Thursday, May 14, 2015

From a medical doctor to a Buddhist nun

The following is the excerpt from the Singapore Retreat in 2010. Watch the following video from 46:47 to 48:48 and from 51:33 to 55:05.


Quote:
(Introduction by Thay)
And on my right, is a nun. Her name is Dang Nghiem, means a doorman of equanimity. Sister Dang Nghiem had been a medical doctor before she became a nun. As a medical doctor, she was able to help so many people but she believed and she actually remarked that being a nun, she can help many more people. She has helped to heal many many young people in America as a doctor. And after having been helped by her, they feel much better but finally go back to their sufferings. And with the practice of Buddhism and teaching people, she can help many people get out of sufferings and do not fall back into the habit of sufferings. Sister equanimity, please say something.

(A message from Sister Dang Nghiem)
Respected Thay, the respected Venerables, the noble community,
One of the teachings of the Buddha that I appreciate very deeply is the teaching on the emptiness of transmission. The Body which is the transmitter, the object of transmission and the receiver, they are not different from each other. In western medicine, we see that the doctor, the patient and the medicine, they are different from each other. And because of that, as a young doctor I was not happy because I could not help my patients. When I became a nun, I learned that the healer, the healing and the patient, they should be the same. So, I've learned to receive the medicine, the dharma from the Buddha to take care of myself to heal myself. The Buddha has transmitted himself wholeheartedly in the dharma, in the medicine. And so, when each one of us learn to take that medicine and give that medicine, embody that medicine, then the healing takes place naturally. Not only in ourselves but all those around us. And I'm very grateful to the triple gem (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha).
:Unquote

(Cf.) http://www.slideshare.net/compassion5151/spiritual-ancestors
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Medicine-Story-Healing-Spirit/dp/1937006948
http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Womans-Journey-Doctor-Nun/dp/1888375965

Sister Dang Nghiem