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

DaNang Nunnery-Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartre

The Tanh Tam Special School in DaNang is run by nuns. At any moment we all expect to see Maria from the Sound of Music appear with her guitar case in hand. These religious women are the nicest people in the world and very good cooks!They arranged for Sister Catherine to help us with interpreting. She does not work at the school usually. She lives in the center of DaNang at the main convent with the Mother Superior.

Sister Catherine tells us she entered the Nunnery at age 10 and that her twin brother was killed during a bomb attack around that time - 1962. She also explains that she became a nun at age 17. Another thing we learn about this fascinating woman is that though we all think she must be in her 80s, she is my age!

Next door to the school is the retirement home for these nuns. During our lunch break today, Sister Catherine takes me and Judy on a tour of the 100 year old nunnery.

The gardens amaze us.The simple design of the building is peaceful. Sister Catherine takes us upstairs where the retired sisters are resting. We meet her mentor Sister Andre Marie. Though skinny like a skeleton and unable to sit up, this retired nun gives a big smile when she meets us. We meet many nuns who are lying, resting, waiting for the next step in life. For some reason, Sister Catherine thinks Judy and I need to witness this peaceful process.

Sister Catherine also tells us that the US Airforce Base is just one building beyond the Convent. Forty years ago this place was quite different, but the convent was here! Behind the big iron gates, the convent remains quite the same.

I wanted to see the US Airforce building - the mint green one in the picture on the blog. Nothing in DaNang looks like there was a war here. Even this area which must have had airplanes coming and going and soldiers everywhere, now is a neighborhood of stucco houses (with some makeshift homes here and there) across the road skirting China Beach. Sister Catherine tells us that business men from China are building hotels, condos, and casinos along the beach. Our history lesson/tour guide is quite a departure from the listening and spoken language work we are doing at the school.

We pause at the shrine of Our Lady of the Star. At this holy spot many miracles have occurred. People donate money, plaques, ad benches when they feel an answer to their prayers from dedication to this shrine. i say a silent prayer.

As we check the time, we realize we must get back for lecture and demonstrations at the school. Oh no, the gate to the nunnery is locked. What a funny site to see the three of us trying to break INTO the convent! Luckily I prayed for help at the shrine and we were let in to hurry back through the lovely gardens and get to the classroom on time. Again, I sensed a "Sound of Music moment" - I felt like Maria hurrying back - arriving a little late to her duties at the convent.

My Hanh Seafood Restaurant

The restaurant is specialised in fresh seafoods. Type : Vietnamese Seafood Address : My Khe Beach Phone : 84-511.3831494 Opening hours : 10:00 to to 22:00

Thanh Tam Special School DaNang

Dresses made in Hoi An