“When I was very young in Vietnam, I used to go with my grandparents to the monastery. I felt happy there. That’s why I decided, at the age of 16, to become a Buddhist nun. My parents supported me and allowed me to do it, so from that time until now I’ve lived in monasteries. I’m 42 now. I don’t have a lot of contact with my parents --- I visit every year or two and we talk once a month --- but they are the ones who taught me to be independent and to do good for our relatives and for society. I was able to live in India for eight years, and I’m here in the United States for two. As a nun, I study, I learn, I teach other followers about Buddhist teachings, and I try to be a good person. It’s a happy life, a peaceful life.”