Cuong Lu is a specialist in applied Buddhist psychology, scholar, teacher, and social reformer. He is a chaplain, a pioneer in Buddhist restorative justice. Lu was present at the birth of Buddhist Chaplaincy at the Custodial Institutions Agency, Ministry of Justice and Security in Holland. He has been practicing for 16 years as a monk under zen master Thich Nhat Hanh's guidance and got the lamp transmission in 2000 in Plum Village, France. He is the author of "The Buddha in Jail" and many other English and Dutch books. Lu founded Mind-Only Institute in South Holland, specialized in Applied Buddhist Psychology, and is now chairman of the international Mind-Only Conference. He teaches in Europe, United States, and Asia.

In 2011, together with five colleagues, Cuong Lu stood at the birth of the Buddhist Spiritual Care Program within Holland's penitentiary system (Custodial Institutions Agency). He worked in this program till 2017. After that, he has written his experience in a book called 'The Buddha in Jail' (OR Books, New York, 2019). This book has offered a special perspective on helping prisoners and has been translated into many world languages (German, Dutch, Russian and Chinese). He is a pioneer in Buddhist restorative justice.