Huyen Pham renounced the world at 14 to become a Buddhist nun in Vietnam, dismaying her parents by going against their ambitions for her, even though in their culture, nuns are considered equal to monks. Today, Pham lives and serves at the Ngoc Duyen temple in Syracuse, where she is a community leader and spiritual guide. “It was my destiny.”
(SYRACUSE, 2018) The story is to be continued...
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Ngoc Duyen moved to this beautiful old museum building with typical Western architecture over a year ago.
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Pham prays before every meal.
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Though Buddhism considers the physical human body to be only temporary, self-nurturing is still important. Pham went through a stomach surgery several weeks ago. She takes a dose of turmeric medicine which has great healing effects according to traditional Vietnamese medicine.
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Pham meditates at least twice a day after chanting and saying prayers. It is an essential practice for individuals on the path to enlightenment. Meditation emphasizes the combination of insight and compassion. Some schools of Buddhism say that the highest level of meditation can even help one achieve out-of-body experience.
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Bodhisattva is one of the rare female saints in Buddhism whose primary principle is compassion and service to all sentinent beings. Every Saturday, with the help of several volunteers, Pham cooks the vegetarian lunch for the free community meal after Sunday prayers.
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Pham immigrated to the U.S in 2004 and moved to Syracuse in 2010. "It was calling for me and my help." Her master in Vietnam told her that her fellows needed help in the U.S; and she also found it to be her calling. Pham has been the leading nun of Ngoc Duyen temple on the North side of Syracuse where she is a spiritual guide and community leader for the community.
(SYRACUSE, 2018) Huyen Pham renounced the world at 14 years old in Vietnam where she was born and raised. "Of course my parents didn't allow me to." She recounted when asked about her Buddhist family's reaction."No parent would really let their daughter become a nun. But would I felt like it was my destiny, so I went against their will."
(SYRACUSE, 2018) For a son to renounce the world brings great honor to the family, while a girl who renounces the world to become a nun brings little prestige to the family and can even be embarrassing.
