Spring comes, the favorite blessing season, with its peaceful and liberating spiritual fragrance, but the lotus blooms in any season. Like when a festival celebrated in heaven and earth, every Buddhist disciple feels delight, knowing there are fellow practitioners who have been on the same path to search for enlightenment for more than forty years. They have overcome challenges, persisted in the renunciate vow and have found true happiness in monastic life for the sake of many. Venerable Bhikkhunī Giới Hương, the abbess of Hương Sen Temple in Southern California, is a prominent Dharma practitioner on the monastic path. She has achieved success on the road of propagation overseas in order to open the compassionate light for suffering people.
In the past, I happened to know Venerable Giới Hương and received some of her books, including Ban Mai Xứ Ấn (The Dawn in India) which narrated her studying abroad in India. In this reprinted work, the Most Venerable Thích Mãn Giác, aka the poet Huyền Không, graciously introduced the Indian people and land where the compassinate lineage as the source of the truth of liberation developed.
Open your eyes to look far
The Indian mornings are beautiful
Save the Buddha historical page for life
The water of Ganges River flowing radiantly
Thousand years the Buddha Tathagata existing
Ganges glittered with his shadow.
I read the book and realized right away that the exemplary person (Ven. Giới Hương) who is persevering and dedicating for the renunciate ideal, is still a hidden soul with a high degree of intuitive wisdom—very sensitive to the outside world. She is quickly aware and thirsts for potential beauty in the world and in every being. The beauty is filtered, simple, familiar but still has the capability to stir the hearts of people. The subtle images and emotions quietly cling to the soul of the penner. It’s the sound of birds at the quiet noon in the hostel of Delhi University. It’s the birdsong in the homeland’s garden deep in your memory. It’s a gentle but deep trace of affection aroused in people away from home, one of the hardships that students far away from home have to face, though little shared with outsiders.
Recalling what happened before, when the Most Venerable Minh Châu and the Most Venerable Huyền Vi studied in the land of Buddha, they went through a lot of complicated, difficult and miserable experiences. It can be compared to the present time if one tries to integrate in a strange country. The efforts of student monks and nuns deserve to be recognized, However, the situation now is no longer a cause for much concern.
In the Saṅgha community, not only the monks and nuns, but two sets of Saṅghas are referred to as inseparable structures of an organization: bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. The bhikkhunīs are officially recognized for their significant roles and their peer status of bhikkhunīs in the organization. And especially, since I knew the Venerable Bhikkhunī Đàm Lựu at Đức Viên Pagoda in San Jose and went through the common activities in northern California, I have always believed in the contribution of young nuns to the joint effort for the development, promotion of ethics and benefits related to people and society.
Indeed, in the past and future, nuns are an important factor contributing to achievements, as well as one of the essential core relationships in all successful future plans. The solidarity has been revealed before—every challenge is understood and its solution is strongly promoted in educational, cultural and social activities where the nuns are excellent at expression, meeting and speaking up. They are experienced with extensive cooperation between the four Buddhist groups (male and female laypeople, monks and nuns) in Buddhism. From here, I think, the spirit of service and the behavior of Bhikkhunī Giới Hương seems also an earnest invitation for a direction, a mode of operation, consistent and suitable with the thoughts and ambitions of the present times.
The spiritual path is broadening, not only for devout souls, but also for welcoming new dreams which are formed in completely different circumstances and conditions from the previous generation. I think that some nuns in Phổ Từ Temple who have English knowledge and ability to meet the present needs may share some of these new thoughts and ideas to young generations. Bhikkhunī Phổ Châu also added that the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, established in 1987, has not yet shown a clear transformation but it is a promising start.
In fact, Bhikkhunī Giới Hương's contribution is diverse in many areas, methodically and clearly programmed, and in the familiar development order, from a modest but solid beginning. From a small house, when I first visited, now transformed into a spacious facility of ten acres. There are ornamental plants with statues adorned around the garden, creating a solemn and meditative setting. Daily practice activities here have progressed to a large scale, the nuns gathered more than ten. Ven. Bhikkhunī Giới Hương also appears familiar in the field of publishing. Particularly, the library of Phổ Từ Pagoda has research materials for ordained and lay people
At the University of California Riverside, you enroll in the literature program and at other times, you visit the prison to help and teach those who are in the unfortunate prison cycle. In the spiritual direction, Ven. Hương is willing to open the necessary doors to assist others.
The outside activities are very positive and enthusiastic. You rarely miss any of the forums, festivals or ceremonies in the temples. You present there with a tolerant generous smile.
But above all, it is still the noble conduct of a nun with a mind towards the path of enlightenment and liberation. After more than forty years, Ven. Bhikkhuni Giới Hương has overcome the difficulties and indispensable conditions on the path of monastic life to be able to create a Bodhi place where you can nurture disciples, fulfill the roles and responsibilities of the daughter of Sakyadhita lineage and a Gotami nun.
On the first day of the Rat Year 2020, I would like to contribute a few words to you. First of all, I sincerely pray the Three Jewels bless you with good health and conditions to continue carrying the Buddha's work. May all nuns in Hương Sen pagoda be strong to bring more mutual benefits to all. Then again, in the Dharma friendship, wishing for you to attain Buddhahood soon to set an good example for future generations. Congratulations on your renunciate conduct!
In the spring sunshine, we sincerely offer the aroma scent with the name of the Hương Sen Temple, the endless scent of the Zen garden.
The new spring, Hayward, northern California
Abbots of Phổ Từ and Phổ Trí Pagodas
Thích Từ-Lực
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Venerable Từ Lực (center) and Bhikkhuni Giới Hương (left)
Phổ Từ Pagoda on March 3, 2013
From right: Bhikkhuni Phổ Châu, Bhikkhuni Thanh Nguyên,
Venerable Từ Lực and Bhikkhuni Giới Hương (wearing glasses)
at Phổ Từ Pagoda on March 3, 2013
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