Learning True Love: How I Learned and Practiced Social Change in Vietnam - Softcover

SISTER CHAN KHONG was born in a village on the Mekong River Delta in 1938. As a teenager propelled by her passionate dedication to social change, she began working in the slums of Saigon distributing food, helping the sick, and teaching children. At the age of 21, she joined Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in founding the School of Youth for Social Service, which grew to an organization of over 10,000 young people organizing medical, educational, and agricultural facilities in rural Vietnam, and rebuilding villages destroyed by the war. Sister Chan Khong became well known in the anti-war and peace community for her work promoting human rights and protesting repression and violence, often at risk of her own life. Sister Chan Khong continues to work closely with Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam and in Plum Village, his retreat center and community-in-exile in France.

This work is a transcript of taped "Dharma talks" given by a Vietnamese Buddhist nun who has dedicated her life to the poor and destitute of her homeland, both inside Vietnam and in exile from abroad. Alas, the English is often poor, and the strings of reminiscences are recorded in a chaotic style. In addition, very few details specific to Chan's Buddhist worldview are explained adequately, if at all. These shortcomings hurt the effectiveness of a fascinating story. This is a rare example of a social, rather than a political or historical, perspective on Vietnam that could potentially be of interest to the general public. However, in its current form, it cannot be recommended.
- Ria Koopmans de Bruijn, C.V. Starr East Asian Lib., Columbia Univ., New York
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.