Nha Tran, Vietnam

"I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend.This gives me genuine feeling of happiness. It is the practice of compassion."

This fully epitomizes the conduct of a Buddist monk whom I met in the bus from Dalat the evening before.
To cut the (not so) long story short (that included a unsolicited veg.dinner treating and late arrival at a Buddhist temple, at fairy-tale night with big stars, deep shadows and temple-deep silence- it's a wee hour when everyone is sleeping at the temple) I wake up in my sleeping kit (pictured along with some of the gifts I got :) ) in a monk's bungalow, quite early for "normal" people, yet, rather late behind the hour when the temple's activies - chanting, reading sutras and morning meditation start: 3:30am. My overnight stay at the temple initially rises both the eyebrows and the voice of the Abbot - otherwised emitting tranquil power and strict kindness, but he quickly softens after short talk with me and tells me about his Buddhist research in India and amazingly, invites to visit again!!

"It’s because our own human experience is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of the others."

I lived in a wooden house where making new friends was very easy.. I flew and I never wanted to come down....

Exploring deep, on a motorcycle, provided from the temple, with a driver, no less, all that Nha Tran has to offer, in the order of museums, temples, beach, I come another amazing side of Nha Tran. It is the home of the renowned photographer Long Than. His striking B&W images, said to be the most comprehensive capture of the Vietnamese soul and daily life, which he still processes by himself, in the dark-room adapted kitchen, are a most moving experience that echoes in me for long. http://www.longthanhart.com

On the stretch of temples visits, I expereinced 2 most lovely and wonderful emanations of Buddha.. There are some unforgettable moments and as many smiles and laughters as words exchanged with those all-love, all-prevading softness, all-light, all-kindness nuns. They complement me in a good English that I was very "lovely" (I'm sure the way they are they see everyone and everything that way.. ) and I got suggested I should become a monk. There is somehting so engulfing, so enpowering and yet softening that radiates from them and fullfills me to the very core with jpyful light, in that moment I'd be ready to agree with everything they say. On the picture - very one of these most remarkable nuns is coming outside their small physicaly, but great in spirit temple to bid me farwell, and to invite me to visit again (which invitations seems to be becoming the norm on my visit to Vn..).

Later - after the whole day postponed visit to the beach is completed - Anh (the monk) and the motorcycle temple worker who was in charge of my all-day town sightseeing - are seeing me out to the bus...

The light of the day is turning intense red, and then - is fading, but the light fired from this most wonderful visit is going to be brightening on.

(edited on Aug 29, 2010)