Visiting a nearby Vietnamese Temple

A wonderful Vietnamese family regularly visits our KPC Temple in Maryland. In fact many Vietnamese regularly visit. On this occasion we were invited to visit the Chua Xa Loi Temple by this family on the second anniversary of the death of one of their family members to assist with prayers. At Chua Xa Loi Temple I met Nun 'Bao Minh The' originally from France and 'Bao Thai Jack' born in the USA! A Zen Monk -  Temm Bikle also joined us in the chanting. After we (Gonpo, Ani Palmo and I) had joined in the chanting for the departed family member we all gathered outside and circled the statues of Amitabha Buddha and Chenrezig to complete the ritual. Later we had a wonderful vegetarian lunch. Yum! Here's the inside of the Temple during and after the prayer and chanting ritual.

The story of how this Vietnamese Temple was established is quite amazing. There was only one Grand Master from the Buddhist 'Bao' line left to continue this particular lineage in Vietnam. It was a difficult time to be a monk or a Nun so the Grand Master had to be very careful about who he trained and how he conducted the training.This monk had only one student in the beginning - a young boy in the local village who he carefully and quietly trained, being sure not to attract any attention to himself. And from that quiet new beginning came a new Temple in America which is now a gathering place for a large Vietnamese community. Wherever we are - we all need a place to call home.

Here we are outside - walking slowly as we chant. The line was much longer than I can show.

We went three times around each Buddha statue.

And then it was time to eat - although you shouldn't let technology get in the way! Bao Thai Jack is actually reading a note but Gonpo is definitely on his phone .

The pictures below include one of my friend Noreen eating an artificial lemon that another wonderful woman who visits KPC made. It tasted much sweeter than a lemon!

And here is one of a peacock's that the Chua Xa Loi community care for - they have a whole flock of peacocks. It was a wonderful day. Thank you for inviting us to come to the temple Mrs T.