Buddhist protection committee decided to place it in a small copper stupa (0.5m high, 0.3m wide), which was then stored in the French National Bank in Saigon. Later, the 'immortal heart' was transferred to Xa Loi Pagoda and then to Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda, where it remains to this day.

Tiêu Pagoda (Bắc Ninh), originally named Thiên Tâm, was founded during the early Lê Dynasty and is the place where the renowned monk Vạn Hạnh practiced meditation, taught the Dharma, and mentored the legendary King Lý Công Uẩn. Over its thousands of years of history, it has become the final resting place of the body of Monk Như Trí, an enlightened Buddhist master.

One day, as the monks were cleaning the area around the Viên Tuệ Stupa, a brick fell out. When they replaced it, they noticed an inscription on the brick reading: Venerable Như Trí, passed away in 1723 (the 4th year of the Bảo Thái era, under the Lê Dục Tông reign). When a nun named Đàm Chính peered into the gap left by the fallen brick, she was shocked to see the body of a monk sitting in meditation inside the stupa. This was the 'earthly remains' of Venerable Như Trí. After a local cowherd accidentally disturbed the statue, the remains were revealed and restored.

During the restoration, Dr. Nguyễn Lân Cường discovered a compound resembling a grapefruit inside the abdomen of Monk Như Trí. Samples were sent to the National Institute of Natural Sciences for analysis, which confirmed that the substance was the preserved remains of the monk's internal organs.

Despite centuries of exposure to harsh weather, bacteria, and insects, it was remarkable that the body of Venerable Như Trí remained largely intact, including the preserved internal organ mass. This mystery remains unsolved. The restoration of his body was completed in 2004, and the monk's remains were placed back into a near-original meditative position within the family shrine, carefully preserved with modern scientific techniques.

Monk Từ Đạo Hạnh was a famous Buddhist master of the Lý Dynasty. From a young age, he showed a deep interest in travel and a great ambition, and it was clear that he possessed the spiritual essence of an enlightened being. The Thầy Pagoda is known as the place where he practiced meditation and attained enlightenment, with many mysterious stories surrounding his miraculous powers and spiritual accomplishments. According to legend, 300 years after his passing, his body was transformed and the locals placed his ashes inside a wooden statue. This statue has been carefully preserved, and once a year, on the 7th day of the 3rd lunar month, the monks are permitted to cleanse it.

Another story tells of the time, nearly 300 years after his passing, when the Ming army invaded Vietnam. They burned his body for three days and nights, but his physical form remained completely intact. Fearing this supernatural occurrence, the invaders fled. Later, the locals dreamed that Monk Từ Đạo Hạnh revealed to them that to truly burn his body, they would need to use fragrant agarwood from the Sài Sơn Mountain. The prophecy was followed, and the body was finally consumed by fire. The ashes were collected and used to create the statue of Monk Từ Đạo Hạnh that is preserved today. The statue is still carefully maintained, and the cleansing ritual is strictly observed each year on the 7th day of the 3rd lunar month, witnessed by only a select few elders in the village.

The ancient Keo Pagoda is intertwined with the mysteries of the life and spiritual awakening of one of Vietnam's most renowned monks, Monk Không Lộ. He was the 9th generation patriarch of the Ngôn Thông Zen sect, and began his monastic life at Am Pagoda (Thái Bình) at the age of 28, adopting the name Không Lộ. In 1059, together with two fellow monks, Từ Đạo Hạnh and Giác Hải, he traveled to Tây Thiên to study Buddhist teachings. After returning to Vietnam, the three monks became the most celebrated figures in Vietnamese Zen Buddhism.

Legend has it that after attaining enlightenment, Monk Không Lộ gained the ability to fly through the air and walk on water, much like the legendary Bodhidharma. His supernatural powers were beyond measure, and he was said to possess the ability to foresee the future.

According to the book “Trùng san Thần Quang tự Phật tổ bản hành thiền uyển ngữ lục tập yếu” and local folklore, after years of ascetic practice, Monk Không Lộ passed away and ascended to the Western Pure Land on June 3, 1094, during the reign of Emperor Lý Nhân Tông.

During his final illness, his disciples and local villagers carved his likeness out of fragrant agarwood. However, the carving was left unfinished when he passed away before it could be completed. After his death, his followers performed the cremation ceremony, during which the sky suddenly darkened and a black cloud covered the heavens. Remarkably, amidst the black cloud, a golden cloud appeared, shining directly over the cremation pyre. It was believed that after his passing, Monk Không Lộ had transformed into the incomplete statue, and as the villagers draped the wooden figure with his robe, the statue miraculously became whole. This statue, now known as the “Sacred Statue,” is preserved at the Pagoda’s Sacred House.

