II.16. An Active Nun-Giác Ngộ

giacngo

Dear Ven. Bhikkhuni Giới Hương,

I came to know you while we studied in Delhi University, India (1995–2005). During this time, we—around one hundred student monks and nuns—often gathered every half-month to chant the precepts (pātimokkha) at the Tibetan Temple (near Redford) and we had a small group (more than ten people) to discuss Dharma in workshops. Our group included Master Minh Thành, Master Bửu Chánh, myself (Ven. Nhật Từ), Master Thiện Hữu, Bhikkhuni Tường Liên, Bhikkhuni Vân Liên, Bhikkhuni Hằng Liên, Bhikkhuni Giới Hương, Bhikkhuni Liễu Pháp, and Mrs. Tâm. We practiced to present each chapter in our thesis to the group, who could give ideas to make it better. We started to install a website and composed a Buddhist dictionary, and so on. After graduating, I returned to Vietnam to share the Dharma, while you continued to study and settled down in California, United States.

I occasionally went to the United States to preach and deliver lectures at your temple. I learned that you made efforts to study continuously at University of California, Riverside and graduated with an honors bachelor of arts degree. To graduate from a US university and obtain a US scholarship is a big challenge that you overcame. Besides going to university, you also engaged in preaching at prisons, churches, schools, pagodas, and public places to convey the liberated teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha as well as introduce Asian culture, specifically the Vietnamese one, for the sake of overseas Vietnamese-Americans and local American communities.

You also made great efforts in writing and establishing Bảo Anh Lạc Bookshelf (please visit the website, huongsentemple.com) with forty English-Vietnamese works by the end of this 2019 year and the Hương Sen Newsletter (published three times a year), which is bilingual English-Vietnamese. You also bought a vast piece of land to establish Hương Sen Pagoda, where you have ten nun disciples and many lay Buddhist followers. From 2016 to the present, every year you have spent the last four months of the year returning to Vietnam to teach a Dharma-English course at the Vietnam Buddhist University in Ho Chi Minh City, to share the knowledge and experience of monastic practice with young student monks and nuns.

On the occasion of the collection of Vietnamese-English writings, Forty Years in the Dharma: A Life of Study and Service—Venerable Bhikkhuni Giới Hương, I would like to write a short introduction about you. On the experience base of your knowledge and practice, you have enthusiastically and actively used many means to bring the beauty of Buddhism to life in modern times. There is a saying: “Success comes only to those who strongly believe in themselves and are prepared to win. Good luck.” It means achievement comes only to those who heartily trust in themselves and strive in dedication to others.

I would like to wish you and your nun disciples enjoyment of good health and more contributions to Buddhism in general and the nuns’ Sangha in particular.

Namo Amitabha Buddha.

Giác Ngộ Pagoda, October 11, 2019

With metta,

Ven. Dr. Thích Nhật Từ (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Abbot of Giác Ngộ Pagoda, Third District, HCM City

Vice Rector, Vietnam Buddhist University in HCMC

Cum Dean of the Philosophy Department

General Secretary of Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute

Deputy General Secretary of the Sangha Affairs

Cum Chairman of Culture Department in Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in HCMC

Vice President of the World Accessory Alliance on Buddhist Culture

Venerable Nhật Từ introducing