Sister Trung Chính

Sister Trung Chính, also known as Sister Abbess, is the eldest nun at Deer Park Monastery. She has been a monastic for over 50 years, having been ordained as a novice in Vietnam in 1973 at the age of 15. Her life has been deeply dedicated to mindfulness practice, service, and community, shaped by her encounters with great Buddhist teachers, including Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh.

Born in war-torn Vietnam, she was drawn to Buddhist practice as a child, often joining her grandmother in simple acts of devotion. At the age of 10, she moved to Saigon and came under the guidance of the Most Venerable Nun Hải Triều Âm, a renowned teacher. Inspired by the monastic life, she ordained at 15 and embraced the path with natural ease.

In 1975, following the fall of South Vietnam, Buddhism faced severe restrictions under Communist rule. Many monastics, including Sister Trung Chinh, were forced to flee. She escaped Vietnam with a group of monastics and resettled in Switzerland before later moving to France and Australia. Despite the challenges of displacement, she remained steadfast in her practice, seeking refuge in temples wherever she lived.

She first met Thầy in 1982 and received a personal letter from him in 1984 inviting her to join Plum Village. At the time, she was managing a temple in Australia and could not immediately accept. However, in 1995, she finally arrived at Plum Village, where she deeply resonated with the way of practice. Unlike traditional temples, where monastics often focus on rituals and ceremonies, Plum Village provided a direct path of mindfulness, simplicity, and community living.

Recognizing her qualities, Thầy repeatedly encouraged her to stay, seeing in her a deep kindness and dedication. She recalls his words:
 "If someone kind and lovely comes to Plum Village, we must find every way to keep them here."

She remained in Plum Village until 2000, when she became one of the pioneering monastics who helped establish Deer Park Monastery in California.

Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, originally from Vietnam and an Australian citizen. She ordained in 1975 in Vietnam, receiving the Dharma name Thiên Chơn and the Dharma title Trung Chính.