Sister Lễ Nghiêm

Sister Lệ Nghiêm, also known as Sister Respect, ordained as a nun in 2005 at the age of 35. She was part of the historic Sunflower Ordination Family, the largest monastic ordination in Plum Village history, which took place during Thầy’s first return to Vietnam after nearly 40 years in exile.

Born and raised in Northern Vietnam, she was the youngest of six children—and the only daughter. She grew up in a quiet, introspective way, often finding solace in nature and enjoying time alone. After finishing high school, she moved to Saigon before relocating to Australia in her late 20s. There, she worked as an accountant and discovered meditation during a period of deep personal grief.

In 1999, the sudden passing of one of her elder brothers left her heartbroken. A friend introduced her to The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hạnh, and together they searched for a meditation center where they could practice. She attended her first Day of Mindfulness in Brisbane, encountering a local Sangha in the Plum Village tradition. That day was life-changing—she felt completely at home among the practitioners, moved to tears by the depth of joy she experienced. From then on, she never missed a Day of Mindfulness.

Her connection with the Plum Village community deepened when a delegation of monastics visited Australia in 2002. She eagerly attended every retreat, talk, and gathering, feeling an undeniable pull toward the monastic path. That year, she wrote a letter expressing her aspiration to ordain, but it took another three years before she fully entered monastic life.

At the encouragement of her family, she completed her university degree in Australia before traveling to Plum Village in 2004. Within weeks of arriving, she knew with certainty that this was the life she wished to dedicate herself to. Initially, she was prepared to ordain in Vietnam in 2005 during Thầy’s historic return, but after reuniting with her family, she realized they were not yet ready to accept her decision. Wanting to give them time to adjust, she postponed her ordination, spent precious time with them, and returned to Plum Village to continue her training. Six months later, she received full ordination as a novice nun.

Sister Lệ Nghiêm is known for her deep commitment to practice, particularly her love for solo retreat—a practice where she spends extended time alone in silence and mindfulness. Unlike the common perception of solitude as a means of seeking spiritual attainment, for her, solo retreat is a natural and nourishing experience. Having spent much of her childhood enjoying solitude, she finds these times essential for listening deeply to herself, understanding her own body and mind, and simply being present without striving for any goal.

A Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, of Vietnamese origin and Australian nationality, born in 1970. She entered monastic training in 2005 at the age of 35 and received the novice precepts on August 7, 2005, at Pháp Vân Temple – Plum Village, with the Dharma name Tâm Nguyên Hạnh and the Dharma title Chân Lễ Nghiêm. She belongs to the Cây Hướng Dương (Sunflower) ordination family.

She received full ordination on January 12, 2009, in the Mùa Sen Mới (New Lotus Season) Great Ordination Ceremony at Plum Village.

She is the 244th disciple of Thầy in the Plum Village lineage, the 43rd generation in the Lâm Tế (Linji) Zen tradition, and the 9th generation of the Liễu Quán Dharma branch.