Namo Sakyamuni Buddha!
Dear Venerable Teacher Bhikkhuni Giới Hương,
Today, on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20), a celebration of humanity, all of the students, full of affection, have a couple of lines of love to send to you, our beloved teachers.
Our dear teachers!
We have heard that,
One life, one river
Those who stand waiting at the bank
Want to cross the river, must use a ferry.
In life, in many ways, we rely on the ferryman
Working hard under sun and rain
The boat of knowledge teacher brought to many students
Crossing the river sends back a smile.
A special love we would like to dispatch to our dear teacher.
A rustic boat—white, fogged hair
Forever follow us throughout the ten directions, thousand days
That river is still here
Teacher carries the student ferry continuously over the river. . .[1]
Teachers are the ones who paint splendid and beautiful lines in the painting of human civilization. Teachers are quiet boatmen, with their enthusiasm and love, but they have quietly overcome difficulties in time and space to come to us, to this university to share knowledge and mentor us.
In the early morning, when even the sun has not yet woken up, somewhere a teacher is turning the wheel. Unlike many other vehicles, it is a spiritual vehicle for a sacred and noble mission, full of love and warmth, carrying people who are always sacrificing for the next generation. Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương has chosen to wear the simple monastic costumes over the years, always desiring to hold chalk to write on blackboards, in exchange for valuable lessons, beautiful feelings for us. Amid late mists and cold, rainy evenings, she silently and quietly sent her care to us. How far the road is, the foggy glass screen, how dear and respectable she is! That image makes us bow our heads silently, praying that our teacher will be happy, healthy, and peaceful. Please shorten the long distanceSo my teacher can promptly sip scented teaPlease shorten the long distanceSo my master can have a little time to watch the sunrise.[2] Your great grace, we will not write on wood because the dusty wind will cause the marks to fade. We also did not engrave it on stone because the waves of time will surely make the moss grow green. We choose for ourselves how to write in our own lives, writing in our own lives with an invisible ink that only people who are connected and bonded together can see. We also don't forget to add colors of gratitude and love.
Our dear teacher! Still the same river, the same old boat, but now boasting a nostalgic color, we did not want to be apart. Our hearts are choked up, we want to be bathed in this moment forever as adults wanting to be children again, to be taught forever, to be loved, and to be cared for a while in this priceless space. Everything in the world will fade with time, but we still strongly believe that there are sentiments which, once lingering in people's minds, will not easily fade even though time sweeps away everything.
Life must have laws of meeting and separation; we know that even if we hold on, we can't hold back time, but we have the right to slow down to immerse ourselves in this moment, to be in this space be a little longer. Far from tomorrow, we each take steps, each of us choosing our own direction. We understand well that a monastic is a person walking on his or her own path, forgetting personal interests for the sake of many. But there certainly will be sad nights, times of weakness, when being far away, we will think of our teachers once more to feel the love and warmth our devoted teachers have for us. Spring, summer, autumn, winter comes and goes again, but the image of the teachers on the podium, next to the green board and white chalk, will always be in the hearts of each student.
We pray that the Buddhas, the great Bodhisattvas, the noble Sangha bless the teachers to always have good health, be successful in life, and be peaceful under the light of the Three Jewels. Masters, you are important components of our life! All of the student monks and nuns of the Dharma English Course present this to you on the occasion of Teachers’ Day (November 20) and also contribute to your Forty Years in the Dharma: A Life of Study and Service.
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha!
Vietnam Buddhist University, HCM City
November 20, 2019
Respectfully,
Nun student Diệu Ngọc
And all of the students of English Course, Course XII
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[1] “Ferryman (Người Lái Đò),” Thảo Nguyên, https://baomoi.com/20-11-nhung-bai-tho-tang-thay-co-hay-va-y-nghia-nhat/c/20777745.epi. Translated into English by Bhikkhuni Giới Hương.
[2] “My Teacher,” unknown author. Translated into English by Bhikkhuni Giới Hương.
The Buddhism in English Course, Course XII
Please read all articles and view all photos:5.3.Take_people_across_the_River-_Bhikkhuni_Dieu_Ngoc.pdf
