Namo Sakyamuni Buddha.
Dear Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương,
From 2010 to the present, I have had the opportunity to accompany the delegation with Venerable Giới Hương to attend the Sixth Ceremony of Returning to Roots at Viên Đức Monastery (Ravensburg, Germany), to join the summer course with her at the International Buddhist Institute (Phật Học Viện Quốc Tế), Niệm Phật Đường Fremont, Huệ Quang Pagoda, Bảo Quang Pagoda, and Điều Ngự Temple, and to attend the North American Retreat, Vesak, Vu Lan ceremonies, and community rituals at Southern California pagodas, so I as well as many monastics already know that Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương is a highly qualified scholar nun with a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, a bachelor’s degree in literature, and the outstanding aspiration to share the Dharma, which are very encouraged.
From 1975 up to now, the first generation of nuns is counted as the chief Venerable Bhikkhuni Nguyên Thanh (An Lạc Pagoda), Venerable Bhikkhuni Diệu Từ (Diệu Quang Pagoda), Venerable Bhikkhuni Như Hòa (Dược Sư Pagoda), and Venerable Bhikkhuni Giác Hương (Vạn Hạnh Pagoda). We regard Venerable Giới Hương (Hương Sen Temple) as part of the second-generation nuns’ Sangha, along with other nuns in the US such as Venerable Giới Châu (Quang Minh Pagoda), Venerable Nguyên Thiện (Huyền Không Pagoda), Venerable Thanh Lương (Viên Thông Pagoda), Venerable Như Phước (Đức Viên Pagoda), Venerable Tiến Liên (Tinh Xấ Ngọc Hòa), and so on. They demonstrate many advantages and efforts to engage in integration into the environment and possess American academic training to adapt to a new culture.
In the current situation in the US, new immigrant people often experience challenges going to school, establishing temples, maintaining the temples, teaching the local residents far and near, in prison or in society, inside or outside the country, leading pilgrimages, and so forth. There are countless difficulties that she is committed to overcome.
I am very pleased to have congratulated her on forty years of devotion to Buddhism. On this anniversary of Forty Years in the Dharma: A Life of Study and Service—Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương, I wish her good health and aspirations; please continue to overcome all difficulties and challenges and achieve the ideal to save sentient beings.
Namo Amitabha Buddha.
Staton, California, December 18, 2019
Sincerely,
Senior Venerable Tâm Thành
Abbot of Phật Quan Âm Zen Monastery
Ven. Tâm Thành, Rev. Tín Mãn, Rev. Thiện Đạo and Bhikkhuni
Giới Hương as the examiners in the competition
Of Lạc Pháp Buddhist Youth Association, California in 2012
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Righ on: Ven. Tâm Thành, Ven. Quảng Thanh, Ven.Bhikkhuni Diệu Từ, Bhikhuni Giới Hương (far left) in Vu Lan Ceremony,
Please read articles and view all photos:2.17.Overcome_the_Challenges_-_T_Tam_Thanh.pdf
