Key Teachers and Monastic Staff
Grandmaster Thich Thanh Tu (born 24 July 1924) is widely recognized as the reviver of the Vietnamese Zen Trúc Lâm school, which was originally founded by King Trần Nhân Tông (1258–1308), also known as Trúc Lâm Đại Đầu Đà. Throughout his life, Thích Thanh Từ has gathered thousands of disciples and established numerous monasteries across Vietnam and around the world.
His teaching centers on four main principles:
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Recognizing that thought is illusory
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Neither subduing nor following thoughts, but letting them go
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Embracing non-duality and refraining from making distinctions or discriminations when the senses encounter sense objects
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Living in accordance with one’s True Nature
The ultimate aim of his approach is to pacify the mind and emotions, fostering a state of relaxation, calmness, full awakening, and continuous awareness in every moment, which eventually leads to ultimate wisdom and realization of one’s True Nature.
Currently, Grandmaster Thích Thanh Từ is residing at Thuong Chieu Monastery, which serves as the principal headquarters for all Vietnamese Truc Lam monasteries in Vietnam. As of 2026, he is 103 years old and is provided with dedicated and attentive care by his committed disciples.
Most Venerable Thich Tue Giac (1960-2021)
In 1999, he was appointed by his teacher, Zen Master Thich Thanh Tu, to travel to the United States and promote Vietnamese Zen Buddhism in the West, which he had served as abbot of the Dai Dang Monastery in San Diego, California, a prominent learning and practice center and headquarter for the Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation Congregation. He was also a president of the Congregation and managed all Truc Lam Zen monasteries throughout the United States.
During his lifetime, Most Venerable Tue Giac frequently visited Giac Tam Meditation Center to lead retreats and support the sangha. He played an influential part in the founding of Giac Tam Zen Center and motivated numerous individuals to pursue a monastic path.
He was recognized for his direct, clear, respectful, and assured teaching style when imparting the Dharma. He regularly responded to inquiries, assisting followers in deepening their understanding and practice of the faith.
Venerable Thich Thong Giai
He was ordained in his early thirties by his teacher, most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, and was subsequently appointed to be the Secretary and Administrator at Dai Dang Zen Monastery (USA). He later assumed the role of vice-president at Dai Dang Monastery, actively participating in its management and operational activities. He has played a significant role in the initial establishment and growth of the monastery, overseeing key initiatives such as the inauguration and ongoing maintenance.
Presently, he serves as vice-president of the Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation Congregation and the president of the Giac Tam Meditation Center.
Venerable Thich Thong Giai regularly delivers Dharma lectures, instructs on Sutras, and guides meditation practices for overseas Buddhist communities. His teachings emphasize the practical application of Buddhist philosophy and meditation techniques in everyday life.
Venerable Thich Dang Huy
He was ordained in his twenties under the guidance of Most Venerable Thich Tue Giac at Dai Dang Monastery, where he has maintained an active and committed presence. Following the passing of his teacher in 2021, he was appointed abbot of Dai Dang Zen Monastery and has played a pivotal role in both the construction and inauguration of the monastery.
He regularly delivers Vietnamese Dharma talks to Buddhist communities throughout the United States and leads online adult and youth classes. Additionally, he offers weekly English-language courses at the Dai Dang monastery, including studies of the Dhammapada, and provides instruction in fundamental Zen meditation practices.
Venerable Thich Dang Huy is esteemed for his simplicity, sense of gentle humor, dedication, perseverance, humility, and approachable demeanor.
Venerable Thich Dang Tri
He was originally from the Twin Cities, Minnesota, where he practiced Zen within the Truc Lam Zen School for many years as a lay practitioner. He welcomed fellow practitioners into his home for weekend meditation sessions and regularly invited monastic Zen teachers from Dai Dang Monastery to lead retreats.
Motivated by a strong spiritual aspiration, he resigned from his position as a postman and was ordained by his teacher, Most Venerable Thich Tue Giac, in 2012. Following ordination, he entered monastic residency at Dai Dang Monastery, where he had served as a dedicated work-leader for many years.
