For the TET Lunar New Year Holiday my goddaughter Chau and her mother Yen go to their Temple to pray every day. I have been there frequently over the years and have become good friends with the Abbot.
Today Saturday Chau told me a Frenchman had just came in to the temple and asked me why don’t you say hello and see if we can help him. And I did and he explained as part of his spiritual journey he was visiting 30 temples around Vietnam and this one is on his list, and also he had studied Buddhism at Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village in France.
The Abbot joined us and mentioned he had been feeling poorly for a few days, I translated this to our new French friend and he announced he is a Dr. of Asian medicine and asked if the Abbot would like to be examined and perhaps treated. He the Frenchman carries the implements of his trade and some essential oils in his backpack. Fortunately his Vietnamese travel companion showed up from praying, and since she speaks French fluently she could describe the Abbot’s symptoms. The Abbot agreed to being examined and was duly treated.
That is Chau and her mother Yen on the left.
A few days later when we were back at the temple I asked the Abbot if the treatment had helped. He said no not all he never believed the the Frenchman was competent but why not give it a try.
I told him I also had my doubts when I noticed that the Frenchman despite his spiritual declarations and devotion to the simple Buddhist life was wearing a heavy wig in the heat and humidity of Saigon.
