Tuyen Linh Pagoda

From its first year in 1861, the Pagoda was presided over by Superior Buddhist Monk Khanh Phong. In 1907, Khanh Phong was replaced by Monk Le Khanh Hoa, or Thich Nhu Tri as religious name, a senior Buddhist scholar from Phu Le Commune, Ba Tri District. Le Khanh Hoa was also the founder of the Cochinchine Buddhist Society and the Luong Xuyen Society of Buddhists, including many senior monks and nuns from all over the Cochinchine. He was also Chief editor of the Tu Bi Am Magazine (The Sound of Mercy).

In 1930, the pagoda was renovated for the first time, and was renamed Tuyen Linh by Monk Le Khanh Hoa.
According to the Party History Research Committee of Dong Thap province, around the end of 1926, Doctor Nguyen Sinh Sac, father of President Ho Chi Minh, came and stayed at Tuyen Linh Pagoda for a period of time. During his staying here under the care and guard by Monk Le Khanh Hoa, he taught and gave medical care to local people. He had contacts with Tran Van An, Huynh Khac Man, and Le Van Phat, who later became the first generation of Ben Tre Party Committee membership.

In his last days, Monk Le Khanh Hoa mobilized Buddhist monks and believers in the province to take part in revolutionary activities. In 1947, he fell ill out of high age. He dictated his will for his disciple to record, gave advisce to and arranged works for his disciples, ordered them to continue to mobilize local people and Buddhist believers to join the revolution and fight foreign invaders. He passed away on June 19, 1947.

In 1956, in commemorating the truly patriotic Monk, the Sangha Society (Buddhist Monastic Community) and all his disciples restored the funeral and cremation ceremonies at Tuyen Linh Pagoda.

In the resisting wars against the French and American invasions, Tuyen Linh Pagoda played an important role as a shelter for Ben Tre revolutionary leaders.

On July 20, 1994, Tuyen Linh Pagoda was recognized the national historical-cultural relic at the Decision 921-QD/BT issued by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Source: waytovietnam.com