Gift of nature

By Giao Huong, Thanh Nien News
February 18, 2008

Sensing a destiny to build a monastery in Nepal, a Vietnamese monk received what seemed like a miraculous sign Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -- Huyen Dieu, an overseas Vietnamese monk who now lives in Nepal, says in his recently-published book Khi Hong Hac Bay Ve (When the Sarus Cranes Came Back) that 2 Sarus Cranes, one of the world’s most endangered species, suddenly flew into his monastery grounds to take up residence. He tells readers that he considers this a fortune bestowed on him for

Monk Hoang Dieu, the Sarus Crane’s guardian

achieving his lifetime endeavor – building a Viet Nam Phat Quoc Tu (Vietnamese Buddhist Monastery) in Lumbini, Nepal and also in Bodhgaya, India, where the Buddha achieved enlightenment.

He recalls that when he first came to Lumbini in 1969 there were few birds.

He describes the arrival of the cranes thus: “That morning I was just going out of the tent when I was astonished by a couple of giant birds that

were taller than me. At that time I had no idea it was such an endangered species. I thought they were evil spirits or ghosts coming from another world!”

Since that day, despite being busy with monastery work, Dieu has taken on another chore – protecting his feathered friends from local poachers and providing an environment for them to flourish.

In his 200-page book, Dieu recounts the story of his destiny and how he was led to a holy site to build a pagoda.

He also details the life of the Sarus Cranes and their habits, his efforts to save the birds, and his role in helping Nepal end conflict and civil war.

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