Tri Tanh

Nhu Thi Nga Van Tri Tanh

"Nhu Thi Nga Van," literally translated from "Evam me sutam" in Pali Canon, and widely used as "Thus I have Heard" in English, is a Buddhist expression announced by arahant Ananda, who is the personal attendant of Lord Buddha, to begin the recording of what the Lord preached during His lifetime. "Thus I Have Heard," therefore, determines the authenticity of the original preaching during the First Council to establish the Buddhist Scriptures (also known later as Pali Canon) after the Lord Buddha's passing into Nirvana. That was 25 centuries ago. For us at the present time, the book "Nhu Thi Nga Van" that you are reading now is just a collection of my reflections on some issues of Buddhism in Vietnam. So, when I borrowed from arahant Ananda his expression to tittle my book, I must confess that the "authenticity" part would only be in my heart. Because despite all my efforts, the accuracy of the events and the correctness of my reasoning, once expressed in the written form, would only have relative value. Very relative!