Obituary
Saddhaloka Bhikku, “the German Monk” – called ‘Thay Tay Duc’, the master from West Germany by the local Vietnamese, was laid to rest January 5, 2014 in Hong Kong. The ceremonials initially took place at the Hung Hom Funereal Home, then carried on at Wo Hop Shek Cemetery in the New Territories, with a vegetarian meal afterwards at Chua Yuen Long (Yuen Long Monastery).
Hundreds attended on the previous evening when the Diamond Sutra was chanted thrice and hundreds were in attendance on the following morning before carriage of the physical body to its final earthly destination. Long lines of devoted friends formed to give last respects with three burning incense sticks; while others gave the formal three full genuflections in the Buddhist style at the main alter, showing their reverence and giving thanks for his devoted service to the Vietnamese community over all these years.
Saddhaloka’s brother and sister were placed foremost during the rites, with their children. This surely was an impressive sight as a German family, unfamiliar with the Asian way of celebrating the passing on of a fellow, found themselves in the midst of great mourning.
The initial hymnal chant by the Vietnamese yellow-robed head monk was particularly beautiful. The soulful lilts heart-catching, before the entire congregation took up the refrain.
The climax came as the coffin descended into the depths of the hall prior to incineration of the remains. A loud wailing proceeded as the highly visible and audible laments of those who loved this monk rent the morning airs… repeated when the wooden housing of the coffin slowly moved into the furnace area. The doors closed with the final views presented with that touch of modernity via the large LCD screen.
In large part the crowds were made up of women between the ages of thirty to fifty and this no doubt corresponds to those most active years when the Vietnamese fled their homeland because of ravages in civil war and when this territory was startled by the sheer numbers that were arriving. Thus the camps were set up with their problematic regulations which disallowed any sense of comfort, barely. They were just survival camps under the government’s policy of deterrent.
It was in this situation that ‘Thay Tay Duc’ took action, bringing supplies as recalled by one Hong Kong Buddhist devotee, Sally Lee:
“In the days when the camps were still running in the early nineties, I would often send my car and driver to take him to the camp. He brought so much in the way of books, food, and so on that my driver complained the car suspension nearly broke! He was truly exceptional – not only spoke and wrote perfect Mandarin Chinese but was able to write Chinese herbal prescriptions for our ailments.”
A eulogy from a barrister at law in Hong Kong in the 1990, Michael Darwyne (who worked with the well known lawyer Pam Baker), was given by another helping friend of the monk’s, Rob Stewart – who himself would help with the loads that arrived in those days:
Titled: In gratitude for the life of reverend Saddhaloka Bhikku
It was my privilege to see the Master regularly for approximately seven years. This was at a time when his Ministry in the Detention Centres for Vietnamese Refugees was at its busiest.
The Master was a man of few words, and his every word was chosen carefully.
His words were the outer reflection of a disciplined mind.
He had the capacity to walk into hell remaining tranquil and calm-as he did so often in the Detention Centres.
His presence radiated understanding and compassion.
He had a childlike sense of humour that would lighten the darkest day, and was never at the expense of another.
Like a lion, he could be fierce when this was needed.
Like a dove he was gentle and this was his usual state.
Like an eagle he saw every thing.
His understanding of human nature was obtained from years of careful observation.
You could never fool the Master.
But if you tried he never held it against you.
You could never upset the Master.
But if you tried he would respond with soft laughter.
You could never defeat the Master.
He was an enlightened soul who had no need to be on this plane.
His life was dedicated to serving others.
To this he dedicated his entire Ministry.
We were so fortunate and blessed to be in his presence.
We shall always remember him with gratitude and joy.
A titan has passed.
Michael Darwyne
January 5, 2014
In my own case as a journalist I requested an interview from the Bhikku in the mid-Eighties and he replied: “first read “What the Buddha Taught”, by Walpola Rahula. I did and got back to him, but he always slid out of any press interview and had disappeared before I ever got to any formal questioning. This book is under the persuasion of Theravada Buddhist practice and Saddhaloka took his vows in Thailand, Therevada territory, before finally arriving in Hong Kong.
Thus we have the German monk, often seen yet little known, ever busy with very technical translations yet not issuing writings of his own and more concerned with ‘doing’ as a Karma Yogi within the Buddhist enclaves. Helping people, especially the Vietnamese and held high in the esteem of his Buddhist friends high and lo despite that he held very tough views, such as when he said to me: “There is no Buddhism, Buddha never taught an ism…”