He was instrumental in establishing the Chanh Tam Zen Sangha at his home residence, which was subsequently renamed Giac Tam Meditation Center after relocating to a new location after he left for his ordination. His commitment to the monastic path inspired eight other members of the Sangha to pursue ordination as well.
Venerable Thich Dang Tri is widely respected for his compassion, gentle nature, calm demeanor, simplicity, dedication, persistence, helpfulness, and approachability.
Venerable TN Thuan Bach
She was born in 1945 in Vietnam and was ordained as a nun in her early forties by Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu. Several years following her full ordination as a bhikkhuni, she was appointed by her teacher to serve as the inaugural abbess of Dieu Nhan Monastery in Sacramento, California, in 2000. She played a pivotal role in the development and establishment of Dieu Nhan Monastery during its formative years. Currently, she serves as vice-abbot and Zen Teacher at Dieu Nhan Zen Monastery.
Her deep commitment to faith and rigorous Zen monastic training have significantly enhanced her understanding of the Dharma, positioning her as a prominent female Zen teacher for many monastics and Buddhist communities. She is also known for producing numerous bi-lingual (Vietnamese-English) translations of classic and contemporary Zen texts to support both Vietnamese and English-speaking practitioners.
Venerable Thuan Bach has led many Zen retreats for lay practitioners across the globe and is recognized for her dedicated practice within the Truc Lam Zen School, as well as for her approachable manner, insightfulness, and directness. She is committed to engaging Zen students through thoughtful inquiry and interactive discussion, with particular emphasis on integrating Zen practice into everyday life.
Sister Thien Chan
She was born in 1950 in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. in her late 40s'. She has resided primarily in Minnesota and practiced Buddhism as a layperson for many years prior to her ordination in 2014 by Most Venerable Thich Tue Giac at Dai Dang Monastery.
In her role as a devoted cook for the Dai Dang monastery, Sister Thien Chan often grew and harvest vegetables in the monastery garden to sustain the Sangha. She also gathered wild herbs and greens used in traditional remedies to support wellness among community members. Her work in the garden has been a source of insight, contributing to her understanding of nature’s wisdom which she integrated into her spiritual practice.
In 2023, Sister Thien Chan was reassigned from Dai Dang Monastery to Giac Tam Meditation Center to assist in revitalizing the facility following challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She undertook significant efforts to clean and reorganize the center to restore its function as a place of practice.
Sister Thien Chan is recognized for her simplicity, humility, diligent work ethic, determination, kindness, joyful spirit, sense of responsibility, and genuine care for others.
Sister Pearl (Vien Thanh Chau)
Sister Pearl mainly resides in Minnesota since 1996 and has dedicated ten years as a Physician Assistant within the Cancer and Palliative Care departments at Mayo Clinic in Rochester when she was still a lay practitioner. In 2019, she was ordained in the Truc Lam ZenTradition at Dai Dang Monastery, CA, by her teacher, Ven. Nhu Duc, abbess of Vien Chieu Nunnery in Vietnam. Her monastic residency encompasses time at distinguished Zen communities including Upaya Zen Center, Atlanta Zen Center, Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, and Vien Chieu Monastery. Her spiritual practice draws from Vietnamese Zen traditions guided by Zen masters Thich Thanh Tu and Thich Nhat Hanh, as well as the Soto Zen School.
Sister Pearl has completed Buddhist chaplaincy training at the Upaya Zen Center and fulfilled her Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) residency at Emory Decatur University Hospital. She now serves as both a meditation teacher and a Buddhist and interfaith chaplain, volunteering in diverse environments such as hospitals, hospices, and correctional institutions. Sister Pearl frequently teaches at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center and actively participates in the Minnesota Multifaith Network.
Currently, Sister Pearl contributes to the revitalization initiatives at Giac Tam Meditation Center, focusing on outreach programs for children, adolescents, and young adults by promoting accessible Dharma education through online courses and family and youth retreats offered nationwide. She also provides support to elders in local communities by offering guidance on legacy planning and healthcare advance directives.