Phật Tích Pagoda is a renowned Buddhist site in Vietnam, tied to the golden era of Buddhism in the country's history. The late abbot of the temple, Monk Chuyết Chuyết, is famous for leaving behind his entire body as relics, a clear indication of his spiritual attainment. Born into the Lý family, with the monastic name Viên Văn, he began his religious life at the age of 15. After 16 years of teaching in Cambodia, he arrived in Quảng Nam in 1623 to spread the Dharma.

Eleven years later, Monk Viên Văn, along with his disciples, traveled to the imperial capital, Thăng Long. After meeting King Lê and Lord Trịnh, he was invited to become the abbot of Khán Sơn Pagoda in Thăng Long, where he was known as Chuyết Công or Chuyết Chuyết. In 1634, he became the abbot of Phật Tích Pagoda.

In 1644, sensing that his time was near, Monk Chuyết Chuyết passed away peacefully, his death as serene as air itself. Following his passing, a strange phenomenon occurred — for an entire month, the temple was filled with an unusual, fragrant scent. His devoted disciple, Monk Minh Hành, employed the mummification technique common at the time, preserving his teacher's body and placing it in the Báo Nghiêm Stupa. Many believed this to be a sign that Monk Chuyết Chuyết had reached full enlightenment.

Some time later, Monk Minh Hành moved the body of Chuyết Chuyết to a temple in Thanh Hóa to protect it from the ravages of war. In 1989, Monk Chuyết Chuyết's body was discovered within the Báo Nghiêm Stupa, and Professor Nguyễn Lân Cường's team restored it. Phật Tích continues to be known as the cradle of Buddhism in the region, attracting hundreds of pilgrims each year.

In Vietnam, Emperor Monk Trần Nhân Tông is celebrated as both a wise ruler and a revered monk. He followed the Trúc Lâm Zen school and quickly attained enlightenment, leaving behind relics and extraordinary phenomena upon his passing. In 1307, after teaching the Dharma to his disciples, the Emperor Monk left Mount Yên Tử and ascended to a small hermitage on Mount Ngọa Vân.

After some time meditating on Mount Ngọa Vân, on October 19, 1308, Emperor Monk summoned his disciple Pháp Không to come to the Tử Tiêu hermitage on Yên Tử Mountain, urgently calling for the presence of his student Bảo Sát. Sensing something was amiss, Bảo Sát hurried through the treacherous mountain paths and reached the hermitage on October 21. Upon seeing his disciple, the Emperor Monk smiled and said, “Why did you arrive so late? I am about to depart. If there are still questions about the Dharma, speak quickly.”

After imparting his final teachings to Bảo Sát, a strange darkness descended, with fierce winds and the cries of animals all around the hermitage. However, on the night of November 1, 1308, the sky cleared, and the stars shone brightly. The Emperor Monk then asked his disciple: “What time is it?” “It is the midnight hour,” Bảo Sát replied. “It is time for me to leave,” the Emperor Monk said. With that, he lay down silently like a lion and passed away peacefully, at the age of 51, during the reign of Hưng Long (1308).

Legend has it that after his passing, in accordance with his wishes, his disciple Pháp Loa carried the precious relics to the cremation site. At that moment, a fragrance filled the air, and the sky echoed with heavenly music. Colorful clouds gathered, forming a circle over the cremation pyre. After the cremation, Pháp Loa poured fragrant water over the pyre and collected the Emperor Monk's relics.

What was truly remarkable was that while collecting the relics of Trúc Lâm's Patriarch, Pháp Loa discovered over 3,000 brightly shining multi-colored beads. These were the Emperor Monk's relics, solid proof of his spiritual achievements. In September 1310, his relics were enshrined at the Quy Đức Mausoleum (Thái Bình), and his other relics were distributed across various locations. Due to the sacred nature of these relics, Ngọa Vân has become an important site of Trúc Lâm Buddhism, remaining so to this day.

Master Vũ Khắc Minh was the uncle of Vũ Khắc Trường. From a young age, the two of them entered the Đậu Pagoda to practice and chant sutras for the benefit of the people. Notably, they only had one meal a day, consisting of rice and vegetables, at noon. One day, Master Vũ Khắc Minh, sensing that his time had come, instructed his disciples: “If you no longer hear the sound of the bell after 100 days, open the door. If my body is decayed, bury it; but if my body remains intact and odorless, cover me in lacquer before sealing the hermitage.”

He then entered the hermitage, bringing water and oil for lamps, and began his meditation and chanting. His disciples sealed the door, leaving a small opening for ventilation. Exactly 100 days later, the disciples no longer heard the bell. Upon opening the door, they found the master had passed away in a meditative lotus position. His breath had ceased, and his serene face held a subtle smile. The disciples followed his instructions and, years later, Zen Master Vũ Khắc Trường also entered the hermitage, meditated, and passed away in the same seated position as his teacher.

