Having practiced for ten years in India, Ven. Giới Hương graduated with a PhD in Buddhism from Delhi University in 2003. In 2005, she came to the United States to settle. In 2010, she founded Hương Sen Pagoda in Perris City, Southern California. And in 2013, I had the good fortune to meet her at the Third Buddhist Studies Course in North America, which was held in San Diego, California. Since then, I have visited Hương Sen Pagoda three times, attending her lectures and going to Buddhist monuments with her. She was accepted to be an English translator of our book Overseas Vietnamese Temples, volume 2, printed by Hương Quê Publishing House (USA) in 2017. Every year, she often goes to the Vietnam Buddhist University in HCM City to teach young student monks and nuns for a semester. Her main subject is the English Course on Buddhism, while I teach Buddhist Fine Art and Architecture in Vietnam. Especially, on December 15, 2019, I (General Secretary) represented the Global Vietworld Record Organization awarded her the certificate: "A Vietnamese-American Female Doctorate for writing and translating many Buddhist publications” at Fellowship Buddhist Conference, Anaheim, California.
Ven. Giới Hương is staying in Perris City, Southern California while I am living in Hayward City, Northern California; therefore, there are not many occasions on which we can meet. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of her monastic ordination, I would like to select 120 images to include in 10 categories for her to keep and also recognize her extraordinary efforts and perseverance. She studied in India and the United States; built and developed two temples in Vietnam and the United States; wrote and translated around forty Buddhist books; composed eleven volumes of Buddhist music from her poems; gave lectures across the United States and other countries. . . How admirable! So respectable! So, as in the title of this article, I would like to ask permission from her and the readers to call her a good daughter of the Buddha!
The pictures in 10 categories below are meant to describe her wishes and strongpoints, albeit only partially:
- Introducing Hương Sen Temple and her Bảo Anh Lạc Bookshelf (containing forty-one of her compilations and translations and eleven musical compositions).
- She attended and lectured at the 3rd North American Buddhist Studies Course in San Diego, California, from August 8 to 12, 2013.
- Her photos at Vietnam Buddhist University in Ho Chi Minh City.
- She preached Dharma and did walking meditation at Phật Bảo Temple, Des Plaines, Illinois on August 29, 2015.
- She attended the Vu Lan ceremony and gave a lecture at Phước Hậu Pagoda, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on August 30, 2015.
- She attended the Vu Lan Ceremony and taught at An Lạc Temple, San Jose, California, on August 27, 2017.
- Ven. Giới Hương attended the Di Mẫu Kiều Đàm Di Memorial Ceremony and met with the nuns at An Lạc Temple, San Jose, California, on August 31, 2019.
- She visited Lotus Flower (Padmasambhava) Temple, hosted by Venerable Thích Tuệ Uy at Big Bear Mountain, California, on January 21, 2019.
- Her pictures of the snow scene in Big Bear City, California, January 21, 2019.
- Ven. Giới Hương with the Record: "A Vietnamese-American Female Doctorate for writing and translating many Buddhist publications" of the Global Vietworld Record Organization at Fellowship Buddhist Conference, Anaheim, California on December 15th 2019.
The photos are probably not very nice but show all of my respect to her and you! We wish Ven. Giới Hương and your/her nun disciples peace and success in your Buddhist affairs!
Hayward, December 24, 2019
Genuinely,
Professor and Journalist Võ Văn Tường
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OVERSEA VIETNAM TEMPLES
VÕ VĂN TƯỜNG—TỪ HIẾU CÔN
Hương Quê Publishing House, USA
Volume 2, 2017
English Translator: Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương
Venerable Bhikkhuni Thích Nữ Giới Hương, aka Sunyata Pham, was born in 1963 in Bình Tuy and ordained at the age of fifteen. In 1994, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sàigòn. She studied in India for ten years, graduating with a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy from Delhi University in 2003. In 2005, she settled in the United States. In 2015, she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from University of California, Riverside and is currently pursuing a master of arts degree at the university. She founded Bảo Anh Lạc Bookshelf and wrote and translated over forty bilingual works in English and Vietnamese. Further, she released eleven Buddhist music albums from 2004 to the present (please see Bảo Anh Lạc Bookshelf: www.Hươngsentemple.com). She has participated in correspondence, lectures, and meditation instructions for American and Asian prisoners in prisons. She often exchanges Buddhist culture with Americans at universities, churches, public places, etc. She is also a lecturer for the English Course in Buddhism at Vietnam Buddhist University.
She has twelve renunciant disciples in the US and Vietnam. More than one thousand Vietnamese-Americans and Americans have taken refuge under her to become Buddhist followers. In 2000, she established Hương Sen Pagoda, Bình Chánh, Sàigòn (Vietnam), and in 2010, she established and became the abbess of Hương Sen Pagoda, Perris City, California (United States).
Hương Sen Temple
Please read all articles and view all photos: 6.2._A_good_daughter_of_The_Tathagata-_Vo_Van_Tuong_2019.pdf
