November 2005 / So, the new Pope made it crystal clear that gay priests are no-no. To hundreds of millions of people, he is Christ's representation on earth. The Church has had to shell out so much money to settle molestation cases here in the US that his decision seems to make sense. The American Catholics are quite unhappy with what's going on. Some demand women to be considered for priesthood. Some want celibacy vow removed. But, honestly, that will be very unlikely to happen. Get out. Find another faith. God is everywhere.
Vo Vi is in transition. It is still predominantly Vietnamese. It is widely known now, but not widely followed. It has not yet defined itself as a religion. I say not yet, but according to some definition, it is a religion. (I'm taking a course in Religious Studies, and as long as you have a group of people, interacting with each other by a certain set of practice, beliefs , and you have a central figure with extraordinary power or perceived to be so, you have a religion. There's also such a thing as civil religion, where you can consider football as a form of religion to some people.) What does Vo Vi want to accomplish, I wonder. There seems to be a conflict between vision and execution. Mr. Tam is adamant that we should not be divisive, but it is the nature of man, of any organization to be so. Different opinions. Trials and errors. Projects proposed, denied, or approved. Projects successful or not. So many voices. Yet, have we really learned to listen to one another? And agree. Or agree to disagree?
The point is: Do we have a common goal? For me personally, Vo Vi offers an alternative to organized religions. Yet, it does not always offer social support. People come in Vo Vi expecting much more than it can offer at this point. Let's face it. It's mostly for the retirees. I'm middle-aged, and I'm considered the Vo Vi Tre? or Young Vo Vi. That's just sad. We need new blood. Actually, we do have new blood. They, however, have different voices, different needs, different ways of expressing themselves. Who can hear them? Can they co-exist in the system, no matter how loosely, that Vo Vi has set up right now with the aging population of Vo Vi practitioners?
I can see it now. Vo Vi must be relevant to the needs of its people. Service with the capital S. Be it catering to the retirees, or to the non-Vietnamese speaking groups, or to unexpected groups in the future. Be it to those who attend Sunday meditation, or those who choose to stay away, or to the curious who would check us out and we are not able to keep them interested. It is, bottom line, service. With a smile and a thank - you - for - a- chance - to- serve - you. The day Vo Vi becomes irrelevant, we should have a big party and say goodbye. But that's okay, too. God is everywhere. In Vo Vi. Out of Vo Vi. In heaven. In hell. Well, you get the picture.
Certain things one cannot change, though. Mr Tam has left more than enough instructions to make certain subjects crystal clear. Others, depending on the situations and open to interpretations. There will come a time when censorship comes into play, because some of his teachings are a little bit difficult to digest. I oppose this, but I can see it happen. There will come a time when his final words on a matter won't be available, or matter, and Vo Vi can go on with its in-fighting. It's better to expect the worst and hope or work for the best.
For now, my dear Vo Vi people, our master is still with us in physical form. Don't upset him too much. Strange, but I feel for his fragility. And I see that it takes tremendous patience for him to learn from us, and vice versa. The awe aspect I used to have regarding him is gone. In its place, appreciation. Of a soul with great sacrifice and above all, SERVICE. Service with a smile. And a tear now and then.
