1. Basic Information
As a Theravada Buddhist nun, Tue Hanh recently graduated with a degree in English Language from Open University in Ho Chi Minh City. She was ordained in the Mahayana tradition in 2017 and had the opportunity to be exposed to the original Dhamma theory and praxis from the beginning days of her Buddhist journey. Profoundly penetrative by these teachings, she feels a silent gratitude towards the Triple Gems. In early 2021, she switched to the Theravada sect at a considerable moment in her spiritual journey. Once again, this transition felt like a rebirth as she has been reconnected with the original teachings of Buddha.
2. Origin - Family Situation - Reason for Becoming a Nun
Born into a struggling family where even basic needs like sustenance and studying were complex, Tue Hanh faced tough challenges from an early age. When she was 12, her mother passed away, and her world seemed to collapse. Life quickly changed from bright to bleak as she grappled with the pain and suffering of losing her mother. She endured immense pain and suffering as she gradually adjusted to living without her mother’s embrace. Despite these hardships, she persevered and completed 12th grade. However, her dream of pursuing higher education ended there due to her weaving with daily life’s demands, trying to make ends meet. Feeling increasingly weary of this unending cycle, she sought a way to escape it. At the age of 20, she determined to become a nun.
3. Dhamma theory and praxis process
Fortunately, from the beginning of her first steps into the pagoda, she had the chance to meet Ms. Tue Minh. With Ms. Minh’s orientation and instruction, Tue Hanh was guided and gained a deeper understanding of the Theravada teachings, but lacking sufficient conditions, she continued to wear the Mahayana robe for over two years. Those days were clandestine learning and study of Abhidhamma and Pali. After accumulating knowledge over a long period, her auspicious conditions finally arrived, and she converted her robe to Theravada Buddhism on the Full Moon Day of January 2021. From there, she had numerous opportunities to participate in meditation retreats and comprehend the Dhamma. Her path of renunciation for higher ideals was cultivated daily, reinforcing her steadfast belief in the noble Three Jewels.
4. English Learning process – accompanying VICASA classes
Her aspirations to study at university finally materialized when she donned her nun robes. Initially, she encountered innumerable challenges due to the disparity in her knowledge and balancing her time between the Intermediate Buddhist Studies course and the English Bachelor’s program. There were days when she stayed up until 1 or 2 a.m. to do homework, and there were days when she was out from school late at night but still wanted to wander around the city and let her mind drift away from stress. However, her passion for learning, peculiarly foreign languages, enabled her to overcome these difficulties. She always remembered the saying, “Do something today that your future self will thank you for,” which motivated her to strive for her future continuously. She understood that her drive stemmed from a vow of liberation and that the initial reason for all her efforts was to drink from the source of the Tathagata’s Dhamma stream. She feels extremely fulfilled in her educational journey and harbors a deep desire to help others, especially Buddhist monks and nuns, gain the prospect of studying and engaging with English.
In 2021, having become a Theravada nun, she had the fortunate opportunity to accompany the Basic Speaking class, one of the inaugural classes of the current VICASA learning community. Additionally, she also had a short time (more than six months) assisting in instructing English classes for Tue Tam children. Although her service time was relatively brief, it was a precious experience.
By applying the Learning-by-Sharing method from the VICASA learning model, she has largely reduced her self-esteem and gradually become more confident and independent compared to the first days of learning a foreign language. Awareness of this psychology, she always desires to create an environment and conditions for learners to have chances to learn English in the most simple and engaging ways. Each lesson is thoughtfully planned with the instructor’s heart.
Up to now, the VICASA community has grown remarkably since its early days, mainly due to the enthusiasm of the founder, the dedication of the class instructors, and the diligent efforts of the students. She has also stepped beyond her comfort zone, supporting classes such as Basic Speaking, Intermediate Speaking, Advanced Speaking, and Buddhist English. The value of sharing is reflected in the learners’ achievements and the instructors’ progress.
5. Dream – Passion
We are all in the learning process, so it is natural to make mistakes, and even those mistakes will help us develop better every day. While she is still on her educational journey, she is eager to contribute to the Buddhist community. This environment is an ideal place for monks, nuns, and laypeople to learn languages and a valuable space for her to practice and enhance her knowledge and skills.
There is a famous quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. that she always remembers and takes as her motto to persevere in any journey: “Take the first step in faith. You do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – A journey of a thousand miles only begins with the first step. Regardless of how easy or arduous the path ahead may be, simply starting is already half the battle won.
Indeed, continuous study and knowledge cultivation are of utmost importance. On that journey, there is her, there are you, there is the VICASA community. Together, we attempt to deepen our appreciation of the Buddha’s teachings and integrate them into our practice, increasingly advancing towards enlightenment.
Thank you for your companionship and contribution.
Wishing you a happy day!
