Dat Thi Huynh

Our mother was like everyone else in this world with many “ups and downs” throughout her life. She was fortunate to be born into a wealthy family, but then her family lost everything during the Viet Minh period. Her father passed away when she was young. Being the 2nd child of a family of eight, mother then became the parental figure for her six younger siblings. Even after being married, she still managed to take care of her brothers and sisters, even during multiple relocations between Binh Dinh, Saigon, and Tay Ninh. She managed to open a grocery store, and then a beauty shop before moving to Tokyo. After the fall of Saigon in ’75, she fled Vietnam as refugees and settled in U.S. Life was hard for all refugees in those early days. Our father then passed away, leaving behind her four young children. Again, mother became a bread winner, a parent, a friend, a counselor, and a cheerleader to all of us as we marched through high school, college, and graduate school. At that time, Mom seeks refuge in Buddhism for spiritual guidance which she maintained till the end. Having experienced winning and losing, good and bad reputation, praise and criticism, happiness and suffering, she managed to maintain her strength to overcome life’s obstacles. She, however, could not overcome her sudden illness. She left peacefully but will never be forgotten by the many people she has touched throughout her life. “Life is like the water of a river. It flows down the gradient, never flows against it, that is its nature. Wishing that water would flow against the gradient of course would bring disappointment and sadness. Birth, aging, illness and death is a natural process, nothing can change it. Your passing is also a natural process no one can change it”. Venerable Ajahn Khan from the book “Our Real Home”. Dear Mom, you have been a river whose water nurtured us. You have, with all your mind, heart and strength, done everything that you could for us and for everybody around you. Before we part, may Buddha always be with you on your most PEACEFUL JOURNEY. Love you from all of us