This episode introduces the next of 12 letters from their collaborative visual arts project “Letters to Our Unborn Children: An Exploration of a Woman’s Decision to Remain Child-Free by Choice.” Hosts Sarah Saturday and Tarri Driver discuss the “Martyr” archetype behind the Letter, and share their research and insights around the themes in the Letter. They also interview two Buddhist nuns – Sisters Brightness and Splendid Moon – from the Magnolia Grove Monastery. The Sisters share about their experiences entering and devoting themselves to the (joyful!) monastic life, and, as part of that decision, their choosing not to have children.

Sisters Brightness and Splendid Moon are Buddhist nuns who have dedicated their lives to the teachings of the Buddha and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Practicing boundless love, meditation, and joy, the Sisters guide others and build community through special programs and retreats, easing suffering and promoting goodness.

Born and raised in Hue, Central Vietnam—a land rich in Buddhist tradition—Sister Tr?ng C?m Tú (Sister Splendid Moon) grew up surrounded by the teachings of the Buddha, which instilled a deep spiritual foundation. Yet, as a child, she grappled with profound questions: Who am I? What is true happiness? How can I live a meaningful life? Her path became clear in her teenage years when She encountered the Plum Village tradition of Buddhism and the teachings of her teacher- Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. At age 18, while preparing to enter university, she decided to embrace the monastic life. She was ordained in Plum Village Thailand in 2013. Over the past 12 years, she has practiced and lived in various monasteries, including Dieu Tram (Viet Nam), Plum Village (France), and now Magnolia Grove Monastery (MS, USA). This journey has filled her with profound joy and purpose. She dedicates her days to practicing boundless love—bringing joy to others in the morning and helping ease their suffering in the afternoon. She also shares her practice with children and teens, guiding them through special programs in retreats. Beyond her spiritual and community work, she finds joy in creative expression, particularly drawing and calligraphy, which further enriches her practice and life.

Sister Man Nghiem, which translates into Sister Brightness, is Chinese-Vietnamese-American and grew up in North Carolina, California, and France. In 1998, she became a novice aspirant in Plum Village, France and in 1999 ordained as a novice nun. She began her Siksamana training in 2004 and also became an Order of Interbeing Member also in 2004. She received her Bhikshuni ordination in 2006. In 2008, she received her dharma lamp and became a dharma teacher. She moved back to California in 2010, this time to Deer Park Monastery, a sister monastery of Plum Village, near San Diego and then relocated to MS, to another sister monastery called Magnolia Grove Monastery, in 2021. She enjoys leading worldwide meditation retreats with her community, including retreats with programs for youth and young adults. A fun fact is that she is the 101th monastic student of Zen Master TNH and was often teased as the 101th Dalmatian. Another fun fact is that she enjoys taking on the challenge of finding foolproof recipes for plant based desserts to prove they can too be just as delish!

Recorded on Jan 2, 2025

Additional Links:
Magnolia Grove Monastery: https://magnoliagrovemonastery.org/
Plum Village: https://plumvillage.org/

Find more about the Letters project at letterstoourunbornchildren.com