The Venerated Master Nguyễn Thành Nam: Founder of Coconut Buddhism, Part 1 of 2 (INT)

Master Nguyễn Thành Nam was born in 1909 in Bến Tre City to a well-to-do household. In 1945, with His family’s permission, He renounced world life. In 1950, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam went to Phước Thạnh Commune and constructed the Eight-Trigrams Tower that was about 14 meters (46feet) high. Every night, Master Nguyễn Thành Nam sat and meditated at the top of the tower. He lived on fruits and drank coconut juice. In 1964, He went to Cồn Phụng Island in Bến Tre Province and built the Âu Lạc Buddha Temple where Coconut Buddhism first began. He always advised people to be vegetarian, do good deeds, and pray for world peace.