Sow seeds of love at the temple gate.

(GLO) - For many years, the nuns at My Hoa Pagoda (Hoa Hoi commune, Gia Lai province) have quietly cared for orphaned and disadvantaged children and lonely elderly people. They are likened to those who sow love at the temple gates.

Under the roof of My Hoa Pagoda, orphaned children warm each other with empathy, sharing, and love. Photo: D.D.

As evening fell, I arrived at My Hoa Pagoda just as the children were returning home from school. Within the pagoda grounds, some children sat at desks under the eaves, diligently practicing their writing; others helped the nuns prepare the evening meal.

Nun Thich Nu Minh Tam - abbess of My Hoa Pagoda - said: The pagoda's involvement in raising orphaned children began in 2007-2008. One rainy night, someone left a newborn baby at the pagoda gate and then left.

The nuns took in and cared for the baby, while also notifying the local authorities to register the birth, give the baby a name, and raise it. From then on, caring for young children gradually became an integral part of life at the Buddhist temple.

“Currently, the pagoda is raising 43 orphaned and disadvantaged children aged 1-17 and caring for 4 elderly people who are alone and have no one to rely on. Each person who comes here has their own unique circumstances. But once they come to the pagoda, everyone is cared for as if they were family. Seeing the children grow up day by day and the elderly people healthy, we see it as both a responsibility and a joy for us as religious practitioners,” shared nun Thich Nu Minh Tam.

Whenever she has free time, nun Thich Nu Minh Tam dedicates it to helping young children review their lessons. Photo: D.D.

Here, all school-aged children are provided with all necessary paperwork by the temple, facilitating their enrollment in public schools. For younger children, the nuns personally transport them to and from school daily; older children cycle to class on their own. When they are ill, they are taken to medical facilities for timely examination and treatment.

Besides academic studies, the children also participate in activities, play, develop life skills, and gain additional knowledge. Thanks to this attentive care, most of them have stable health and can focus on their studies and daily lives.

Ho Tam Niem is the first orphan to be adopted by the nuns. She is currently in 8th grade at Cat Hanh Secondary School. Niem shared: “Since being taken in by the nuns, I have had a real family, with siblings to live with and grow up in the temple every day. The nuns take care of me from meals and sleep to studies, especially teaching me how to live peacefully, to love and follow the Buddha's teachings. I am always grateful because thanks to the nuns, I have a warm home and the opportunity to go to school like other friends.”

Tran Ngoc Phuoc (17 years old) shared: “I grew up in the temple since I was little, so this place is like my second home. Every day living with the nuns and the other monks and nuns, I always feel their care and guidance in even the smallest things, from how to study and behave to how to live a life of love and sharing. I only hope to study hard so that I can be independent in the future and not let down the nuns who have cared for me all these years.”

To maintain the operation of the shelter, the nuns at My Hoa Pagoda mainly rely on contributions and offerings from Buddhists on full moon days and Buddha's birthday, along with support from benefactors. In addition, the pagoda has planted over 150 green pomelo trees, contributing to improving living conditions and providing a small additional source of income to care for the children and elderly living alone.

In particular, Venerable Nun Thich Nu Minh Tam is also an acupuncture collaborator at the Phu Cat Medical Center, contributing to the funding for maintaining the shelter. However, resources remain limited, leaving constant worries about tuition fees, books for the children, and medicine for the elderly.

“We hope to continue receiving support from benefactors near and far so that the shelter can better care for the children and elderly living alone. Every contribution, no matter how small or large, is an encouragement for the nuns to continue raising, educating, and caring for the children and the elderly. What we hope for most is for the shelter to be more complete so that the children can receive a proper education and the elderly can have a stable life,” shared nun Thich Nu Minh Tam.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/gieo-yeu-thuong-noi-cua-thien-post587956.html