The mummified body of Zen Master Vũ Khắc Minh was later examined at the Bạch Mai Hospital. X-ray scans showed no signs of the usual skull incision for brain removal, a typical process in mummification. This confirmed that his brain had never been removed. Researchers also discovered that the materials used for preserving his body, as well as that of Zen Master Vũ Khắc Trường, were simple: local lacquer, termite soil, sawdust, and paper.

Currently, the preserved bodies of the two Zen Masters are carefully maintained in a glass case with a nitrogen-rich environment. This meticulous preservation ensures that their bodies remain incorruptible. According to Buddhist teachings, when a monk reaches a certain level of meditation, they can intentionally keep their body intact for long periods. Similar preserved bodies can be found among Chinese and Tibetan monks. The relics of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, dating back to the 7th century, are still preserved at the Huannan Temple in Guangdong, China.

Patriarch Thủy Nguyệt is the founder of the Tào Động Zen School, with the title Thông Giác. At the age of 34, he traveled to China with a close disciple to study the teachings of Buddhism at the Phoenix Mountain. After three years of intense practice, he returned to Vietnam to spread the Dharma and guide others to enlightenment.

According to historical records, before his Nirvana, Patriarch Thủy Nguyệt foresaw his time was near. He gathered his disciples and instructed: “My mission in this world is complete. I will ascend to Nhẫm Dương Mountain. Do not cry or shed a tear when I pass away. This will ease my journey to the realm of Buddha. And remember, after seven days, if I do not return, search for me in a place where you sense a fragrance.”

As per his wishes, after seven days, when the patriarch did not return, his disciples climbed the mountain to search for him. As they approached the foot of the mountain, a strong wind suddenly blew, carrying a faint fragrance. Following the scent, they discovered a cave behind Nhẫm Dương Pagoda, where the patriarch had passed away in a meditative posture on a rock. His body was warm and supple, although his breath had ceased.

The body of Patriarch Thủy Nguyệt radiated a fragrant scent, similar to that of agarwood found in the mountains. After finding his body in the cave, his disciples bathed his body with scented water. They then placed it in a large coffin and transported it back to the pagoda.

However, when they attempted to lift the coffin for the cremation ceremony, something extraordinary happened: it could not be moved, despite the efforts of many strong men. Curious, the villagers opened the coffin and discovered that the patriarch was still seated in a meditative posture, his complexion rosy as if he were still alive.

It took two days of chanting and with the assistance of Master Bình Quản, the body of Patriarch Thủy Nguyệt was finally placed on the cremation altar. After the cremation, his relics continued to emit a fragrant aroma. To preserve these special relics, his disciples stored the ashes in a small urn, burying it beneath the old hermitage behind the pagoda.

Venerable Thích Minh Đức (1901 – 1985), born Nguyễn Khắc Dần in 1901 in Hiệp Phổ village, Đức Hạnh commune, Nghĩa Hành district, Quảng Ngãi province, came from a family steeped in Confucian values. At the age of 17, he sought permission from his parents to become a monk and began his training at the Sắc Tứ Phước Quang Temple in Phú Thọ commune, Tư Nghĩa district, Quảng Ngãi province.

With his deep compassion and wisdom, he dedicated his life to advancing the Dharma and improving the lives of others. In 1940, he became the abbot of Long Bửu Temple and president of the Buddhist Association of Nghĩa Hành district. In 1945, he answered the call for national resistance, leading the Buddhist Association of the National Salvation in Nghĩa Hành. In 1957, he served as abbot of Linh Phước Temple in Da Lat for 27 years until his passing.

In late 1984, sensing his imminent departure, Venerable Thích Minh Đức left Linh Phước Temple and returned to Long Bửu Temple, where he had previously practiced. After the Lunar New Year of 1985, on the night of the 18th of the first month, he gathered his monastic and lay disciples to give his final instructions and will for Linh Phước Temple. He shared 13 teachings on the recitation of Amitabha's name, after which monks and laypeople recited the Amitabha Sutra to bid him farewell.

In February 2010, at Long Bửu Temple (Quảng Ngãi), monks and devotees from Linh Phước Temple in Lam Dong and Long Bửu Temple rebuilt a new seven-story stupa, 20 meters high, using stone transported from Thanh Hoa. On January 11, 2011 (the 8th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Tiger), when the relics of Venerable Thích Minh Đức were exhumed and moved to the new stupa, an unprecedented phenomenon occurred.

The remains were found perfectly preserved after 26 years of burial. The coffin had decayed, but the monk’s robe and the cloth wrappings around his body were still intact. His skull had turned golden, and the bones in his feet, hands, and ankles were perfectly aligned in the same position they had been when he was originally buried. Despite the weight of the earth pressing down on the coffin, his body had not collapsed.

On February 13, 2009 (the 19th day of the first lunar month), a multicolored halo appeared around the bell tower of the temple, visible from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM, with a diameter that expanded from 10 to 50 meters.