Sister Chua Xua was a social worker and left a long-term relationship to become ordained as a nun at Bát Nhã, a Plum Village monastery that closed due to harassment from the Vietnamese government.

"I also have a dream. I have a wish that I can support the young Western people to take the monastic life. The life that when you open your eyes, you see the moon and the star over your window. You feel very free. You light the candle with the hot cup of tea, the warm one, and you enjoy tea in the early morning. You look through the windows, you enjoy the moon and the star, and you enjoy your free life."

1:53 Visiting the Monastery, Social Work
6:27 Relationship Before Ordination
9:33 Wake Up Sangha
11:21 Working for a Company, Decision to Become a Nun
18:35 Bat Nha Monastery
28:02 Father's Illness and Death
31:42 Living at Different Practice Centers
33:21 Bringing Buddhism to the West
37:16 Difficulties in Monastic Life

You can support this podcast by leaving a comment or review in your podcast application and by sharing it with friends. Financial support can be offered through the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.

In this episode of Meet the Monastics from Deer Park Monastery, Brother Minh An introduces Sister Chua Xua, a nun from Vietnam who shares her transformative journey into monastic life. Born in 1981 and ordained in 2010 at the age of 29, Sister Chua Xua brings energy and a deep heart of service to her spiritual practice. Her path began with a background in sociology and social work, where she faced burnout from emotional exhaustion while supporting marginalized communities. A retreat at Bat Nha Monastery in Vietnam introduced her to mindfulness practices and a vibrant community of young practitioners, inspiring her to reimagine her life. Despite initially not considering monastic life, the deep joy and transformation she witnessed at the monastery eventually led her to ordain.

Sister Chua Xua reflects on her personal challenges, including leaving a long-term romantic relationship and navigating the emotional aftermath with the support of the mindfulness practice and the Wake Up Sangha. She describes the tumultuous closure of Bat Nha Monastery due to political pressures, a pivotal moment that solidified her commitment to the monastic path. Through her practice, Sister Chua Xua has embraced a life of simplicity, freedom, and service, drawing strength from the Plum Village community’s teachings. She now aspires to share the beauty of monastic life with young people, emphasizing the peace, clarity, and joy it offers.

Her story highlights the transformative power of mindfulness, community, and self-discovery. Sister Chua Xua’s experiences underline how monastic practice fosters inner freedom and equips practitioners to live harmoniously with others. Her journey from social work to spiritual dedication offers profound insights into resilience and the pursuit of a meaningful, connected life.

Brother Phap Hoi is a Vietnamese refugee and the most senior Brother at Deer Park Monastery.

"Because the Sangha embrace all of the people, even you are high level or low level of good background or not. You all have the chance in the Sangha if you go in the right direction of practice."

3:16 Meeting Thay
8:20 Arriving at Plum Village
11:30 Visa Trouble, First Stint at Deer Park
17:12 Bat Nha Monastery
26:25 Plum Village Thailand
32:00 Gratitude for Thay and the Path

You can support this podcast by leaving a comment or review in your podcast application and by sharing it with friends. Financial support can be offered through the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.

In this episode of Meet the Monastics, Brother Minh An speaks with Brother Phap Hoi, the eldest monastic at Deer Park Monastery, about his extraordinary journey into monastic life. Born in 1970 into a humble family in Hanoi, Brother Phap Hoi’s path led him across multiple countries, including Czechoslovakia, Germany, and eventually France, where he was ordained at Plum Village in 1996. His life was marked by significant challenges, including fleeing as a refugee, navigating borders without proper paperwork, and enduring hardships during his search for a spiritual home. Inspired by Thay’s teachings, particularly The Miracle of Mindfulness, Brother Phap Hoi found his deep calling to monastic life after attending a Day of Mindfulness in Germany.

Brother Phap Hoi shares how his practice flourished despite difficulties, from supporting the establishment of Deer Park Monastery in the U.S. to helping build Plum Village centers in Thailand and Vietnam, including the historic Bát Nhã Monastery. His reflections emphasize the resilience and strength of the monastic Sangha, particularly during times of persecution and hardship. Brother Phap Hoi expresses profound gratitude for Thay’s inclusive and compassionate vision, which provided him with the opportunity to grow and serve, no matter his background or limitations. For Brother Phap Hoi, the Sangha is a true family, offering a path of transformation and love, which he continues to follow wholeheartedly.

Meet the Monastics

Sister Phu Nghiem is one of three nuns in her immediate blood family and is passionate about bringing mindfulness to children.

"So I focus a lot more on my steps. On how I choose the food when I come to a meal. I learn to enjoy the meal and enjoy my siblings. And that has supported me a whole lot now that I'm here at Deer Park. I'm learning how to do that. And I notice my relationship with my sibling is more honest. But I think the most important thing is that my relationship with myself is a lot more honest. So that made me very happy."

2:07 - Introduction to Spiritual Life
7:49 - Professional Life and Decision to Become a Nun
14:15 - Starting Magnolia Grove
18:46 - Stress and Working Mindfully
26:13 - Mother's Ordination
31:01 - Practicing with the name "Gift from Heaven"
34:47 - Advice for Those Considering Monastic Life

You can support this podcast by leaving a comment or review in your podcast application and by sharing it with friends. Financial support can be offered through the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.

Brother Minh An introduces an episode of Meet the Monastics featuring Sister Phu Nghiem, who shares her journey to monastic life and reflections on mindfulness practice. Born in central Vietnam in 1981, Sister Phu Nghiem emigrated to the U.S. at age 10, eventually pursuing interior design before feeling called to the monastic path. Influenced by her family’s Buddhist roots and her sister’s earlier ordination, she found deeper meaning through the Plum Village tradition. Her initial experiences at the Green Mountain Dharma Center awakened a sense of alignment with the practice, leading her to ordain in 2008.

Sister Phu Nghiem reflects on her challenges and growth within the monastic community, including starting Magnolia Grove Monastery and balancing responsibilities with self-care. She emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in cultivating a rhythm of life that fosters well-being and honest relationships. As she now supports her aging mother, also a nun, she views this as a unique chapter of learning and joy, blending her spiritual and familial roles.

She concludes by describing monastic life as a “luxury lifestyle,” offering a rich, disciplined, and beautiful way of living for those committed to the practice. Encouraging listeners to consider the monastic path, Sister Phu Nghiem shares how the teachings and precepts have deepened her relationships and transformed her life.