Lam Quang Temple is an idyllic temple which is located in a small alley in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City. It is a loving nursing home and established by the temple for nearly 20 years. Currently this temple is nurturing 138 elderly people over 70 and 8 helpless children.
The opening of a nursing home comes from the heart of nun Thich Nu Hue Tuyen – the abbot of the temple, with the desire that the elderly will have a peaceful resting place and good care. For funding for the care of the elderly people, the nuns of the temple have done a lot of works to earn money such as making incense, selling sticky rice, vegetarian rice noodles, cooking vegetarian food for Buddhist families when they have parties… Everyday, the nuns and Buddhists come to work and take care of the old people on daily tasks of each meal, sleep, medicine, bathing and cleaning the accommodation… When they die, they get concerned by the temple from burial procedures to worship.
From the humanistic meaning of this humanitarian work, that touched us and wanted to come together to contribute helping the temple to take care of the elderly there better.
Through research, we knew that in addition to care for the physical, the temple is also very interested in the spiritual life for the elderly. Although their living conditions are still difficult, Lam Quang Temple has a tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year, which is a traditional Tet atmosphere for people at the temple. We decided that besides the necessities for daily life such as diapers, washing powders, floor cleaning water … we donate all ingredients to make Chung cake for this Tet.
At 10:30AM on January 19th, 2019, we gathered at the lobby of the building. It was also on 14thDecember of Lunar carlendar, so that the trip to Lam Quang Temple became more meaningful.
When we entered the temple, we all found peace on the faces of the elderly people even though some of them were sick. Meeting us, all of them happily greeted us, said thanks and familiar phrases “Namo di di da buddha” to us. Looking at each bag of sticky rice, green bean which was transported into the temple, the elderly were as happy as seeing Tet coming. They also said “put the sticky rice bags and green bean one seperately for making cakes”
The nuns really appreciate the gifts we brought because these items are needed every day. Especially traditional cake pan was a surprise to them as they had not received this before, it not only improve the meal but also change the atmosphere for the elderly there.
On February 2nd 2019 (the 28th day of Lunar New Year), we went back to Lam Quang Temple to help the Nuns and the elderly making Banh Chung. Everyone had a little fluttering of the approaching New Year. We arrived at 10AM, Nuns and Buddhists gathered at the temple yard preparing for wrapping Banh Chung. Lots of works to do which were like: rice stir-fry, bean stir-fry, washing wrapping leaves… everybody were busy but we could see they were happy and excited with the assigned task.
The most expecting thing comes on 3rd February,2019 (the 29th day of the Lunar New Year, which is the day of cakes are ready from cooking. Old people and the children sat around and watched each pair of cakes picked up from the steaming pot, they are beautiful with their leaf color. Cakes must be offered to the Buddha so they should not be tried, but we are sure they are all delicious because this is everyone’s enthusiasm.
