Although I am a disciple of the noble and eminent spiritual Ancestral Grand Masters, I acknowledge that I am not as skillful at practicing the Dhamma. I have not yet fully understood the essence of their Dhamma teaching. It is even more embarrassing to think of the posterity who will be born into the age of Dhamma Decline (when Dhamma gradually fades away, becoming fragile and trivial, like the tip of a feather, or a speck of dust; Buddha’s teachings continue to exist, but many people are unable to practice the Dhamma properly and are challenged in attaining enlightenment).

Over immeasurable lifetimes, countless Buddhas have appeared in the world one after another, and the Light of the Buddhas has shined many times to every corner of the Three Realms, enabling the blind to see, the mute to speak, the deaf to hear; one by one realizing the dhamma. Yet I and infinite other sentient beings are still immersed in this endless sea of saṃsāra, sometimes in the heavenly realm, sometimes in the human realm, and sometimes in the realms of hell beings, animals, and petas. Recalling the Bodhisatta’s vow, I am moved by and revere his determination and sacrifices as he practiced and developed the 30 Perfections (paramī) through 20 asaṅkheyya and 100,000 eons. He had one single wish, and that was to become a Sammā Sambuddha, the Supreme Buddha, to propagate the Dhamma and bring benefits to all until his last breath, his Parinibbāna. The life of the Enlightened One is a colorful, vibrant picture, each step He takes is analogous to a fragrant lotus, sacred, pure and untainted. The expanse of His Dhamma covers endless time, borderless space, and boundless immensity.

The Buddha has left a priceless treasure of Dhamma, including miraculous remedies that have healed the minds of sentient beings throughout the 25 centuries of its existence.

Even though it is well known that in today’s world, information technology has made significant advances, a simple visit to a website can instantly and miraculously display all the world’s scriptures. However, the results retrieved from the Internet vary erratically, truths and falsehoods indistinguishable, leading many simple-minded individuals like me to confusion and doubt. The problem may grow more acute in the future. Something as small as a software virus, or the wrong press of a button, or the cunning hands of hackers can steal, edit and delete the entire information base of a country, or even of the entire world.

Therefore, I have initiated the Great Vow to protect and preserve the Buddhadhamma through the construction of the Ancient Sacred Buddhist Scripture Stupas (Dhammacetiya) on this fourteen-acre plot of the Huong Dao Temple.

I believe Buddhism will flourish here, enduring for a long time. This is because the United States is a multiracial country, with an advanced culture, respect for human rights and religious freedom, and has the best spirit of preserving and promoting Spiritual – Historical values in the world. Over the long history of propagating Buddhism from East to West, the Venerable Mahā Sangha must have also recognized the strong development of Dhamma in the West today as a remarkable milestone of Buddhism. With this vow, may those who share the same aspiration, faith, and goal, join hands to contribute to building this meaningful and unique house of Righteous Dhamma, helping to preserve the Dhamma treasure passed on by the Truly Omniscient. May each of us consider this project as our own, to implement and support it in appreciation of the grace and blessing of the Enlightened One, in order to create a monumental and wholesome outcome with the purpose of accumulating merits, first for ourselves, and additionally for all beings who are ready to accept the Teachings but still wandering in the cycle of rebirths (saṃsāra) so that all can develop the Right View and Wisdom, to become insightful and seek refuge in the Triple Gem, to learn and practice the Dhamma. Finally, may it help all beings succeed in attaining the Ultimate Nibbāna, being liberated from all sufferings in the three realms and four types of birth.