IN THE 6th HAMLET, VĨNH LỘC A COMMUNE
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.
Dear Master Thích Nữ Giới Hương,
Lunar June 6, 2011 was very beautiful, and people in the 6th Hamlet, Vĩnh Lộc A Commune were very excited because we heard Bhikkhuni Viên Bảo and Nun Nhu Duc announce that Master Giới Hương, abbess of Phap Quang Pagoda (now Hương Sen temple) from America, will lead Buddhists in the hamlet to take refuge and will give each of us a string of beads to wear when reciting the Buddha's name and grey attire to wear during the chant. One by one, we invited each other quickly, so that the whole village, including the elderly and young, registered more than 150 people.
We vividly remember the impressive days in our lives. Particularly, Viên Bảo Trân also remembers the title of the discourse, "The Falling Leaf" (you preached very well and recommended that we should overcome adversity and move forward, like a dry leaf always emerging on the water even after much water pours on top). At that time, you were very smart and generous in a bright yellow robe, reading the precepts for us. We respectfully kneeled to listen to your warm, steady voice as below:
Life is an immense ocean of suffering, without limit. If we do not have the Buddha merit, we do not have knowledge for liberation. If we want to transform suffering, we must take refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha-Dharma-Sangha) as your firm base. It we want to break away from the cycle of rebirth, we should preserve the five precepts for laypeople.
Buddha-Dharma-Sangha is a compassionate boat to traverse the ocean of suffering, the light for a nighttime journey, the first step for rebirth in human and heavenly realms as well as for attaining enlightenment. Therefore, the sutras teach: "If sentient beings want to eliminate suffering and enjoy peace and happiness, then they should take refuge in the Three Jewels. If anyone abides in the pure tranquility for a moment, he/she will enjoy the eternal, peaceful Nirvana forever.
Most of the villagers are Buddhist beginners, so Master and the nuns advised us to come to the temple often to learn the Dharma and practice chanting and fasting. About one month passed, and we heard that Master had to return to America to take care of the temple there. You are a thin female nun who has two temples in two countries to take care of, and you must fly halfway across the earth. How hard you work! We love, feel sorry for, and miss you, even more.
Every year you spend the last three months back in Vietnam to teach at Vietnam Buddhist Univeristy at Lê Minh Xuân, HCMC. You have to take the bus (number 71 to Lonely Buddha Temple, which is near the university) as transportation to teach every day. We often waited for you to return after 5 pm to offer some vegetarian food (lotus leaf salad, mushroom porridge, sticky rice, pancakes, sweets, and so on). Viên Bảo Trân, who was the chief cook of Hương Sen Temple (founded by you) and Tường Quang Temple (under Venerable Hạnh Quán), and many other temples. . . We always remember your solemn and dignified figure, passing the precepts down to all the villagers in the 6th Hamlet, Vĩnh Lộc A including us (Viên Bảo Trân and Viên Bảo Sen).
We wish you can come back to Vietnam more often to guide us and to let us offer vegetarian food as well as listen to the respected Master’s warm voice.
Namo Amitabha Buddha.
Vĩnh Lộc A, November 24, 2019
Head bowed respectfully,
Viên Bảo Trân (mother) and Viên Bảo Sen
Viên Bảo Sen reading the speech in the
Taking Refuge Ceremony in Hương Sen Temple (Bình Chánh) in 2011
Please read all articles and view all photos:4.16._Taking_Three_Gem_Refuge_for_Villagers_of_6_Hammet_Vinh_Loc_A-_VB_Tran_va_VB_Sen.pdf
