THE MOST VENERABLE ĐÀM LỰU & BHIKKHUNĪ ĐÀM NHẬT
- THE CAPACITY TO CONVERT NUNS
The Abbess of Nunneries of Đức Viên (CA) – Tịnh Uyển (CA)– Tịnh Hải (HI)
Đức Viên is one of the famous nunneries in foreign countries because it possesses four things. In the field of historical dates, it was established at an early time (in 1980) in the United States; in the field of architecture, it is one of the old and beautiful monasteries; in the personnel field, it has a large number of resident nuns and lay Buddhists, and in the activity field, it has a rich weekly, monthly and yearly program for nuns and laypeople (adults and youth) to practice and chant, as well as many Vietnamese language classes with more than 500 pupils of all ages. It is considered an exemplary nunnery and an ideal center of practice for the Vietnamese-American community in San Jose, northern California.
- Đức Viên Nunnery was founded in 1980 by Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu (forty years ago).
- She was born in Tam Xá Village, Thanh Oai District, Hà Đông Province, Vietnam.
- She has been a renunciate since childhood at Cự Đà Pagoda.
- 1951, she took bhikkhunī ordination at Quán Sứ Pagoda, Ha Nội.
- 1952, she went to the south of Vietnam and studied Buddhism at Dược Sư Pagoda, Saigon.
- 1964, she went to study abroad in West Germany.
- 1979, she settled down in the United States and in 1980 founded Đức Viên Nunnery.
- In 1999, she passed away and since then, her leading disciple, Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Nhật (also known as Như Phước) replaced her as the abbess successor to take charge of Buddhist works at Đức Viên Nunnery. She received the full bhikkhunī ordination ceremony in 1985 at the Từ Nghiêm Nunnery, Saigon.
To continue the merits and virtuehs of Master Đàm Lựu, Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Nhật, Venerable Bhikkhunī Đức Hòa and other nuns of Đức Viên Nunnery have expanded the areas for nuns as in Đức Viên Tịnh Uyển Nunnery (in the wide city of Los Gatos with more than ten acres) and Đức Viên Tịnh Hải Nunnery (large two acres on the island of Maui in Hawaii). They offer retreats for many nuns in America where many gather to attend the summer retreat. Đức Viên, Tịnh Uyển and Tịnh Hải are places to cultivate self-discipline and enlightenment. They are the center of Buddhist culture, preserving and promoting Vietnamese traditions.
The founding master and her inherited disciples shed their lights of wisdom, diligence and virtue to create the noble scents of Đức Viên Monastery as a virtuous garden, Tịnh Uyển Monastery as a pure garden and Tịnh Hải Monastery as the pure ocean. May this light spread far and near to all people.
Đức Viên Nunnery
Abbess: Bhikkhunī Thích Nữ Đàm Nhật
2420 McLaughlin Avenue,
San Jose, CA 95121
Tel: (408) 993-9158
Đức Viên Tịnh Uyển Nunnery
21055 Summit Road,
Los Gatos, CA 95033
Tel: 408-395-3673
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Website: www.ducvien.org
Abbess: Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Nhật
Huong Sen Temple, June 26, 2020
Yours respectfully,
Bhikkhunī Thích Nữ Giới Hương
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The Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu
Grass Slippers Going to the West
Golden Lotus Blooming
Namo Amitābha Buddha
The following is from a tribute given by Venerable Hương at the funeral service honoring the
Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu:
Respected Saṅgha, Monks, Nuns and organizers and the disciples of the Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu,
I respectfully prostrate to the most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu.
Upon hearing that she had passed away, we would like to express our sincere condolences and fondness for Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu. Pray for the Buddhas, bless Master Đàm Lựu to be born in the Pure Land.
Its spring in the United States but the wind is still cold. Flowers and leaves are sprouting and the United States is transforming the sadness of birth-death with the impermanent signs. And your five-aggregate body of the Master merges into the impermanent rule of heaven and earth.
Remembering your life: You were a chief leader of the Nuns’ Saṅgha in the United States. You lived a life of virtue, contributing to the Dharma and to the nuns. As you embarked on the cause of propagating the Dharma, you were not afraid of hardships, taking the virtue of compassion to cover and convert the junior nuns.
Take your mind like the Buddha and sacrifice to the Dharma. You had a broad education, but you were always humble, and lived detached from worldy objects. Even when there were problems, you still calmly taught and reminded the nuns to remember to take the precepts, the Eight Rules[1] of the Bhikkhunīs as a guide. You were a woman highly respected by the Venerable Monks and Senior Nuns; there was no one who did not respect and love you. You also taught the lay disciples the ultimate cultivation: to let go of greed, hatred, ignorance and live without hatred or resentment to expect full liberation.
You were a master teacher who dedicated her life to the nuns. Giác Hương knew you when you were in Vietnam teaching the nuns, like a mother looking after her children. From your gentle step to your modest words, your conduct was impeccable.
The magnificent pagoda is still there, the disciples are there, but the Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu has permanently gone. You struck the bell to wake up, to remind and encourage fellow Buddhists and nuns to cultivate to calmly overcome samsara and settle down in the West World, through the heartly reading the name of Amitābha Buddha.
Now, the body of Master Đàm Lựu rests here, but the aftermath of her virtue and teachings as a guide on the road to liberation has remained forever the model for Buddhists and nuns, domestic as well as overseas. We who are living abroad have felt the loss of a revered nun who contributed so much to our religion, as well as to life. Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu built a pure moral nun’s community according to the teachings of the Buddha. In addition, the Master also actively supported conditions for many nuns studying in other countries, with the aim of training excellent descendants who can share and maintain the Dharma connection and the activities of the nuns.
Now, in front of the spirituality of the Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu, the late abbess of Đức Viên in San Jose, northern California, USA, we feel sad as we see you off to return to the Buddha field. We borrow these worldly words to express mournful exclamation, to pay homage and pray for the Buddha and the bodhisattvas who welcome Master Đàm Lựu back to their blissful homeland.
Before finishing our eulogy, I am Bhikkhunī Giác Hương bowing to the Most Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu and offering my deep condolences to your relatives in Buddhism and life. May all of you be fully fortunate and courageous to overcome difficulties at this great loss and separation.
Vạn Hạnh Pagoda, Seattle, Washington, March 26, 1999
Respectfully,
Bhikkhunī Thích Nữ Giác Hương
The Three Doors Gate of Đức Viên Nunnery
Chanting at the main hall of Đức Viên Monastery
The ancestor room of the Late Master Đàm Lựu
The Abbess Bhikkhunī Đàm Nhật giving a lecture to children
Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Nhật at Đức Viên Tịnh Uyển Nunnery
Toward Tịnh Uyển
The Venerable Bhikkhunī Như Thủy and nuns in the garden
Nun disciples kneeling on the twenty-first Death Anniverary
of the late Master Đàm Lựu in February 29, 2020
Đức Viên Tịnh Hải Nunnery, Maui, Hawaii
[1] The Eight Respectful Books of the Discipline (Sanskrit, Guradharmā; Pāli,Aṭṭha Garudhammā). Vol. V. An English translation of the Disciplines, Cullavagga, Chapter X; Sacred Books of the East, XX. pp. 354–355.
Please kindly read this article and view all photos: 2.4._Ven._Dam_Luu_and_Bhikkhuni_Ns_Dam_Nhat_-_Duc_Vien_Tinh_Uyen_Tinh_Hai_Nunneries_-_Ven._Giac_Huong_and_Bhikkhuni_Gioi_Huong.pdf
