Buddhisttava DaNang

After a parent meeting, the final of three in a row, we recieve beautifully wrapped gifts, perfect presents for us. We each have a new a scarf and a lucky glass ball. What a tribute they present us. We are all deeply touched by their love and heartfelt appreciation for our four days of teaching at their school, Thanh Tan. See the slideshow.



The nuns prepare another vegetrian meal for us before they drive us up the mountain side to the new Buddist Temple to see the large statue.


Mystery Princess
According to one legend, Kwan Yin, who is often referred to as the
female Buddha, was a beautiful Indian princess who forsook marriage
and the good life to live in a convent in order to become a truly
enlightened human being, or bodhisattva. By turning her back on a life
of luxury and seeking out spiritual enlightenment, her life story is
similar in theme to that of the historical Buddha, Prince Siddhartha
Gautama. Both individuals eventually became thoroughly enlightened and
compassionate spiritual beings, who sought to alleviate mankind's
sufferings.

After having achieved enlightenment and the right to enter Buddhist
Heaven or Nirvana, legend has it that at Heaven's gates Kwan Yin heard
the despairing cry of someone back on earth. Upon hearing that sad
cry, she quickly returned to the earthly plane, and vowed to stay
there to help all those who suffer achieve the same level of
enlightenment that she had, so that they too could enter Nirvana. Kwan
Yin's name means "The one who hears the cries of the world."

Beach lunch breaks

We enjoy delicous vegetarian lunches prepared for us by the nuns. We marvel at the students cleaning the cafeteria. They pose for a photo - the sun came out for a minute! We walk a block to China Beach. We take our shoes off to walk with sand between our toes and to touch the South China Sea! Across the bay is a huge statue. We learn later that this is part of a new Buddist Temple. The statue is similar in size to the Statue of Liberty. She is the Buddhistava, the feminen Buddha.

See photos is the Picasss album alongside this post for some beach shots and see the Buddhistava photo album, too!

Sunrise in DaNang from Trendy