In the morning, the sky is clear and cool. At the nunnery of Vietnam Buddhist University, Campus 2, I suddenly recall past memories. Just over three years ago: I still remember the image of a mature, gentle, venerable nun (Venerable Bhikkhuni Thích Nữ Giới Hương), a slender figure with a gentle, sweet voice. You walked into the A2 English class, our Dharma English Course with a pretty smile, how charming! On that day, we were first-year students, you taught Buddhism Through English Reading, part I. As fresh students, we were surprised by and interested in your teaching method, which was very new, both traditional and modern. You conveyed the knowledge in a subtle and fun way; for example, sometimes you gave quizzes (reviewing the grammar) to earn credit for final exam points. This teaching method very vividly encouraged students to be active, pay attention to the lesson, and be creative in doing homework. You really gave monks and nuns the motivation, energy, and strong belief to learn English well.
Although I have just met you for the first time, I feel so close and dear, as if we have met in a previous life. In my mind, I feel that you are an accomplished teacher, a senior Dharma sister who goes ahead with wholehearted enthusiasm to guide young and younger generations on the path of studying Buddhism. Although our time together was very short, you still spent your entire time sharing, consulting, and responding to our aspirations. With the young, innocent monastic students, you are always willing to share your own experience with studying. How did you strive to learn? How did you find scholarships for foreign universities? You have overcome challenges to achieve a good doctorate in Buddhology, a bachelor’s in American literature, and moreover, you have become abbess of a few temples. What should a Tathagata’s disciple do for the sake of many? You also introduced us to the website addresses of prestigious universities in foreign countries such as the US, UK, India, China, and so on. At that time, in my mind, I thought: “Oh! this is the first time we met you, why did you understand our desire to study abroad like that? Surely, you must be a person who has experience practicing and a sharp eye, right?” You looked into the eyes of the young students and understood what they needed and what they should do to prepare for the future.
After giving the exam and finishing the course, you set out to return to the United States to continue your journey preaching Buddhism in the United States. You have just become the abbess of Hương Sen Temple in Vietnam, but also are the abbess of Hương Sen Temple in the United States. You often make charitable donations to help poor people and young students to create favorable conditions for them to study well. Before that, I also had the thought of striving to study abroad. And now, you have given me more spiritual aspiration, which arises in me due to predestined conditions. I wish that I could qualify to go to the United States to study and have the opportunity to visit and stay with you. I dream to have the opportunity to learn many good things from you, Venerable TN Giới Hương, the energetic and passionate bhikkhuni professor.
It was surprising! In September 2019, good predestined conditions returned to the final year of the English course, and our students were delighted to meet and learn from the revered professor of three years ago: Professor Bhikkhuni Giới Hương, who is simple and sincere. And you taught us about the subject of Vietnamese-English and English-Vietnamese bilingual translation (Bilingual Translation, course from September to December 2019). We were very happy to be able to study and listen to your teachings on a different subject matter, a different view, and new knowledge.
I don't know what else to say. With all my heart, I respectfully thank you for your meaningful, golden teachings. I wish for your body and mind to be always peaceful, for you to always encounter auspicious conditions on the path of spreading the Dharma in the homeland and abroad. We are always grateful to you and vow to try to practice well in order to live up to being worthy of the aspirations of our teachers, relatives, and dear lay Buddhists.
In the end, I wish for you all the best and for your dreams to come true.
See you again, revered teacher, in America! Your little nun student.
Vietnam Buddhist University
HCM City
November 27, 2019
Genuinely,
Bhikkhuni Thọ Liên, Class A2 Dharma English Course
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Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương (middle of upper row, with glasses)
Author Thọ Liên (second from left, yellow robe)
Plese read all artitcles and view all photos:5.4.Thanks_to_our_Teacher-_Bhikkhuni_Tho_Lien.pdf
