Introduction to Lien Tam Buddhist Monastery

Welcome to Liên Tâm Buddhist Monastery

Turku, Finland

Welcome to Liên Tâm Buddhist Monastery (Tu Viện Liên Tâm / Liên Tâm -luostari), a Vietnamese Buddhist monastery and cultural centre in the Moisio district of Turku, Finland.

The name Liên Tâm can be understood as “Lotus Heart” or "Connecting hearts". The monastery belongs to Suomen Vietnamilaisten Buddhalaisten Yhdyskunta – the Finnish Vietnamese Buddhist Community, a registered Buddhist religious community founded in Finland in 1998. Today, it is one of the largest Buddhist communities in Finland.

Our History

The Finnish Vietnamese Buddhist Community was established to provide a spiritual home for Vietnamese Buddhists living in Finland, while also sharing Buddhist teachings and Vietnamese culture with the wider Finnish community.

Construction of Liên Tâm Monastery began in 2005. The monastery developed gradually through the generosity and voluntary work of Buddhists and supporters from Finland and around the world. The Finnish Buddhist Union records the temple as having been consecrated in 2015. A large statue of Quán Thế Âm Bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, was erected beside the temple in 2014.

From its beginnings, Liên Tâm has served not only as a monastery, but also as a meeting place where Buddhist practice, Vietnamese culture and Finnish society can come together.

Buddhist Tradition

Liên Tâm follows the Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition, with practices connected especially to Zen (Thiền) and Pure Land Buddhism.

The abbot of Liên Tâm Monastery is Venerable Thích Hạnh Bảo, a 42nd-generation successor in the Lâm Tế, or Linji, Zen lineage.

Daily and retreat practice may include meditation, chanting, recitation of Buddhist sutras, mindfulness practice, Dharma teachings and ceremonies. The monastery also organizes meditation days and retreats where both experienced practitioners and beginners can learn and practice together.

A Buddhist and Vietnamese Cultural Centre

One of the important purposes of Liên Tâm is to preserve Vietnamese Buddhist and cultural traditions in Finland while introducing them to people from other backgrounds.

Visitors do not need to be Buddhist. The monastery welcomes people who wish to learn about Buddhism, meditation, Vietnamese culture or simply experience the peaceful environment of a Buddhist monastery.

Throughout the year, Liên Tâm organizes religious, cultural and community events.

Tết – Vietnamese Lunar New Year

Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is one of the most important celebrations in Vietnamese culture.

At the monastery, the New Year is a time for Buddhist ceremonies, meditation, gratitude to teachers and ancestors, and reflection on the year that has passed. Traditional foods and customs also form an important part of the celebration.

Vesak – Buddha's Birthday

Vesak, known in Vietnamese as Phật Đản, celebrates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha and is one of the major Buddhist festivals of the year.

At Liên Tâm, Vesak celebrations have included sutra recitation, flower offerings and the traditional ceremony of bathing the baby Buddha statue, symbolizing the purification of one's heart and mind. The celebration also brings the community together through vegetarian food and cultural activities.

Vu Lan – Ullambana Festival

Vu Lan, or Ullambana, is one of the monastery's most important annual events. It is particularly associated with gratitude toward parents, ancestors and teachers, as well as compassion for all beings.

The program may include meditation, chanting, Dharma talks, the traditional Rose Pinning Ceremony, offerings and a large vegetarian meal prepared by volunteers. The festival attracts visitors not only from Turku but from many parts of Finland.

Turku Day and Vietnamese Cultural Day

Liên Tâm also takes part in Turku Day by organizing a Vietnamese Culture and Culinary Day.

The monastery opens its doors to the wider public, introducing visitors to Vietnamese traditions, vegetarian cuisine and Buddhist culture. The event has also been combined with Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival activities for children, including performances and traditional celebrations.

One edition of the event offered visitors a free buffet featuring more than 30 vegetarian dishes. The purpose is not only to introduce Vietnamese cuisine, but also to encourage compassion and an appreciation for vegetarian food.

The event is also an opportunity for the Vietnamese Buddhist community to express our gratitude to Finland and Finnish society.

For many years, Finland has been a home for Vietnamese people and their families. Here, our community has been able to preserve its Buddhist faith, language, traditions and culture while becoming part of Finnish society.

By opening the monastery and sharing our food and traditions, we would also like to say thank you to our Finnish friends, neighbours and the wider community for their friendship, support and openness.

Food has a special ability to bring people together. Sitting at the same table, sharing a meal and learning about one another can help create understanding between different cultures.

For us, Turku Day is therefore not only a celebration of Vietnamese culture. It is also a celebration of friendship, gratitude and the connection between the Vietnamese community and our home in Finland.

Kiitos Suomi — Thank you, Finland. 🇫🇮

Meditation and Dharma Retreats

In addition to the major festivals, Liên Tâm regularly hosts meditation days, Dharma teachings and Buddhist retreats.

Programs have included sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful breathing, relaxation practices and teachings from visiting Buddhist masters. The monastery also organizes Eight-Precepts retreats, giving lay practitioners an opportunity to experience a more intensive form of Buddhist practice for a limited period.

These retreats reflect an important part of the monastery's purpose: Liên Tâm is not only a place to visit, but a living monastery where Buddhism is studied and practised.

As You Explore the Monastery

Around the monastery you may notice a mixture of Vietnamese Buddhist architecture, statues, shrines and colourful Buddhist flags.

The main worship and meditation spaces are used by the monastic community for meditation, chanting, recitation and Dharma ceremonies. Around the monastery grounds, Buddhist symbols serve as reminders of qualities such as compassion, wisdom, mindfulness and peace.

Liên Tâm also places importance on living responsibly. The monastery has worked toward a more environmentally friendly and self-sufficient way of life through practices such as renewable energy, waste sorting and growing some of its own food.

A Place Open to Everyone

Liên Tâm is both a spiritual home for the Vietnamese Buddhist community and a place of encounter between different cultures.

Over the years, people of many nationalities, religions and backgrounds have visited the monastery for festivals, meditation, Buddhist teachings, cultural events or simply to learn something new.

As you walk through the monastery, we invite you to slow down for a moment.

Observe quietly.
Listen carefully.
And perhaps take a little of the peace of this place with you when you leave.

May you be peaceful.
May you be happy.
May all beings be well.

🙏