As usual, the Monastery and Sangha went out of their way to demonstrate hospitality. They brought us right in to the activities. The two children in the Mindful Heart entourage were invited into the ceremonies (seen at the far ends of the welcoming lines on stage in the photo). We ate in the most wonderful, interesting Vietnamese vegetarian cooking. The food was exotic, diverse, and delicious (yet we still don’t know specifically what most of it was – delicious mysteries). They are sincerely welcoming and inclusive.

Reverend Thich Hang Dat spoke about practicing compassion for all those we encounter in our lives and led a Metta meditation. He also led blessing/gratitude chants in Vietnamese and translated in English. Finally he led the Buddha Birthday ceremony where all individuals bath the baby Buddha statue. He clarified that what we are really doing is remembering to nurture the good nature in ourselves (bathing our inner Buddha nature).

Bhante Nanda (Vipassana Buddhist Monk from Louisville) spoke of how we unknowingly create our suffering through desires and attachments. He went on to review the story of how the Buddha unselfishly left his privileged family life to attain enlightenment and then teach the path giving all human kind the opportunity of salvation from suffering (Eight Fold Path).

We are invited back to Ten Thousand Buddhas Summit anytime; and specifically for the Parents Appreciation Day celebration in the fall.