VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUNS
AT UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST – CALIFORNIA
Having known that the senior Venerable Thích Nữ Giới Hương will launch a new book entitled Vietnamese Buddhist Nuns in the United States of America, I would like to contribute this writing about Vietnamese Buddhist nuns at the University of the West in California, who are diligently studying both general and Buddhist trainings with the sole purpose of planting “Bodhi seeds” in the West.
Propagating the Buddha Dharma and liberating sentient beings are ideals of all Buddhist practitioners. For such respected ideals, Buddhist nuns leave home, pursue Buddhist knowledge and cultivation from different spiritual masters and different universities in the world. At the University of the West, there are Buddhist nuns from many countries, such as Vietnam, South Korea, China, Taiwan and American Buddhist nuns. These Buddhist monastics have received ordinations from different Asian Buddhist traditions. As a school founded by by Fo Guangshan, a Taiwanese Buddhist organization, the University of the West aims to build an East-West connection based on a friendly and open-minded spirit.
In the spring of 2013, I went to the United State of America for the first time with a wish to pursue knowledge in one of the most advanced countries. The population of Buddhist followers in the US has a modest number, yet it gives many chances for developing Buddhism – a religion of liberation and harmony here. This is because Americans highly appreciate value of freedom of religion and beliefs. In the field of education, Buddhism has been taught in different famous graduate schools of this vast country, in both graduate and post-graduate programs. in some departments such as Religious Studies, Philosophy or Regional Studies. In addition, many Americans have traveled to Asian Buddhist countries during the last decades for learning and practicing meditation in order to transform themselves. As messengers of the Tathagata, we think that we are able to come and introduce them to the faith and experience of Vietnamese Buddhism, the culture that has nurtured us and many generations of Vietnamese people throughout centuries.
In the same year, Venerable Nun Lệ Ngộ and I represented Vietnamese Buddhist nuns who participated in a Buddhist forum organized by University of the West. All speakers were nuns of different Buddhist traditions who had been studying in various departments here. Accordingly, we took turns talking about our Buddhist traditions in which we grew up, as well as to share our dreams of training a future generation of Buddhist nuns and propagating Buddhism in the United State of America. Due to such meetings and forums, we have met our like-minded companions and seen our dreams more clearly.
Currently, there are six Vietnamese Buddhist nuns studying at University of the West in three faculties: Religious Studies, Buddhist Chaplaincy and Psychology. Religious Studies aims at an academic training in which learners will learn methods of analysis, reasoning and comparison of religions. Departments of Buddhist Chaplaincy and Psychology aim at a practical training in which learners will be trained methods of spiritual caregiving, listening and therapy with psychotherapy or religious counseling. Regardless of the majors we pursue, each of us is working hard so that we can be well-prepared for our future missions.
Beside studying, Buddhist nuns at University of the West are also active in interfaith workshops organized annually by the University. It is an opportunity for us to introduce Vietnamese Buddhist rituals to either other Buddhist traditions or other religions/ beliefs. Such a diverse environment of ethnics and religions has nurtured our compassion and boundless sharing. Additionally, we are participating in other activities actively, such as organizing Buddha’s birthday and teaching Buddhist meditation in prisons and detention centers, volunteering and doing internships in hospitals to offer spiritual support to sick people and their families.
We have participated in Buddhist activities such as Buddha’s birthday celebration, Ullumbana Festival, summer retreats and Lunar New Year celebrations annually organized by some Vietnamese Buddhist Temples like Điều Ngự Buddhist Temple, Diệu Pháp Buddhist Temple, Quan Âm Orange County Buddhist Temple, Phật Quan Âm Zen Buddhist Temple, Diệu Quang Buddhist Temple, Hương Sen Buddhist Temple and Vạn Hạnh Foundation. Due to help and support from senior members, every day we wish to share the grace of Dharma.
While studying at University of the West and joining Buddhist activities at some Vietnamese- American Buddhist Temples, we have somehow shaped our own paths for future services. Among six Vietnamese Buddhist nuns at University of the West, there are two nuns who have their own temples which have served communities in the traditional Vietnamese way. Building temples and serving Vietnamese communities in the US have been done by many Vietnamese senior monks and nuns for more than three decades. Those missions are difficult which need strong financial and moral support from the Vietnamese communities. Sometimes, it takes a lifetime for such commitments.
Realizing some limitations of Buddhist nuns, we think that we should focus on what we are good at for which we can contribute a small brick for building a “House of Buddhism” here. I have spent plenty of time myself working with different translation groups so that we could translate Buddhist works into various languages such as English, Chinese and Vietnamese. In the future, we will translate the Buddhist Canon into the English language gradually. Such a mission may take several hundred years or so to complete. This also needs hands of many generations. We are, in fact, continuing the work of previous Buddhist monks and nuns too.
Furthermore, we have conducted Buddhist classes in English every Saturday and Sunday. These classes are designed for children alone or with their parents. These classes go hand in hand with activities of the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Groups and Vietnamese language classes organized by Vietnamese Buddhist Temples. After graduating, we are planning to keep and upgrade these classes because we understand that education is the only way to train our next Vietnamese Buddhist generation in the United State of America.
Some of us are planning to focus on engaged Buddhist activities like teaching or working at schools, hospitals and prisons. We take them as chances to introduce Buddhist teachings and practices to American people out of our Vietnamese communities. For these works, some Americans have visited the Vietnamese Buddhist Temples and cultivated there as devout Buddhists. This would be a beginning of American Buddhist culture.
In conclusion, I wish all my friends and fellows good health with strong commitment on the path of learning and propagating the Buddha Dharma. May the American Buddhist community flourish every day.
University of the West, May 18, 2020
Sincerely Yours,
Bhikkhunī Thích Nữ Nguyên Hiếu
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Photos:
Student monastics in Hsi Lai University in 2015
Sri Lanka Buddhists offering Lunch at the His Lai University
Rev. Lệ Ngộ and Rev. Chơn Mẫn Graduated the Master Degree in the Commencement in 2016
Visiting Rev. Abbess Phước Nhẫn at Liên Hương Temple
Rev. Nguyên Hiếu presenting her dissertation at the Professors of the Hsi LaisiUniversity
On the holidays, Rev. Nguyên Hiếu (second right) come back to Huong Sen Temple
mowing the lawn with the Abbess TN Giới Hương (far right) and Nuns in April 2020
Please read the whole article with the photos: 1.23._Vietnamese_Nuns_in_the_West_University_-_TN_Nguyen_Hieu.pdf
