Venerable Dhammadinna was born into a Buddhist family in Vietnam. Her parents practiced Buddhism through ancestor worship but did not take their children to learn about Buddhism directly. After coming to the U.S. as a refugee in 1975, she explored Buddhism more and was inspired to become a nun. In 2014, she was ordained as a Ten Precepts Nun in the Sri Lanka Theravada lineage. As a nun-artist, she realizes her work can help convey Buddhist teachings in a contemporary way and cultivate compassion.

1. Venerable Dhammadinna -Updated Statement-January 7, 2016
I was born in a Buddhistfamily. My parentscame from poverty. My
father got married at age 18 to my mother who was 16 yearsof age.
In their adulthood they had to integrate into the French and then
the American system in Saigon where they raised their family.
Buddhism ispracticed as Ancestor Worship and my parents do not take
their children to learn Buddhism. DuringtheVietnam War my only
exposureto a physical BuddhistTempleis when my Grandfather
occasionally brought me to The Buddha’sBirthday Celebration and
to the Vietnamese New Year eventat Vinh-Nghiem BuddhistPagodain
the South of Vietnam. I was basically taught by my parentsthat being a
Buddhistis to not commit harm to anyone, to have compassion for other
beings, to not tell lies, to nottake what is not given, majorly to obey and
to care for parentswhen they get old and sick.
I came to the U.S as a refugee of war with my parentsand sisters in
1975. Itwas only when I found that being an art teacher is notenough
for me that I visited a branch of Vinh-Nghiem Pagodain the City of
Pomona, CA to try to learn What Buddhism is!I was told by the Nuns
that I have the potential to become a Nun myself. ButI hesitated then to
become a Nun knowingthat being a radical lesbian within the 1990s
Vietnamese religious and community of Vietnamese cannot be accepted.
After my mother’s passing in 2012, Ibecame confidentin my search for
the Buddha’smother and the Teaching of the historical Buddha. Ifound
MahapajapatiMonastery in PioneerTown of YuccaValley via the
internet. I arrived there and studied as a no-body under the mentorship
of the Abbess, AyyaGunasarioriginally from Burma. In November of
2014 Iwasordained as a Ten Precepts Nun, asSamaneri Dhammadinna
in the Sry Lanka TheravadaLineage by Bhante, WalpolaPyananda, the
Abbott of Dharma Vijaya BuddhistVihara in Los Angeles.
As a Nun-AritstI realizes that my contribution parallelsmy attitude in
embracing, comprehendingand transferringtheTeachings of The
Buddha in a contemporary way. A moreengaged Buddhistpracticeand
direct involvementwiththe difficulties of life can serve as anecdotes to
sufferings, greed, anger and violence. It is possible wecan cultivate a
Free Energy Clarity dimension in creativity with deeper understanding,
of a more compassionate and non-harmingplanet.