The Biography of Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu
(December 5, 1930 – present)
In the tranquil village of Phuong Thanh, nestled within the Cang Long district of Tra Vinh province in Vietnam, the Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu first graced the world with his presence on December 5, 1930. Born to pious Buddhist parents Kim Tram and Thach Thi Ngach, he was the middle child of a close-knit family, with an elder sister, Kim Thi Le, and a younger brother, Kim Muon.
Under the gentle guidance of his devout parents, young Kim Trieu was immersed in the Buddhist way of life. They frequently took him to sacred temples and serene monasteries, nurturing within him a profound spiritual calling that burgeoned as he grew older. Though his father wished for him to pursue a secular education, the untimely passing of both his parents by the tender age of twelve steeled his determination to dedicate his life to Buddhism.
Living with his older sister, the adolescent Kim Trieu would often serve food to the monks who journeyed past their home each day. Enamored by their peaceful and pure countenance, he felt a profound longing to renounce worldly concerns and embrace the spiritual path. At the age of 14, he sought refuge in a monastery, and by 17, he embraced the novice monk vows at Binh Phu Monastery. Upon his ordination as a bhikkhu in 1949 at Phuong Thanh Monastery, he was granted the Dharma name Khippapañño, embodying the essence of wisdom and swiftness of intellect.
Between 1950 and 1956, Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu pursued his education at Giac Quang Monastery in Cho Lon, before continuing his studies at Ky Vien Monastery in Saigon in 1956. The following year, he ventured to Tam Bao Monastery in Da Nang, where he delved into the intricacies of Pāli and Buddhist teachings under the esteemed Venerable Gioi Nghiem and Venerable Shanti Bhadra from Sri Lanka. Concurrently, he shared his knowledge with young Buddhists, instructing them in the fundamental principles of Pāli and Buddhism.
In 1958, under Venerable Gioi Nghiem’s directive, he traveled to Binh Dinh to propagate Buddhist teachings. Upon his return, he garnered honorary degrees in Pāli and Buddhist Studies and resided at the Phap Quang Buddhist Institute under the guardianship of Venerable Ho Giac in Gia Dinh. Here, he further contributed to the spiritual education of others, teaching Pāli grammar and scripture recitation.
From 1962 to 1963, Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu found solace at Buu Quang Monastery in Thu Duc. Two years later, he received a prestigious scholarship to study at Nalanda Buddhist University in India, where he was enlightened by esteemed scholars from India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. At the age of 35, he embarked on a pilgrimage to the sacred site of Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
In 1970, his academic and spiritual accomplishments culminated in the titles of Pāli Achariya (Pāli Teacher), a Bachelor of Arts in Buddhist Studies, and a Master of Arts in Pāli. Thereafter, he resided in Bodh Gaya for nine years with Venerable Munindra, and during the initial two years, he pursued studies in Ancient Indian and Asian History at Magadh University.
From 1979 to 1981, Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu resided in New Delhi, furthering his spiritual journey.
During the period spanning 1967 to 1980, Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu had the extraordinary privilege of practicing Vipassana meditation in the sacred lands of India, Thailand, and Myanmar, under the tutelage of esteemed meditation masters such as Venerable Munindra, Goenka, Dipa Ma, and Taungpulu.
He commenced his Vipassana journey in 1967 with Venerable Meditation Master Munindra and then devoted six years to the art of mindfulness under the guidance of Goenka.
Between 1975 and 1980, he sought wisdom from an array of meditation masters, including Dipa Ma, Venerable Rastrapal, and Venerable Taungpulu. In 1980, he ventured to Yangon, Myanmar, for an immersive experience with the renowned Venerable Meditation Master Mahāsi, achieving profound progress.
Amidst this time, he embraced numerous Buddhist responsibilities, including the dissemination of the Dharma, the establishment of international meditation centers, aiding his compatriots, and organizing meditation retreats in Nepal and India with Venerable Dr. Rastrapal.
In 1981, the Vietnamese-American Buddhist Association in Washington D.C. invited him to the United States to propagate the Dharma. He took residence at the Jetavana Vihara Temple in Washington D.C., where, in addition to traditional Buddhist temple activities, he conducted annual meditation retreats. From that moment, temples and meditation centers across various states and countries have invited him to impart the Dharma. In California, he has visited Phap Van Temple, Kim Son Temple, and Tathagata Meditation Center.
In Texas, he has attended temples such as Phap Luan, Dao Quang, and Huong Dao. Further afield, he has shared his wisdom at Phat An Temple in Minnesota and Bodhi Meditation Center in Florida. Disciple groups in Europe, Australia, and Vietnam have also frequently invited him to lead meditation retreats.
In 1988, Southern Californian Buddhists requested Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu to establish a meditation center for their community. With this auspicious connection,
Sakyamuni Meditation Center in Riverside was born, and its development flourished. The Stupa enshrining sacred relics was initiated in 1997 and consecrated in 2012.
In 1997, he returned to Yangon from Washington D.C. to study mindfulness at Venerable Shwe Oo Min’s meditation center and achieved many excellent experiences.
In 2007, he completed the construction of a meditation center at Bodh Gaya, India. Since that year, the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Boston has regularly invited him to teach meditation.
In 2008, he officially restored Tam Phap Meditation Center in Bumpass, Virginia, transforming it into a center for meditation.
From 1981 to the present, Venerable Khippapañño Kim Trieu has led nearly 20 pilgrimages to the hallowed birthplace of the Buddha in India and Nepal. Possessing a deep understanding of Buddhist teachings and 17 years of experience living in the homeland of the Buddha, he has guided fellow Buddhists to visit the Four Sacred Sites. His thorough explanations of the historical significance of each site have inspired devotion and strengthened faith in the Triple Gem, greatly benefiting those walking the path of the Buddha’s teachings.
Now, at the venerable age of 95, even as his health declines, he continues to serve the Dharma with unwavering dedication, teaching in various locations across the globe.
With practical experience, noble morality, a humble and unassuming demeanor, boundless compassion, and dedicated and skillful guidance, the Venerable has helped meditation practitioners and Buddhists alike to revel in the bountiful gifts of the Dharma. His wisdom has left an indelible mark of admiration in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have encountered him.
(Excerpt from the book: Just That’s All)
